A new zoning designation targeted toward developing Kalispell’s core area into a pedestrian-friendly urban district is now officially on the books.

The Kalispell City Council voted unanimously Monday night to establish B-3 zoning, a designation that allows developers to increase building heights and construct multifamily residential buildings. Mirroring the B-2 zoning throughout most of downtown, it also eliminates setback requirements between buildings and prohibits heavy industrial development between Idaho and Center streets.

The new zone officially goes into effect 30 days after Monday’s vote, at which point the classification will be available to property owners in the city’s “core area” – a district bounded to the north and south by Washington and First streets and stretching from Woodland Park west past Meridian Road.

On a 6-2 vote, the council also approved a zoning change that will make the half-block property on which Moose’s Saloon sits the first B-3 parcel in the city.

Council members Phil Guiffrida and Chad Graham voted against the Moose’s rezoning, with Guiffrida reiterating his concerns with the city’s vote to rezone the property before the new zoning designation officially goes into effect.

“The idea of this property turning into this zone, I’m not against that,” he said. “What I don’t like is the policies and procedures that got this. … Normally, what we see up here as a council is the zoning request comes after that.”

He also argued that the council appeared to be picking and choosing businesses by waiving the $400 rezoning fee after the city’s planning department worked with the property owner to bring it under the new classification.

Other council members were open to the idea of a grace period during which other property owners in the district could also have their fees waived. After the meeting, City Manager Doug Russell said they would discuss the issue further during their next work session, tentatively scheduled for the second week in April.

Greg Edwards, owner of Brookies Cookies in Bigfork, spoke in favor of rezoning the property. He said he’s in discussions with the landowner to move his business to the open lot adjacent to Moose’s.

“When they creamed the bike shop there, I’d been looking for a spot for this,” Edwards said. “One thing just fell into another.”

City officials hope to convince other property owners in the core area to make the switch to B-3, and senior city planner Jarod Nygren said a handful of them have already expressed interest to the planning department.

“The incentive is it’s a more inclusive zone with more uses permitted,” he said. “It will be more of an urban environment, with more of a ‘Main Street’ feel.”