Summary:
The Kalispell City Council proposes creating on-street parking zones near Peterson Elementary School after construction of Samaritan House apartments eliminated existing drop-off areas. Key changes include designated one-hour parking, patron loading zones, and bus lanes along Second Street West. Council also considers streamlining future school parking requests through administrative approval under Chapter 17-82 of city code rather than case-specific amendments. Additional discussions addressed downtown traffic enforcement and potential changes to city manager residency requirements amid current recruitment efforts.
What This Means for You:
- Prepare for new parking patterns during school drop-off/pickup: Utilize designated zones to avoid congestion
- Monitor code amendment outcomes: Successful Chapter 17-82 updates could expedite future parking solutions district-wide
- Report reckless driving downtown: Contact Kalispell PD as enhanced patrols resume to combat cruising issues
- Anticipate residency requirement debates: Potential policy change could impact city manager recruitment process
Original Post:
Aug. 27—Kalispell City Council at a work session Monday seemed to favor allowing on-street parking in front of Peterson Elementary School along Second Street West.
School staff asked the city to consider on-street parking. The lot across the street at the former Armory property had been used for student drop-offs and pick-ups in the past, but construction of the new Samaritan House apartments on the lot has prompted the need for another option, staff said.
A one-hour limit parking area that fits five to six cars would be designated in front of the school from Meridian Road to the fire hydrant. A patron loading area would be situated just east of the hydrant to the edge of the school. A bus loading area would stretch the length of the paved area to the next-door alley. The crosswalk to the Samaritan House would also be removed.
While the bus and patron loading areas are administratively permitted, the one-hour parking lot requires a city code change.
Council also appeared in favor of updating Chapter 17-82 of city code to allow school parking requests to be handled administratively.
“This approach lets staff evaluate the road, apply the standards and issue permits without needing a code amendment every time a public school requires a short-term parking due to a land use change,” Public Works Director Susie Turner said.
The other option presented to Council was to create a new section of code under Chapter 17-90 allowing short-term parking specifically for Peterson Elementary, but Council considered the move time-consuming and overbearing.
“17-90 is big government, 17-82 is small government,” Mayor Mark Johnson said.
Council is expected to formally vote on the code change during its next meeting.
At the end of the meeting, Councilor Sam Nunnally asked Council to hold a future discussion about eliminating the requirement for city managers to live within city limits.
The city is currently searching for a new city manager after Doug Russell stepped down from the position earlier this month.
Councilor Sandy Carlson described her less-than-peaceful Friday night downtown.
“We had to scream at each other to be heard over the cars racing by, not going 20 miles an hour,” she said. “I just think we need to revisit it some time to put an end to the cruise.”
Councilors last fall decided against implementing any regulations to limit cruising despite the frustration of downtown business owners and some residents.
The Kalispell Police Department planned to beef up patrols along Main Street in the spring to curb reckless driving.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
Extra Information:
- Kalispell Municipal Code Chapter 17-82 (Parking regulations framework under review)
- Samaritan House Apartments Project Details (Development causing parking displacement)
- Kalispell Traffic Calming Policy (Relevant to downtown speeding concerns)
People Also Ask About:
- How do school parking restrictions affect neighborhood traffic flow?
- Designated zones reduce congestion but require strict compliance to prevent spillover into residential streets.
- What’s the difference between administrative approval vs code amendments?
- Administrative decisions streamline processes, while code changes require council votes and public hearings.
- Why do some cities require managers to live within city limits?
- Residency requirements aim to ensure local accountability and community investment from leadership.
- How effective are increased patrols for traffic calming?
- Targeted enforcement typically reduces violations short-term but requires sustained presence for lasting impact.
Expert Opinion:
“Kalispell’s administrative approach to school parking reflects a growing municipal trend toward adaptive zoning. While streamlining processes benefits urgent needs like Peterson Elementary’s situation, cities must balance efficiency with consistent standards. The simultaneous downtown safety concerns highlight how traffic management requires holistic solutions – isolated fixes often shift problems rather than resolve them.” – Urban Planning Specialist, Western Transportation Institute
Key Terms:
- Kalispell school zone parking regulations
- Municipal code Chapter 17-82 amendments
- Student drop-off lane safety standards
- City manager residency requirements Montana
- Downtown traffic calming measures Kalispell
- Administrative permit approval process
- Samaritan House development impact studies
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