Housing developments discussed

Whitefish planning board meets Thursday.

The Whitefish City Council is just one step away from adopting what would be the city's first offering of incentives to developers who build affordable homes.

On Monday night, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance that outlines incentives for developers.

The incentives, which would be available to developers on a voluntary basis, include setback reductions, density bonuses and mixed-use options. To receive the incentives, developers would have to sign a contract with a local housing authority stating their intention to build affordable homes.

The city has been tackling the issue of affordable housing for several years.

"I'm very excited to vote for this," councilwoman Cris Coughlin said.

Other council members agreed.

"We've had a number of folks from the development community involved in the past couple of workshops," said city planner Eric Mulcahy, "and they seem to think this would work."

One local developer spoke in favor of the ordinance Monday. He said he thought the the incentives would be well received and utilized by developers.

The council also introduced new language to the ordinance in light of comments by SueAnne Grogan, executive director of the Whitefish Housing Authority.

Last month, Grogan said term "moderate income" precluded her from helping families acquire grants to help purchase homes.

The council on Monday reworded the terms and figures in the ordinance to ensure that the housing authority will be able to apply for grants.

The council is expected to pass the incentive ordinance later this month.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com