This is your Monday morning primer about the Land Use Plan updates in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, and Whitefish. Read on below for what happened last week, upcoming meetings, and other pertinent information.
ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEYS IN COLUMBIA FALLS AND WHITEFISH CLOSE THIS WEEK ! Kalispell has completed its draft Land Use Plan, and the Kalispell Planning Commission will take its first look at this on Tuesday evening.
We are currently working on a report that is exploring growth patterns (and their financial impacts on cities and taxpayers) across Flathead County since 2000. We anticipate releasing this prior to the end of the year, so stay tuned!
Columbia Falls
Community Land Use Survey Live Through December 11, 2025
Upcoming
Columbia Falls Planning Commission (Utility Infrastructure Discussion) meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 6 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls)
Columbia Falls City Council (Utility Infrastructure Discussion) meeting on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls)
Annual Public Meeting for Mountain Climber, Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6 p.m., The Hub Downtown (533 1st Ave E, Columbia Falls)
Last Week
Nothing last week.
Read our blog post on the city’s current public water and sewer/wastewater infrastructure by clicking here.
Spoiler alert: the city will need to upgrade its water and sewer systems as it continues to grow in the future.
The way that Columbia Falls grows will be very important to fund these improvements with minimal cost to taxpayers. We will delve into this topic on our blog in the coming weeks.
COLUMBIA FALLS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WEBSITE
Kalispell
Upcoming
Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 6 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell)
Review of Entire Land Use Plan Draft
Official [Planning Commission] Public Hearing for this Draft Plan is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Draft will then continue to the Kalispell City Council for official adoption.
Annual Public Meeting for Mountain Climber, Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 2 p.m., South County Campus, 2nd Floor Conference Room (40 11th St W, Kalispell)
Last Week
Nothing last week.
KALISPELL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WEBSITE
Whitefish
Click here to provide Input on Future Land Use Scenarios (Closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025)
Upcoming
Whitefish Community Housing Committee meeting to finish work on the draft Housing Element, Monday, December 8, 2025 at 2 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)
The Housing Element draft will be made publicly available shortly after this meeting.
The Whitefish Planning Commission determined that it would have weekly meetings in January (on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.) to address the Land Use and Housing Elements of the Land Use Plan.
Last Week
The Whitefish City Council appointed two new members to the Planning Commission, Marti Brandt and Mike Hein (replacing Jon Heberling and Toby Scott).
These appointments will change some of the board dynamics to potentially facilitate improved meeting efficiency.
These new members also more closely align the demographics of the Planning Commission to the demographics of the community.
Last week, the Whitefish Community Housing Committee began its work on the draft Housing Element of the Land Use Plan. The committee will finish this work this afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Whitefish Planning Commission completed the Transportation Element after a 4-hour meeting on Wednesday of last week.
Notably, the Commission removed all references to mixed use from this chapter draft. Livable Flathead disagrees with this decision and will go into more detail on our blog in the coming weeks.