Your Weekly Flathead Valley Land Use Planning Brief

Subscriber First Name,

This is your Monday primer about the Land Use Plan updates in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, and Whitefish. Read on below for upcoming meetings and other pertinent information.

Columbia Falls

Community Land Use Survey Live Through December 11, 2025

Upcoming:

• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Meeting, Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 7 a.m. - 8 a.m., Nite Owl/Backroom Restaurants (522 9th St W, Columbia Falls), RSVP here

  • Eric Hanks, City of Columbia Falls City Manager will be reviewing the joint City Council and Planning Commission Kick Off Meeting for the Land Use Plan/Growth Policy Development that occurred on November 13 and updating on major projects.

• City Utility Infrastructure Open House, Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 5 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls)

Last Week:

• A joint City Council and Planning Commission Kick Off Meeting for the Land Use Plan/Growth Policy Development took place on November 13 (Meeting Packet). Here’s what happened:

  • Introduction of the city’s Land Use Plan consultants from Cushing Terrell.

  • Overview of community land use survey that the city is currently soliciting responses for. Click on the link above to complete this survey.

  • Presentation of the project timeline (see below).

Kalispell

Upcoming:

• Nothing this week. The next Land Use Plan discussion is anticipated to occur at the Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Kalispell Planning Commission meeting.

• We anticipate that a full Land Use Plan draft will be available in the next 1-2 months. At that point, the entire Land Use Plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to advancing to the City Council for adoption.

Last Week:

• The Kalispell Planning Commission held a work session following its November 12 meeting to discuss draft chapters relating to Economic Development and Natural Resources.

Whitefish

Upcoming:

• City Council update with consultants czb, LLC, to discuss the Land Use Element of the Land Use Plan, Monday, November 17, 2025 at 6 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)

  • Remote attendance options are located on the agenda here.

• Open House to present future land use scenarios, Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)

• Whitefish Community Housing Committee meeting to discuss the Land Use Element of the Land Use Plan, Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 11 a.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)

• Planning Commission Vision 2045 Meeting to discuss Land Use and Transportation Element drafts, Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)

  • Remote attendance options and the draft of the Transportation Element are located on the agenda here.

• Whitefish Community Housing Committee Work Session to work on the Housing Element of the Land Use Plan, Monday, December 1, 2025 at 2 p.m., Whitefish City Hall (418 E 2nd St, Whitefish)

Last Week:

• No meetings or events related to the Land Use Plan occurred last week in Whitefish.