Changes in Boardwalk plan emerge
The developer of the controversial Boardwalk project in Whitefish has scrapped his application and plans instead to divide the project into two parts, one for each side of Wisconsin Avenue.
Bob Bowden of Slopeside Properties and his consultant, Eric Mulcahy, met with Whitefish Planning Director Bob Horne last week to lay the groundwork for moving ahead with the development.
The project includes 38 acres of wooded land east of Wisconsin Avenue and 3 acres with Whitefish Lake frontage on the west side of Wisconsin near the Lodge at Whitefish Lake.
A planned-unit development proposal was slated for final planning-board consideration on Thursday but is now off the agenda. Bayard Dominick, Bowden's partner in the Boardwalk project, has stepped aside to let Bowden take the lead.
"We believe it is best to withdraw the current PUD application and resubmit two applications in the near future," Mulcahy said in a letter to Horne that recapped their meeting.
The new applications would include a conditional-use permit for the eastside parcels and development plans for permitted uses on the westside parcels. Specifically, the lakeshore property would involve three four-plex condominium buildings (one building on each of the three existing lots) along with a pool and pool house.
The four-plex plan falls within the permitted use for that property and conforms to the zoning code, Mulcahy pointed out in the letter.
Both planners and the public had concerns about the large size of the previously proposed resort hotel that would have been built just south of the new Lodge at Whitefish Lake.
New plans for the east side may include a resort hotel. That property is zoned for high density of up to 850 dwelling units. Because of the current zoning, a hotel would preclude special review.
Developers have tried for some time to design a project that would address all the environmental issues for the property, a crucial drainage area between Big Mountain and Whitefish Lake. Mulcahy indicated the developer would submit a detailed drainage and site analysis prior to submitting any final plans for approval.
The newest proposal is the third go-round for the project.
Initially 167 residential units were proposed on the east side: 26 cabins, 13 affordable condominium units, 61 market condominium units, 27 studio units above a semi-private spa/health club, a recreation center and a sales office.
On the west side, a semi-private bar and restaurant would have accompanied a 95,000-square-foot lodge.
After the first proposal was rejected, developers came back with a second design for approximately 70 units on the east side and 34 units and a spa on the west side.
Through Mulcahy's letter, Bowden expressed a desire "to expend the time, energy and assets to jointly develop a plan that can be recommended by staff on all levels, before going to the planning board."
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com