Council approves acceleration of Highline project

The popular Highline Apartments off Bill’s Lane in Columbia Falls will see a build-out sooner rather than later.

The Columbia Falls city council Monday night approved an amended planned unit development that would allow developer Greenway Capital to build three more buildings immediately rather than two. The city-county planning board last week also approved the change.

The new plan also allowed a variance for a 102-square-foot sign on one of the buildings that will advertise the apartments. Typically, residential areas are only allowed a 16-square-foot sign.

All told, the second phase will bring the total number of units to 180. That was a sticking point in original plan, which called for 207 units.

But there were concerns about fire code with more than 200 units. The International Fire Code, which the city follows but the state doesn’t mandate, would call for a second egress road in the event of an emergency.

But building a second road would mean a steep road up the east bank of the development, or buying more land for a second egress to Highway 2.

So to meet that requirement, Greenway decided to simply lower the number of units.

Mayor Don Barnhart did push to have a street light at the intersection of Bill’s Lane and Third Avenue East for safety reasons. City manager Susan Nicosia said the city is working on creating a lighting district in the area.

The signage wasn’t considered an issue — it will be made of stenciled metal and will be backlit. It will be attached to the first building and will face away from neighborhoods nearby.

The apartments are one of the most successful developments in recent Columbia Falls history. They were rented out before the first two units were completed.

Architect Aaron Wallace, who was speaking for the developer, said the three new units are already half reserved. Work on them should start this year.

The apartments are popular because they have a relatively affordable price point and they allow pets.