City considers agreement for parking structure
On Monday, the Kalispell city council looks to take a step forward with plans for a downtown parking structure.
Council is set to vote on approving the city manager’s authorization to execute a developer’s agreement with Montana Hotel Development Partners, LLC for a public parking structure at First Street West and First Avenue West.
The parking structure is part of a project to renovate city-owned parking lots. Last year, council approved plans for a five-story boutique hotel on the parking lot at the intersection of Third and Main Street. Part of the proposal included plans for a parking structure to accommodate the parking spots being replaced by the hotel.
“The parking garage is proposed to address parking needs of the development, replace the parking spaces being displaced within the two City-owned lots, and construct additional spaces for future development,” the meeting agenda states.
The garage would include 95 parking spaces dedicated for the hotel, 58 public spaces for either leasing or hourly parking, and 12 shared spaces.
The financers of the project are requesting a developer services agreement. According to the meeting agenda, “The Development Services Agreement further outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the City and the Developer through the development of the parking garage to carry out the requirements of agreement.”
The agreement outlines payment schedules, procedures for a change in plans, insurance requirements and various other details of the development.
ALSO ON the agenda for Monday’s meeting is an update to the city’s floodplain ordinance.
The Kalispell floodplain policy hasn’t been updated since 2015.
The existing Floodplain Management Ordinance was based on the 2014 Department of Natural Resources and Conservation model floodplain regulations. In 2021, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation issued a revision to the 2014 model regulations.
The proposed new ordinance includes include clarifying language and updates based on changes to the city limits that have resulted from annexations that have taken place since the floodplain ordinance was last updated in 2015. Because of annexation, the draft floodplain ordinance adds a new Flood Insurance Rate Map panel to the floodplain map for the city of Kalispell.
Council held a public hearing on March 7 regarding the proposed amendments, but there were no public comments. According to the agenda, the Planning Department has not received any public comments on the draft floodplain ordinance.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East.
Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.