Kalispell Planning Commission puts two mixed-use development projects into the running

The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday approved its staff recommendations for two residential and commercial construction projects.

Both will appear before the Kalispell City Council in the coming weeks.

Kilday and Stratton, a Bozeman-based development, construction and consulting firm, has applied for approval to continue development at the Starling Community, an approximately 58-acre mixed-use development approved by council in 2021.

The development is located west of Stillwater Road between Four Mile Drive and Old Reserve Drive, near Glacier High School and the Stillwater Crossing apartment complex.

The 8-acre property, which represents the fourth of eight phases in the company’s development plan, includes 31 lots, a park and undeveloped land.

A traffic study found that a roundabout is needed at the intersection of Timberwolf and Stillwater Road to accommodate further development in the area. A condition set by planning officials also requires the installation of a crosswalk at the intersection to provide access to Glacier High School.

Starling Community residents attending the August 13 meeting expressed frustration with the noisy construction work that was taking place early in the morning and into the night.

Rachel Kemak, one of the first people to move into the community, said she had no street, no address, and no mailbox for four months, which she described as stressful.

“Since then, we’ve had several contractors in our neighborhood starting at 6:30 a.m. and finishing after 10:30 p.m.,” Kemak said. “Everyone on the street is really upset.”

Residents also reported large amounts of garbage and debris left behind by the construction companies.

“Our neighborhood is always dirty, there’s always garbage lying around,” said Kemak. “I don’t feel like anyone is listening to us.”

She said she understood that construction work was necessary, but hoped it could be done with consideration for current residents.

After the public hearing concluded, Commission President Chad Graham gave Greg Stratton, a founding partner of Kilday and Stratton, the opportunity to respond to the concerns.

Stratton said he had received complaints about construction work outside of business hours and had spoken to the contractors.

“I think the 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. time is maybe a little too long,” Stratton said. “There might be isolated cases of that.”

He also tried to assure those present that employees inspect the premises several times a week and that contractors are monitored.

“I walked (the site) today and found it, apart from maybe two or three piles, exceptionally clean for the amount of activity out there,” he said.

“We just ask for a little understanding from residents,” he said. “The sooner we finish the construction in your area, the sooner we can all move on and you will no longer be inconvenienced.”

Stratton said the agreement with the company includes the possibility of fining the contractor, but said he was hesitant to do so.

Taylor Keazirian-Poe, another Starling Community resident who shares Kemak’s views, said her attempts to contact the community’s homeowners association have been met with leniency toward the developer’s construction schedule.

“I think it’s just common decency to think about what the balance is between the people who are currently living there,” Keazirian-Poe said. “Who do we talk to? What do we do?”

PJ Sorenson, Kalispell’s senior planner, said the city cannot regulate construction hours, but suggested residents file a noise complaint with Kalispell police. He noted that the ordinance is broad and does not specify set times or noise levels that can be violated.

“It’s a bit of a murky issue,” Sorensen said.

“(The disruption) would have to be pretty obvious for the city to do something,” said Development Services Director Jarod Nygren.

“It is an active construction site,” he added. “It is what it is, there will be these problems.”

Nygren said communication with the homeowners association might be more effective.

Graham said he understands the concerns of residents and, as a contractor himself, he talks to neighbors to ask them if he is bothering them.

Graham believed the dispute was probably due to a lack of communication.

ANOTHER PROJECT The plan endorsed by the commission was to develop a 95-acre site south of Kalispell for residential, industrial and commercial purposes. Two portions of the land, totaling about 38 acres, must be incorporated into the city.

The land, which is primarily zoned for urban mixed use, is located off US 93 and south of Lower Valley Road.

Todd Gardner and Colton Behr worked together on the project proposal, combining a planned residential development that would house both a shipping and distribution center and a 170-unit single-family home development on approximately 31 acres.

An industrial park is also planned, which would entail the relocation of a rainwater retention basin to a nearby wetland.

City planning staff concluded that the development was consistent with the city’s growth policy.

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