The Kalispell City Council on Nov. 10 conditionally approved Resolution 6302, the preliminary plat for the Northwest View subdivision and its associated conditional use permit for 38 attached townhome units in an R‑3 zone.

Donnie Macbeth, planner 2, described the project area as roughly 42.58 acres north of the intersection of Stillwater Road and Taylor, with infrastructure needs that include a 16‑inch water main extension to provide required fire flows and municipal service. The proposal would create 149 residential lots (111 detached single‑family and 38 attached townhome units); parkland dedication requirements are calculated at 0.03 acres per dwelling (4.47 acres for 149 units) and staff noted approximately 1.95 acres of parkland identified in the preliminary plat with additional dedication or improvements required to meet the full standard.

A project consultant, Eric Mulcahy of Sand Surveying, told the council the applicant concurred with the staff report and supported striking condition 29 (which staff and the planning commission recommended be handled during site review with Public Works). After brief discussion, Councilor Dowden moved to conditionally approve the preliminary plat; the roll call showed all present voting Aye. The council then approved the companion conditional use permit for the townhome component on a separate motion and roll call (all Aye).

The staff report and planning commission recommendation noted the subdivision layout was consistent with the growth policy and R‑3 zoning, included a street network designed to distribute traffic along Dragon Fire Avenue and Lumberjack Place with multiple access points, and incorporated provisions to preserve a berm and fence that buffers the adjacent LHC gravel operation (the berm is tied to the gravel use and may be removed when reclamation occurs under state requirements). Macbeth said final sublot layout, shared access arrangements and maintenance responsibilities would be finalized during final plat and building permit review stages.

What to expect next: The project will proceed to final engineering and plat stages where public works and fire department reviews, parkland dedication or improvement calculations, and final lot layouts will be resolved. Required public improvements — including the recommended 16‑inch water main extension — will be addressed during engineering review and construction plan submittal.