Whitefish Council to meet tonight
The Daily Inter Lake
The Whitefish City Council will handle a slew of residential development requests at its meeting tonight.
The council will hold a public hearing on Benny Bee Sr.'s request to amend the city's master plan so he can build a subdivision. The Whitefish City-County Planning Board in November recommended denying the request.
Bee wants to build 62 homes and 40 mini-storage units on about 20 acres near the corner of Voerman and Monegan roads.
The area is designated as important farmlands in the master plan, but Bee wants to reclassify it as urban residential. He also is requesting a zone change and a planned unit development for the subdivision.
At the November planning board meeting, about 15 people addressed the board. Most of them opposed the amendment because they fear it will degrade the neighborhood's existing character as farmland.
The council also will consider:
A special improvement district for infrastructure work in the JP Road area. Funding the district would require that the city pay a one-time sum of $253,910 or an annual payment of $20,375 per year for 20 years. Funds for the city's share could be raised through increasing citywide street maintenance assessments.
An amendment to the city's open container ordinance that would make outdoor dining areas and alcoves subject to open container restrictions.
An amendment to the weed ordinance that scales down the amount of weed growth property owners can have and increases the fees the city can levy on owners when the city handles weeds on private properties.
A planned unit development for the Edgewater subdivision south of Greenwood Drive.
Final plat approvals of the Lakes Cottages, Baker Avenue Subdivision and Garden Townhouses projects.
The council will meet in special session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss restructuring planning and development services. The council in past meetings has expressed interest in pulling out of the Tri-City Planning Office and establishing its own planning office.
The council also will discuss ongoing negotiations with Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad for property the city wants to use for a bike path.
The regular council meeting starts at 7:10 p.m. in City Hall.