Kalispell Council weighs donating city-owned land for affordable housing
JACK UNDERHILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 weeks, 4 days AGO
A construction worker works on the roof of a building under construction along Four Mile Drive on Saturday, Feb. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
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. | September 14, 2026 12:00 AM
Kalispell City Council on Monday is expected to consider repurposing vacant municipal property for affordable housing and discuss the state of short-term rentals in the city.
Council meets at 7 p.m., Sept. 14 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.
Council planned to debate the topics during a June work session but postponed them after lengthy debate on two other initiatives championed by Mayor Ryan Hunter: creating an affordable housing advisory board and implementing design standards for future development along the Parkline Trail.
Hunter in the past has backed the idea of donating surplus city-owned vacant lots to nonprofits for residential development, which would bring affordable housing to the city.
Affordable housing is housing in which the occupant pays no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs, including utilities, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A REPORT that Council will look over on Monday indicates that short-term rentals make up less than 1% of the city's residential housing stock.
Kalispell currently allows up to 2% of homes in residential and residential apartment zones to be used as short-term rentals. On the campaign trail, Hunter said he wanted to lower that cap.
As of June 2026, there are 115 active short-term rentals in the city, 86 of which are in residential and residential-apartment zones. The rest are in commercial zones, where hotels and other short-term stays are expected, according to a memo from Development Services Director PJ Sorensen.
Ward 3, which includes much of downtown, has the largest number of short-term rentals with 56. Ward 4, covering South Kalispell, is home to 28. Wards 1 and 2, which make up North Kalispell, have 31 combined, according to a map prepared by city staff.
The city currently averages about 550 new housing units each year, according to Sorensen.
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.
ARTICLES BY JACK UNDERHILL
Kalispell City Council signals support for using redevelopment dollars for new garage
Kalispell City Council appeared in favor Monday of using redevelopment dollars to build a new city equipment garage, agreeing that no viable alternative could move the project forward quickly enough.
Kalispell City Council to mull new equipment garage, county fairgrounds upgrades
Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider a pair of requests from the city and county to use tax increment financing funds for public infrastructure projects.
Developer scales back public funding request for Kalispell Center Mall redevelopment
The firm behind the Kalispell Centers Mall’s impending redevelopment has returned to City Hall with a reduced request for public funding to help finance the project.