The Kalispell City Council on Monday rejected a zone change that would have allowed office space development at the entrance to the West View Estates subdivision on the north side of Kalispell.

The council did, however, vote to change zoning from RA-1 residential apartment to RA-2 residential apartment-office on a 10-acre portion of the property.

That change would allow more flexibility in development, but not as much as was being sought by property owner Mark Owens of Owl Corporation.

Owens has over the last year come to the city Planning Board with a variety of zoning configurations for the southern part of the subdivision, which is located north of Glacier High School off Stillwater Road and West Reserve Drive and is accessed by Taelor Road.

The most recent request included a change from R-3 residential, to R-5 residential-professional office for property on the east side of Taelor Road.

Neighbors in West View Estates had objected to that change during Planning Board meetings, citing impacts on property values, public safety, traffic and aesthetics.

Speaking for Owens, planning consultant Eric Mulcahy said Owens has been approached by prospective developers and zoning that would allow for professional office development at the entrance would make the property more marketable. He added that currently there are no prospective buyers for the property “waiting in the wings.”

However, Mulcahy offered a few examples of the type of development Owens envisions that are located elsewhere in Kalispell. They include single-story professional office buildings located directly adjacent to residential areas along Whitefish Stage Road in the vicinity of Edgerton Elementary School.

Council member Chad Graham pointed out that West View Estates is a subdivision with established zoning within delineated boundaries and he isn’t aware of another subdivision where such significant zone changes were made within established subdivision boundaries.

Council member Phil Guiffridra pointed out that West View Estates residents purchased their lots “under a certain expectation for what those lots are zoned for.”

He said there is nothing guaranteed about Owens’ vision for the property.

“Conceptual drawings are just that: they are conceptual,” he said. “Things can change. We can’t vote on a concept” when the zone change would allow for development that may not resemble that concept.

It was pointed out that an amendment to the recommended motion would be necessary to establish residential-professional office zoning for the land east of Taelor Road, and no one made such a motion.

The council voted unanimously to rezone the 10-acre area to residential apartment-office, which would allow for higher-density residential development.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.