The Columbia Falls City Council on Monday approved Habitat for Humanity's plan to construct 16 homes units here.

Habitat is proposing to build eight duplex units on about 1.4 acres. The site is just north of Columbia Falls Apartments adjacent to Plum Creek.

A zone change and preliminary plat were approved for the site. Currently it is vacant land and zoned for residential apartments. The change rezones the property to two-family residential.

The preliminary plat calls for eight lots with 16 townhouses constructed on sublots on the site.

Both requests fall in line with the city growth policy which recognizes the need for high-density and low-cost housing dispersed throughout the city.

Under the plat, a private street would run east and west through the middle of the property. A variance was also approved for the street which is proposed at 12-feet wide with hard surfaces connected extending it to 30-feet wide.

City standards set a private street at 20 feet of paved surface on a 60-foot roadway. Following that standard would have resulted in the reduction of the number of lots.

"The reason we're allowing this layout is because this is addressing affordable housing needs," said City Manager Bill Shaw.

Shaw told the Council that city police would be able to enforce laws on the street, such as a no parking requirement, with written consent from Habitat for Humanity.

Councilman Dave Petersen voiced concern about fitting 16 units on the site.

"I see the benefit of lower income housing, but it has to be comfortable," he said.

Habitat's Flathead Valley director Patti Gregerson said the number of units is necessary for keeping the homes affordable.

She said the homes will cost between $105,000 and $110,000.

Habitat provides affordable housing for low income families, who agree to put at least 500 hours of work into the house. Homes are built largely by volunteers.

One of the conditions of approval on the plat states that the site must be developed for low income housing.

Also Monday, the Council:

• Made two appointments. Will Loveall will serve a three-year term on the City Police Commission. Mike Shepard will serve on the county 911 Center Executive Board.

• Approved the police department's purchase of four video cameras for patrol cars. The Montana Department of Transportation awarded the city $18,000 for the purchase, but costs came in $698 over that. The extra money will come out of the police budget.

• Gave notice that the City is interested in abandoning a portion of the Second Avenue East street right-of-way from Sixth Street East to Seventh Street East. In exchange for the request from residents there, the City is looking at gaining right-of-way along the alley between Second Avenue East and Third Avenue East.

• Approved the temporary loan of "The Oaks' piston to the Central School Museum. "The Oakes' was James Talbott's steam paddle wheeler that sank in the Flathead River on its maiden voyage. The piston is now at the city maintenance shop and will go on display at the Museum.

• Decided to go ahead with obtaining bids on upgrades to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. After bids are received the Council will decide to go ahead with the project or pare it down if costs are too high. The City has received some grants for the project, but not as much as originally expected. If costs are too high, the City will have to consider looking at raising rates to cover the additional costs.