City mulls major development Tuesday
Northside residents are expected at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting for a public hearing on a proposal to annex 155 acres for a housing development.
The Thaniel Addition, owned by Ken Cox, was recommended for approval by the planning board in May.
The parcel will be broken into seven phases, plus about 17 acres for dedicated parkland.
The owner is proposing a subdivision of about 28 acres on the southeast corner in the vicinity of 40th Avenue Northwest and 37th Avenue Northeast.
Of those acres, the owner will retain and develop or sell 28 lots himself as the first phase of the project.
The other 60 lots will be developed with NeighborWorks Great Falls for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Mutual Self Help Housing Program over six years.
The remaining 110 acres will continue to be used for agricultural purposes until future development occurs, according to the city.
The self-help program requires homebuyer education and the participants contribute at least 65 percent of the labor in their home construction, according to Sheila Rice, executive director of NeighborWorks.
Residents have expressed concerns about traffic and road improvements, and city planners have included a requirement for the developers of Thaniel and the neighboring development to pay for a North Great Falls transportation study, as well as an area stormwater master plan.
If the City Commission does not approve the project Tuesday night, it’s unclear whether the developer will continue the project, which would also affect the proposed 171 residential lots on the adjacent property.
That project, known as West Ridge Addition phases 7-11, is recommended for R-3 single-family, high-density residential and is being developed by S&L Development. That project is scheduled for a public hearing Aug. 18.
West Ridge developers have elected to pay cash to the city in lieu of parkland and would pay 11 percent of the undivided, undeveloped value of the acreage.
A park proposed for the Thaniel Addition would serve both new developments.
Since both major developments are happening at the same time, the city is coordinating with both developers for larger issues in the area such as street connectivity, storm water, utilities and parks.
The long-term plans for both developments include connecting 43rd Avenue Northeast from Bootlegger to 6th Street Northwest.
The city is already planning for growth in the area, and in August, the City Commission approved a $160,391 professional services agreement with DOWL HKM for engineering services associated with the North Great Falls Lift Station and Force Main.
A public hearing is also scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting on annexing about 14 acres at 5325 10th Ave. N. and zoning the property as I-2 Heavy Industrial. The property is where CHS Nutrition is located. According to city planners, the proposed city zoning allows for the same uses as the property’s current county zoning.