Residents on Tuesday can weigh in on changes to Kalispell’s public participation plan, which will determine how the public can offer comment on site-specific developments following changes to state law.  

The Kalispell Planning Commission will host the hearing at 6 p.m., May 12 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.  

City Council in April adopted a new land use plan under the Montana Land Use Planning Act, a 2023 state law designed to streamline housing construction. The plan will guide development for the next 20 years.  

To fall in accordance with state law, the body also had to shift subdivision approvals to city staff, ending the Planning Commission and Council review process, which included public hearings. Residents will still have a window to submit written comments and can appeal decisions made by planning staff, a process that begins with the city’s Development Services Department.  

The existing participation plan was adopted in 2024 and focused on outlining how the public could weigh in on the creation of the land use plan. The updates explain how the city will provide notice on site-specific developments, such as proposed subdivision and conditional use permits.   

Preliminary plat and conditional use applications — which no longer involve public hearings — will be announced in the local newspaper and property owners within 150 feet will receive mailed notices, according to the plan.  

The plan calls for the creation of an online portal for the public to access developers’ application materials and any determinations made by city staff. The website would include information on written public comment windows and how the public can appeal a proposal.  

Residents will be able to subscribe to emails announcing when a public comment period opens and guide subscribers to staff reports and written decisions posted on the planning website.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.