Here’s your weekly primer for land use across the Flathead Valley. The Kalispell City Council is holding a public hearing Monday on the city’s updated Water System, Wastewater Collection System, and Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Plans, with appointments to the new Housing Study Advisory Committee also expected at the same meeting. Keep reading below for a recap of what happened last week and to find out what’s happening this week.
This week’s top story
Nonprofits Partner to Preserve 55 Households in Kalispell Mobile Home Park
In a partnership with the Whitefish Community Foundation, NeighborWorks Montana is in the process of adding a fourth mobile home park to its roster of resident-owned communities (ROC) in Flathead County, which will preserve 55 households and prevent tenant displacement.
As part of a multimillion-dollar acquisition and preservation effort, the nonprofit organization is purchasing Twin Willows, which was formerly Twin Acres and Willow Glen mobile home parks, in south Kalispell.
Twin Willows is slated to become the fourth community-owned mobile home park in Flathead County, joining the Hideaway Community in Columbia Falls and the Morning Star and Green Acres Cooperative, Inc. parks in Kalispell. Each community is part of an individual cooperative with a board of directors charged with approving an annual budget and identifying capital improvements while maintaining affordable lot fees.
NeighborWorks Montana is financing the purchase along with philanthropic support, as well as a low-interest loan from Clearwater Credit Union and the Montana Board of Investments, which is providing 75% of the financing through its loan program for projects that serve the public interest.
To help fund the acquisition, the Whitefish Community Foundation awarded a $75,000 Major Community Project grant, which represents one of the largest philanthropic commitments to the project.
In the news
- ‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected in Big Mountain Water Co. Wells
- Council Eyes Solutions to Curb ‘Kruise Kalispell’ Complaints as Police Crack Down on Reckless Driving
- Whitefish Community Foundation and Kalispell Rotary Clubs Donate $200,000 to Ashley Creek Park
- Nonprofit works to reopen Kalispell crisis stabilization center
- Heavy Rain and Flooding Close Many Glacier Valley
- Glacier National Park Begins Reopening Following Flooding
- [Whitefish] Permit burning closure
This week in meetings
Week of July 6, 2026
Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls City Council regular meeting, Monday, July 6, 2026 at 7 p.m. (Finance Committee at 6:30 p.m.), Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).
Public hearing on the preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget.
The hearing begins July 6 and will be continued at subsequent meetings until the council adopts a final budget after receiving the certified taxable valuation in August.
Resolution No. 1968 — a recommendation from the Columbia Falls Local Government Study Commission to change the city’s existing plan of government.
The resolution would allow the governing body to request an election on the proposed change.
Kalispell
Kalispell City Council regular meeting, Monday, July 6, 2026 at 7 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell).
Public hearing on adoption of the updated 2026 Water System, Wastewater Collection System, and Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWWTP) Facility Plans.
The plans were reviewed at the June 22 work session and together identify more than $300 million in capital projects over the next 20 years. The proposed plans are viewable at kalispell.com/CouncilHearings, and written comment can be submitted to the City Clerk (201 First Avenue East) or publiccomment@kalispell.com before the hearing.
Appointments to the new Housing Study Advisory Committee, which will guide the citywide housing study. Applications closed June 30.
Whitefish
The Sustainable Tourism Resident Survey has been posted by the city and is available to complete through July 15, 2026.
Whitefish City Council work session, Monday, July 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E Second St, Whitefish).
Whitefish Lake Institute aquatic invasive species (AIS) report and other water quality project updates.
Whitefish City Council regular meeting, Monday, July 6, 2026 at 7:10 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E Second St, Whitefish).
Consideration of amending the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust ground lease for homes in Whitefish.
The community land trust model keeps homes permanently affordable by leasing the underlying land to income-qualified homeowners.
Last week’s recap
Week of June 29–July 5, 2026
Columbia Falls
No relevant meetings were held last week.
Kalispell
Kalispell City Council work session, Monday, June 29, 2026 at 7 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell). (meeting video)
Council heard updates from the Kalispell Police Department, the City Attorney’s office, Public Works, and the Montana Department of Transportation on downtown Friday-night cruising. Police Chief Jordan Venezio reported that since May the department has made roughly 180 traffic stops downtown during the cruises, issued around 80 traffic citations, made multiple arrests for reckless driving, and towed multiple vehicles, with staffing increased to a minimum of four officers downtown on Friday nights.
No formal vote was taken (work session). Councilors postponed the idea of an additional penalty for breaking city driving codes after the City Manager noted a new ordinance couldn’t take effect until after the summer months, and agreed to discuss traffic calming measures and potential ordinances at future work sessions.
Whitefish
No relevant meetings were held last week.