The Kalispell City Council is endeavoring to secure assistance from state and federal officials to maintain access to the forestlands Weyerhaeuser is selling off around Kalispell. At the City Council meeting Tuesday—moved from the normal Monday meeting time because of Presidents Day—the council will review a letter from Mayor Mark Johnson to state and federal officials regarding the local forestlands.

According to the letter, there are 63,000 acres of forestlands in the Kalispell area pending sale from Weyerhaeuser to Southern Pines Plantations.

“The City of Kalispell is concerned that the historic public access enjoyed by our residents on these extensive forestlands may not be continued,” the proposed letter writes. “Due to these concerns, we are requesting Federal and State officials to work with Southern Pines to preserve the public access, open space and working forestlands so valued by our community for the recreational and economic opportunities they provide.”

The letter suggests a few options for elected officials to help preserve these lands, including: facilitating the renewal of these lands in the state’s Block Management Program, since Weyerhaeuser’s program enrollment is set to expire this year; encouraging Southern Pines to enter into conservation easements which protect public access and open space and ensure the land is available for continued timber harvest, which would require federal or state funding; or facilitating public acquisition of the forestlands, transferring it either to state ownership with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation or federal ownership with the U.S. Forest Service, which would also require state or federal funding for fee title acquisition.

Also related to public recreation, the council will consider updating Kalispell Parks and Recreation fees. They are looking at a 2 to 4% increase for Parks and Recreation and reservation fees, which haven’t been changed since 2018.

The fees contribute to programs such as the increasingly popular Afterschool Program and free community events. A full breakdown of the proposed fees is available in the agenda for the meeting, which can be found here: https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02182020-398

The council will also look at three resolutions related to city property at the meeting this evening.

One is a planned unit development and zoning map amendment request from Spartan Holdings, LLC, for 25 acres of the 56-acre Stillwater Bend development at 2890 U.S. 93 North. The council previously considered this request at its meeting on Feb. 3, with eight members in favor and one opposed.

The second resolution is a final plat request from Sands Surveying on behalf of Owl Corp. for West View Estates Phase 4. West View Estates Phase 4 is an 18-lot residential subdivision on 7.255 acres. Phase 4 is located on undeveloped grasslands west of Taelor Road. The council approved the preliminary plat with 20 conditions in May 2003, and now “all of the conditions have been met or adequately addressed.”

Finally, the council will consider a buy-sell agreement with Edge, LLC, for the city to sell Lot 4 of Old School Station located at 155 Schoolhouse Loop. The city took over the Flathead County property in 2015 and listed Lot 4 for sale at $293,000 in 2017. On Feb. 5, the city received an offer for purchase of Lot 4, which is now being considered.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

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