The Kalispell Planning Board is closer to making a recommendation to the Kalispell City Council to resolve the parking issue around Flathead High and Elrod Elementary schools.

The Planning Board met Tuesday to discuss the latest version of a residential on-street parking permit program and management plan in the west side neighborhood around the schools.

Although attendance was sparse compared to previous meetings, discussion extended into two hours to summarize the history of the two-year discussion and present a synopsis of a management plan.

“Ultimately there should be a public hearing to again contact the entire neighborhood and bring conclusion and hopefully what we need to plan to move forward,” Kalispell Planning Director Tom Jentz said.

The proposed parking district represents compromises and suggestions from a neighborhood committee, the school district and city Planning Department.

The proposed parking district plan would be bounded by Third Street West to the north, Ninth Street West to the south, Second Avenue West on the east and Sixth Avenue West to the west.

The board came to a consensus to start small with parking restrictions and have the option to add or eliminate blocks based on participation.

Resident-only parking restrictions would be limited to Third Avenue West and Fourth Avenue West south of Fifth Street and north of Ninth Street pending the school district’s agreement to add new parking around Flathead and Elrod campuses.

If parking is not added, restrictions will be implemented on all avenues south of Fifth Street West.

Parking restrictions would be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays when school is in session.

The emphasis on the parking district encompassing just avenues and not streets is because a majority of properties in the affected area face avenues, according to Jentz.

Board member Matt Regier was a lone voice in maintaining his discomfort with transforming public streets into a paid permit parking district.

“We’re essentially making it exclusive to the property owners there,” Regier said.

Costs associated with starting a parking district include installing signs at about $250 each or $1,000 per block, Jentz said.

The goal is to cover start-up and maintenance costs through purchased permits and fines. Permit costs have not been finalized. Residents who purchase a permit would also receive a guest pass.

The Planning Board also reached a consensus on a couple of management plan specifications to ensure the proposed parking district is used by residents.

One key element includes a requirement that a minimum percentage of permits must be purchased per block or underutilized blocks would come under review. Board members were looking at 50 percent or approximately 11 of 22 parking spaces per block.

This Planning Department’s initial suggestion was that 75 percent of property owners per block must purchase permits.

“Permits should be relative to the spaces available, not the properties,” said board president Chad Graham.

Board member Rory Young commented that there is time for logistics, such as numbers, to be finalized before a final recommendation is made.

“I think everyone is so close to agree or disagreeing that the opportunity to put it on the agenda for the January meeting gives a little bit of room for people to come up with numbers,” Young said. “Everyone has worked hard to get it where it is and I think we should keep moving.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].