Most of the action is centered in Columbia Falls this week, with three meetings of interest. Whitefish’s Planning Commission will also hold a final meeting to make a recommendation to the Whitefish City Council about updates to the city’s subdivision and zoning ordinances to comply with MLUPA and align with the newly adopted Land Use Plan. Kalispell will likely adopt new subdivision and zoning regulations on a second reading during this evening’s city council meeting.
This is your Monday primer about land use in Flathead County. Read below to learn more about what happened last week and what’s happening this week.
In the news
- The project ranked at the top of the list by the firm is a capacity study for the roughly $4 million bioreactor expansion project that was completed in the fall and aimed to increase its capacity to treat nitrogen in the water. City officials have already expressed the city’s plans to complete the study after the first year of operation for the bioreactor, which City Manager Eric Hanks said was roughly four times better at nitrogen removal than the engineering model had predicted.
- “You design these things, and you have design values, then you have the real plan, and it’s typically different,” Lashley said. “Luckily, in a lot of places, I’ve seen it perform much better, which is good for you guys. That might mean you have a little bit more time before you need to add on an expansion, but that capacity study can determine that. So it’s pretty important to figure out how soon the next step towards adding a second bioreactor needs to happen.”
- On the firm’s project list, the addition of a second bioreactor was paired with an upgrade to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which provides centralized, real-time monitoring and control of geographically dispersed assets like pumps, sensors and treatment processes. The combined project ranked fourth on the firm’s suggested priority list.
- Columbia Falls Continues Assessment of Water and Wastewater Treatment System to Plan for Growth
- Flathead County Terminates Bigfork’s Sliter Park Lease After 45 Years of Management
- Kalispell Council Rethinks Main Street Safety Action Plan
- Whitefish Has Lost the Benefit of the Doubt
- County Not Following its Own Policies When Approving Development Projects
- Council considers large commercial subdivision in South Kalispell
- Neighbors file appeal of West Glacier work camp
- Lakeside residents frustrated over hurried wastewater treatment project assessment
- A pattern of unaccountable development in county
- Whitefish City Planner maps out epic retirement after 20 years with city
- Whitefish adopts growth policy update, public engagement plan
- Commissioners approve Tamarack Meadows subdivision
- Weather delays hamper Sportsman bridge work
Columbia Falls
Click here to view the draft Future Land Use Map
Click here to view the draft Recommendations
Click here to provide feedback on the draft Future Land Use Map and Recommendations
Upcoming
Columbia Falls City Council meeting, Monday, May 4, 2026 at 7 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).
Final thoughts from the council about the city’s Future Land Use Map and Recommendations.
Housing Solutions, LLC is requesting a letter from the city in support of funding opportunities for Glacier View Senior, a proposed 29-home new-constructions, income-restricted (55+) rental development.
Columbia Falls Planning Commission special meeting, Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).
Review of annexation, zoning, and subdivision application for Teakettle Heights.
Columbia Falls Planning Commission special meeting, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 6 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).
Review of draft subdivision and zoning regulations to comply with MLUPA.
Last Week
Utility Infrastructure Open House – Future Conditions
City consultants discussed future needs for the city’s water and wastewater systems.
A summary of the discussion can be read by clicking here for a news article.
COLUMBIA FALLS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WEBSITE
Kalispell
Upcoming
Kalispell City Council meeting, Monday, May 4, 2026 at 7 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell).
Second reading/final adoption of new subdivision and zoning regulations to comply with MLUPA.
Last Week
The Kalispell City Council decided to pursue grant funding for a pared down version of a Safe Streets and Roads for All Implementation Grant, addressing only areas of Main Street South of the Flathead County Courthouse.
Click here to read a news article with more information.
Click here to view the video recording of the meeting.
Whitefish
Upcoming
Whitefish Planning Commission special meeting, Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 6 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E Second St, Whitefish).
Review of the city’s updated zoning and subdivision ordinances to comply with state law.
Scheduled for first reading with city council on May 18, 2026.
Last Week
The Whitefish Planning Commission held a first meeting to review draft subdivision and zoning regulation updates to match the adopted Land Use Plan and to comply with MLUPA.
The Commission took public comment and schedule a second meeting for Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Click here to view the video recording of the meeting.