Your Weekly Flathead Valley Land Use Planning Brief

Subscriber First Name,

ICYMI, here’s the results of our poll of Flathead County voters. We asked them how they’re feeling about the local housing market and how they think we should fix it.

This is your Monday primer about the Land Use Plan updates in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, and Whitefish. Read below for information on upcoming meetings and to find out what happened last week.

In the news:

Flathead Advocacy Group Commissions Survey Ahead of Land Use Plan Approvals

Kalispell City Council to finish land use plan review, discuss county septic regulation changes

Flathead County OKs Pursuit employee housing in West Glacier

Zoning amendment near Whitefish denied by Flathead County commissioners

Flathead, Gallatin counties host majority of short-term rental units, report finds

Flathead Co. survey shows residents concerned about housing

Draft Whitefish growth plan draws criticism over zoning

Columbia Falls

Upcoming:

• Columbia Falls Planning Commission, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 6 p.m., Columbia Falls City Hall (130 6th St W, Columbia Falls).

  • Future Land Use Map & Recommendations Workshop

  • The agenda is not yet available but will be posted here.

• There will be meetings/public hearings about the plan on April 13, April 23, May 4, and May 18, 2026 (final adoption date). See the calendar below.

Last Week:

• Nothing last week.

Kalispell

Upcoming:

• Kalispell City Council Work Session, Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., Kalispell City Hall (201 1st Ave E, Kalispell).

  • Final work session to discuss the city’s draft Land Use Plan before the public hearing scheduled for March 16, 2026.

  • We anticipate further discussion about adding fourplexes as a permitted use in all residential zones, to be adopted as an additional state-required housing strategy. Livable Flathead believes that this amendment would be beneficial. If you are available this evening and support this measure, making a public comment in-person at the meeting would help the council to adopt this provision.

Last Week:

• The Kalispell City Council completed a work session about the city’s draft Land Use Plan.

  • View meeting video by clicking here.

Whitefish

Upcoming:

• Nothing this week!

• The public hearing on the city’s draft Land Use Plan will continue on Monday, March 23, 2026.