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County planning board returns to industrial subdivision south of Kalispell

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 3 months AGO
by HEIDI DESCH
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | April 10, 2024 12:00 AM

The Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday will again consider a request for a residential and commercial/industrial subdivision south of Kalispell.

Farm Industrial, Inc. is seeking a preliminary plat for a 23-lot subdivision on about 208 acres off U.S. 93 and White Basin Road. The board in January voted against recommending the subdivision to the Flathead County commissioners based on questions regarding White Basin Road, which is the primary access road for the subdivision. The developer is returning with a revised request regarding White Basin Road.

The county Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. in the South Campus Building at 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell. Recommendations from the board regarding the requests are forwarded to the county commissioners for final consideration. 

The subdivision called Miller Industrial is proposed to result in 22 commercial/industrial lots averaging 7.64 acres in size and one residential lot on 40.54 acres. 

A new condition as part of the subdivision would require, unless a variance is granted by county commissioners, the developer to obtain an easement agreement to widen the White Basin Road easement to a total of 60 feet for the entire length of the road between Rocky Cliff Drive and the boundary of the subdivision. A second condition would require the developer to improve the road from Rocky Cliff Drive to the northern point of the subdivision. 

Steamboat Landing — a project that drew strong opposition from neighbors at last month’s meeting — has been postponed by the applicant until further notice. The subdivision is proposed to create 252 residential lots on 63.79 acres at 603 Somers Road with a preliminary plat. 

Some Planning Board members said they would consider recommending the project if traffic mitigation measures were added and subsequently tabled the project after the developer agreed to work on the matter. 

County commissioners on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. are set to review additional information submitted regarding the project including an updated traffic impact study. Commissioners will determine if another public hearing before the Planning Board should be held on the new information. If so, that would likely occur in May.

Commissioners meet at the Historic Courthouse, 800 S. Main St. in Kalispell.

ALSO ON the agenda, the Planning Board will hold two other public hearings. 

The board will consider a zone change request from Michael Seaman to change the zoning on properties at 107 and 113 West Cottonwood Drive, Kalispell, from R-1 to B-2. The property is just over 7 acres. The property contains a single-family residence and the zone change is to allow multi-family housing on the property, according to the application. 

The board will consider a request from 211 Auction Road for preliminary plat approval of Auction Road Condominiums to create 77 industrial units on 6.817 acres. The property is located at 211 Auction Road, Kalispell. The site is developed with large warehouses.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].

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