The Kalispell Planning Board on Tuesday recommended the Kalispell City Council approve a multi-family housing development proposed to the north of the Gateway Community Center.

Husky Partners, LLC, requested major preliminary plat approval for a three-lot subdivision known as Glenwood West Phase 2 at 70 Glenwood Drive. The 3.6-acre property currently includes two apartment buildings and is zoned B-2 (General Business). The proposal is to build three multi-family units there.

Husky Partners, LLC secured a conditional use permit for the project in 2019.

Moving forward, the developer would need to improve Financial Drive in order to meet city standards. Changes would need to be made to improve the sidewalk, boulevard, street trees and streetlights on Financial Drive. Since Financial Drive has a varying right of way, the developer would also need to work with the Kalispell Public Works Department to come up with an appropriate design to meet city standards.

Additionally, a final traffic impact study would be required to build the development. The Planning Board has reportedly received two public comments about the proposal already. Both comments focused on concerns about traffic impacts in the area of the proposed project.

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, Rory Young with Jackola Engineering and Architecture spoke on behalf of the applicant.

Planning Board member George Giavasis also suggested the proposed buildings be constructed to face the street, “instead of all these gigantic parking lots.”

The Planning Board unanimously recommended the proposal to the Kalispell City Council, which will take up the application at a meeting on Sept. 8.

Glenwood West Phase 2 was the only item of new business before the Planning Board at the Tuesday meeting, but Planning Director Jarod Nygren informed the board of an upcoming discussion about amending the planned-unit development for Montana Basecamp, an RV park located in South Kalispell.

The park, which opened last year, initially limited visitors to a maximum stay of 90 days. Now the applicant is requesting a PUD amendment that would allow for longer-term stays.

Nygren explained this amendment would be a “significant change” since the Planning Board and City Council did not originally support longer-term stays at the park.

The proposal will be addressed at a City Council work session on Aug. 24.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.