Kalispell Planning Board to consider proposed child care center

May 9—The Kalispell Planning Board will be considering Tuesday a request to open an early child care center that may eventually serve up to 100 young children.

The board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., and can be attended virtually via Zoom.

The request for a conditional use permit for the child care center was submitted by Immanuel Lutheran Communities, which already runs Growing Roots, an early learning center for employees' children up to six years old. The nonprofit is looking to expand its operation in response to increased demand.

Immanuel Lutheran has been in talks with Northridge Lutheran Church, which is set to house the child care center, for several years, according to Pastor Carol Seilhymer of Northridge.

Seilhymer said she's heard from congregants about the need for more affordable child care options, and has seen firsthand how parents sometimes are forced to choose between working or staying home with young children.

Although Immanuel Lutheran offers child care to employees, the lack of affordable child care still presents a hiring challenge, Seilhymer said of conversations she's had with the operators of the senior living community.

To help bridge the gap and open up additional slots to the public, the church is leasing space — including classrooms, a gym and an outdoors playground area — to Immanuel Lutheran for a marginal fee. Seilhymer said the space currently sits mostly unused.

"We're charging them $1 per month," Seilhymer said. "This is one way to serve our community."

The facility will require only a few upgrades, including fencing around the playground, a new sprinkler system and ventilation upgrades to the commercial kitchen, she said.

The space can accommodate up to 100 children, according to the application, but the child care facility probably will launch with about half that amount, Seilhymer said.

THE PLANNING BOARD will also be open to public comments about the proposed Creekside Commons development, an affordable housing project offering 25 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units for elderly tenants.

The development received nearly $6.5 million in tax credits for affordable housing in 2020.

There will also be opportunities to comment on grant applications by mobile home communities Morning Star Court and Green Acres Court that would fund wastewater improvement upgrades that would replace the communities' aging septic systems with sewer mains connected to the city's wastewater treatment plant.

Finally, the owners of the Mountain Villa apartments are requesting annexation by the city as part of a move to connect to the sewer system.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.

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