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Kalispell City Council continues review of land use plan

JACK UNDERHILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months, 2 weeks AGO
by JACK UNDERHILL
KALISPELL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION REPORTER Jack Underhill covers Kalispell city government, housing and transportation for the Daily Inter Lake. His reporting focuses on how local policy decisions affect residents and the rapidly growing Flathead Valley. Underhill has reported on housing challenges, infrastructure issues and regional service providers across Montana. His work also includes accountability reporting on complex community issues and public institutions. Originally from Massachusetts, Underhill graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in Journalism before joining the Inter Lake. In his free time, Underhill enjoys mountain biking around the valley, skiing up on Big Mountain or exploring Glacier National Park. IMPACT: Jack’s work helps residents understand how growth, housing and infrastructure decisions affect the future of their community. | February 22, 2026 11:00 PM

Kalispell City Council on Monday night will continue reviewing a new land use plan meant to guide the city’s growth for the next 20 years.  

Council meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.  

Kalispell has been tasked with crafting a new land use plan in accordance with the Montana Land Use Planning Act, a 2023 state law aimed at streamlining housing construction through restricting the public comment process on site-specific developments and instituting zoning and subdivision regulation reforms that promote high density.  

Council on Monday night will begin reviewing changes to the fourth chapter — local services and facilities — that were requested during last week’s meeting before moving into chapters five, six and potentially seven, which cover the city’s economic development, natural resources and future land use map. 

Over the past two months, Council has held three meetings to review the first four chapters of the land use plan. The Planning Commission held 16 work sessions since fall 2024 to help city staff craft the document, according to a memo from Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected]

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