Meeting today on Whitefish growth policy

The future of Whitefish is the focus of a third public meeting at 6 p.m. today for the Whitefish growth policy.

This meeting will explore how residents want to see Whitefish grow.

"At our first two meetings, we thought it would be best to just give folks a basic understanding of what the growth policy was all about, let them explore the material, ask questions and have them record any comments or suggestions," Whitefish Planning Director Bob Horne said. "This time, we would like to have folks start thinking about what they value in Whitefish and what they want to see preserved, or even done better, as the community grows."

The planning staff will conduct this meeting, but a professional facilitator might conduct additional sessions.

"For the growth policy to embody a vision, the citizens of the community have to articulate that vision," Horne said. "We will help them do that in a way that is meaningful to the growth-policy document."

Planning and Building Department staff has been working with a steering committee since January. The group hopes to have a "working draft" completed by October.

The meeting will be at Whitefish City Hall.