Council OK’s another casino on Nucleus; talks sewer line

The Columbia Falls City Council last week approved a conditional use permit for up to 20 gaming machines for a new casino on Nucleus Avenue.

No one spoke in opposition of the permit, though there was one email to council opposing the measure.

The approval comes on the heels of a city-county planning board approval of the permit a few weeks ago.

J & L Golf, Levi LaPrath and Jarred Griffis are planning to open a sports bar at the former New Attitude Hair Salon location.

The property is zoned CB-4 (Central Business) and the zoning ordinance requires a conditional use permit for new casinos, while bars and restaurants are already permitted uses under the zoning.

The bar is only beer and wine, they do not have a full liquor license. The new establishment will be called Wolf Creek Casino.

LaPrath told the Hungry Horse News they plan on starting work this month and hope to be open by June.

Gaming machines and alcohol licenses go hand-in-hand typically. They’re seen as a way to recoup the cost of the license.

In other news:

• Councilman Darin Fisher asked if city sewer and water is extended across the river for subdivisions, would it be big enough for any future growth in the area. City staff indicated it would be built for future growth as well. Developer Rishi Kapoor of Florida is proposing a 180-unit rental complex east of the Flathead River on the north side of Highway 2 and developer James Barnett has proposed 300-plus unit subdivisions on the south side of the highway as well. Barnett pulled his applications after the city-county planning board rejected them twice in six months.

But Kapoor’s plans go before council on April 17 at 7 p.m. at the high school, after coming with a negative recommendation from the planning board as well.

Kapoor is also eyeing another large subdivision on about 113 acres just to the east of the one near the Flathead River.

A zone change request for the 113-acre parcel was being considered by the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday.

All told, the projects, particularly if Barnett revives his plan, could potentially amount to 600 or more housing units between Columbia Falls and Columbia Heights in the coming years, not including a 50-plus unit subdivision called the Benches just west of the Waterslides.

• Council welcomed Sean Kehl as a new volunteer firefighter. After he was sworn in, Mayor Don Barnhart asked if it was OK for Kehl to volunteer here, since Kehl is a full-time firefighter in Bigfork as well. City manager Susan Nicosia said it was, because he doesn’t work for the city.

• Police Chief Clint Peters said a new Dodge Charger will be on the streets soon as a patrol car. He noted the base cost of the new patrol car was about $37,000, but once cameras and other equipment are installed, it costs about $25,000 to $30,000 to fully equip the rig.