Businesses can now apply for permits to serve alcohol at special events in downtown Kalispell.

Kalispell City Council on Monday approved amendments to the permit process for special events, allowing both businesses and nonprofits the opportunity to sell and serve alcohol at events on downtown city streets and right-of-ways. Council also voted to amend the permit process to separate parades and special events from the alcohol addendum.

The second reading of the amended ordinance was approved by a 5-3 vote with council members Jim Atkinson, Tim Kluesner and Chad Graham voting against the measure.

Council member Kari Gabriel said that while she would not vote against the overall ordinance, she did not approve of the addition of for-profit organizations for permit eligibility.

“It’s a bummer that was put in there,” Gabriel said. “It was not the intent of this permit process.”

The council unanimously approved Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s request for a planned-unit development overlay that would combine the three existing zones that currently divide the hospital’s rapidly growing campus.

The proposed overlay would address issues with land usage within the property, ADA and other standards, parking, signage and circulation, according to senior planner Jarod Nygren.

The new planned-unit development will incorporate a 97-acre area that follows property owned primarily by Kalispell Regional Healthcenter located at 310 Sunnyview Lane.

While the hospital does not own 100 percent of the property, the overlay would only affect the other landowners in regards to zoning laws and would not affect taxation of those areas.

Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson recused himself from the issue because he sits on the Kalispell Regional Healthcare board.

ALSO MONDAY, the Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) received a two-year extension on the preliminary plat for a 41-acre rail park.

The extension was granted by unanimous vote by the council with the intention of giving the project more time to get underway.

The FCEDA Rail Park subdivision, located on the east side of Whitefish Stage Road, north of East Oregon Street and west of East Oregon Lane, creates 20 lots for rail-served industrial business.

A construction project that will replace 14 blocks of water main under Fourth Avenue East has received a green light from the council.

The project will replace the 100-year-old cast-iron water mains and will convert Third and Fourth Avenue East into two-way streets with two-way parking in designated areas.

Construction to replace the water main is expected to begin in May and end in October 2017.

A video presentation of project can be found at https://youtu.be/KT5zeXclby0.

FOR MORE information and to view the full Kalispell City Council agenda, visit http://www.kalispell.com/mayor_and_city_council/agenda.php.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.