Board backs Whitefish big-box law

By LYNNETTE HINTZE

The Daily Inter Lake

A proposal to require conditional-use permits for stores bigger than 15,000 square feet sailed through the Whitefish City-County Planning Board on Thursday with unanimous approval.

The City Council will vote on the so-called "big-box" law on Feb. 20.

For the past couple of years the council has talked about tighter review of large commercial projects in an effort to preserve Whitefish's small-town character.

The proposed law is aimed not only at big-box stores, but also "category killers" and "lifestyle centers."

Category killers are large retail chain stores such as Petco, Best Buy and Toys R Us that dominate in one type of merchandise and generally offer goods at prices so low that smaller stores cannot compete. Lifestyle centers are built to imitate traditional downtown shopping areas and

can drain energy from genuine downtowns.

"If and when one wants to come to Whitefish, the council wanted to know, 'What tools do we have to deal with those?'" Whitefish Planning Director Bob Horne said. "Is there a way to subject larger stores to more review?

"We're not limiting the size. We're saying that above 15,000 square feet, they'll be subject to a conditional-use permit," Horne added.

The Planning Board also unanimously passed a request by the city to amend conditional-use permit criteria to add review of a building's bulk, scale and community character and neighborhood compatibility.

No one from the audience spoke at either public hearing.

IN OTHER business, the Planning Board:

. Passed an ordinance that will extend the city's community decay law to the entire Whitefish zoning jurisdiction. The board added a stipulation that junk vehicles can remain on site if they're fenced and out of public view.

. Approved a conditional-use permit for Boardwalk Lake Club to operate a bar and lounge at The Loft, 124 Central Avenue. The business currently is a private club, but once the liquor license is issued and it becomes a bar, it will be open to the public. The owners intend to buy the beer and wine license from Pollo Grill that became available when the restaurant received a full liquor license.

. Continued a public hearing on the city's proposed stormwater law until Feb. 15.