The Kalispell City Council work session tonight will discuss a county rezoning request for Majestic Valley Arena.

Majestic Valley Arena Owner Jan Parker has petitioned the county to change 40 acres near the facility from an agricultural zone to a business zone. According to a memo from Kalispell Planning and Building Director Tom Jentz, Parker doesn’t have immediate plans to develop the site, but wants to have the zone amended now for future use.

According to the zoning change application, the owners would like to supplement the arena’s facilities with a possible restaurant, hotel and additional signs.

In a letter sent in December, County Planner Erik Mack asked Jentz for his comments on the zoning change request.

Jentz responded on Jan. 13 by recommending that the county deny the zone change, citing the developer’s need to connect to city services in Silverbrook Estates to the south — which would require annexation into the city — and the fact that there is no development master plan.

In December, Parker submitted a 2011 letter from then-City Manager Jane Howington suggesting annexation would be an appropriate move by the city. Parker submitted the letter to the county in hopes of showing city support for the zoning change and potential annexation.

However, both in November 2015 and this month, the city has opposed zoning changes for Majestic Valley.

Tonight’s work session will try to define the city’s concerns about commercial development along the U.S. 93 corridor between Whitefish and Kalispell before the Flathead County Planning Board makes its recommendation to the county commissioners.

In other business, the city council will discuss the potential purchase of a U.S. Forest Service property near the city airport and wastewater treatment plant.

The Forest Service is offering to sell the 2.07-acre space to reduce its physical footprint in the area. The Forest Service initially bought the property for $828, and would like to appraise the value of the current buildings to add to the sale.

A memo from City Manager Doug Russell said the facility could be used for equipment storage and operations for the public works department.

City staff will meet with the Forest Service representatives this afternoon to tour the site and identify the pros and cons for city use.

The work session begins tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 201 First Avenue East.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.