Here’s your weekly primer for land use across the Flathead Valley. The Kalispell City Council is voting tonight on forming a Housing Study Advisory Committee to work on a citywide housing study that is already budgeted for. Keep reading below for a recap of what happened last week and to find out what’s happening this week. p.s. we’re trying out a slightly modified format for this newsletter going forward, let us know what you think! p.p.s. we’re going to start adding in items that pertain to Flathead County in addition to our cities. Stay tuned for that in next week’s edition.
This week’s top story
Kalispell Council Weighs Housing Committee, Affordable Housing Project Funding
Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider forming an advisory committee tasked with helping to guide a housing study and develop a housing plan.
The proposal stems from a housing initiative Mayor Ryan Hunter championed during his successful campaign for office. While he pushed for a permanent board that would also focus on homelessness, councilors opted for a temporary committee with a set goal and timeline.
The committee would help staff draft a request for a proposals for a citywide housing study. Kalispell has set aside $126,000 from a grant received in 2023 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund the effort.
The five-person board would be able to make policy recommendations to Council and is expected to include members from the public, for profit, and nonprofit sectors with direct housing experience, according to a memo from City Manager Jarod Nygren.
In the news
- Kalispell Planning Commission Reviews Proposed 95-Home Affordable Housing Development Off Highway 93 Bypass
- City Annexes, Rezones Property at Whitefish’s South Entrance
- Board Tables Development Restrictions Near Glacier Park International Airport Amid Opposition
- Question of Self-Governing Powers Will Likely Appear on Ballot in Columbia Falls
- PacifiCorp to Power Down Bigfork Dam Unless Buyer Steps Forward
- Developer Proposes 97-Slip Bigfork Bay Marina in ‘Jurisdictionally Complex’ Project
- [Whitefish] City Council Preview for June 15, 2026
- Highway 2 Work Near Essex All Summer Long, Expect Delays Traveling in Area
This week in meetings
Week of June 15, 2026
Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls City Council meeting, Monday, June 15, 2026 at 7 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).
Final reading and approval of the Teakettle Heights Annexation, Zoning, and Subdivision Applications.
Final reading and approval of updated zoning and subdivision ordinances to comply with the Montana Land Use Planning Act.
Kalispell
Kalispell City Council meeting, Monday, June 15, 2026 at 7 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell).
Creation of a Housing Study Advisory Committee which will develop a request for proposals (RFP) for the housing study and will assist in the development of the housing study with the goal of providing policy recommendations to city council after completion.
Whitefish
The Sustainable Tourism Resident Survey has been posted by the city and is available to complete through July 1, 2026.
Whitefish City Council work session, Monday, June 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E Second St, Whitefish).
Resort Tax Community Housing Program
Discussion about the creation of a grant program and criteria to award funds rather than funds being disbursed on a “case-by-case basis” as they are currently.
Whitefish City Council meeting, Monday, June 15, 2026 at 7:10 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E Second St, Whitefish).
Amending the Legacy Homes Program Administrative Procedures, Purchase Prices, Rental Prices, and Fees in Lieu.
This is an annual update to reflect changes in the real estate market and the area median income (AMI).
The fee in lieu for the Legacy Homes Program would increase 0.5% to $380,092 per unit.
Last week’s recap
Week of June 11–14, 2026
Columbia Falls
Nothing significant to report.
Kalispell
Nothing significant to report.
Whitefish
Nothing significant to report.