City OK’s light industrial park; water well is down
The Columbia Falls City Council approved a minor subdivision for a light industrial park on Meadow Lake Boulevard.
The subdivision would have five lots and would be on what is now vacant land just north of the Lazy Day Trailer Court.
Fill that is currently at the site will be removed and replaced.
The park, called T&C Business Park, is just under 10 acres. The growth policy actually calls for multi-family residential at the site, but it has been zoned light industrial for years and was previously used to store heavy equipment.
It would have five lots total and a service road that’s 24 feet wide. As part of the subdivision, it would not have interior sidewalks, but they would have to put a path along Meadow Lake Boulevard. The site is owned by Herbert Enterprises of Columbia Falls.
The vote to approve the subdivision was 3-1 in favor, with councilwoman Kathy Price objecting. She was concerned about a variance that allowed no interior sidewalks and the width of the service road being just 24 feet.
But Mayor Don Barnhart noted that other industrial subdivisions in town, like Weyerhaeuser, do not have interior sidewalks, either. They simply aren’t needed for the type of businesses that occupy them, plus there isn’t much pedestrian traffic.
The roads inside the park would be private as well and not open to public access.
In other news:
• The city approved an Eagle Scout project by Merrick Fairchild to create a children’s Memorial Garden at Wildcat Park off Talbott Road. The small park would be a nice place to sit and enjoy perennial gardens Fairchild plans on planting.
She went over the design and concept of the park with city staff and parks maintenance crews so that it would have low-maintenance plants and perennial flowers. The council approved the garden and thought it was an excellent idea.
• Barnhart cautioned that city revenue from the resort tax could be down this year. Nucleus Avenue is down several businesses and traffic from Canadians seems down as well.
He also brought up continued concerns about high grass and weeds along businesses on Highway 2.
• Price brought up concerns about kids on ebikes going above the speed limit and riding too fast on bike paths and streets in the city. Like any vehicle, they are required to go the speed limit and obey traffic laws, noted Police Chief Chad Stephens.
• City manager Eric Hanks said a motor in one of the city’s water well pumps has failed and it could take two months to get it repaired. The city has three wells total and has lived with three wells in the past, but with summer watering, there is an obvious concern.
• The city council approved the appointment of Sydney Mainolfi as a volunteer firefighter.