Safeway project gets green light

Whitefish council OKs $12 million renovation plan

In the face of a public outcry, the Whitefish City Council on Monday unanimously gave Safeway the green light to proceed with a $12 million renovation of its Whitefish grocery store.

After continuing a June 4 public hearing and asking Safeway to make the back and side walls more architecturally pleasing, the council approved a conditional-use permit Monday in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

The council also threw out a couple of earlier conditions that had troubled grocery-store officials.

In the end, council members agreed the loading dock should be on the north side of the store where the elevation and access are better. A condition to require north-south pedestrian connections through the parking lot also was tossed out.

Safeway made changes in the building design, specifically on the 260-foot-long back wall and the southwest corner of the store. It was enough to win approval from the city's architectural review committee.

"The whole process was very challenging for both parties," architectural committee chairman Chad Grover said. "We felt like they came up with a pretty good solution.

The Safeway expansion is the first project subjected to the city's new box-store law requiring a permit for stores bigger than 15,000 square feet. The council's indecision two weeks ago unleashed a maelstrom of community support for the grocery store, a mainstay in Whitefish for more than 60 years.

Store manager Randy Bebee presented the council with a petition signed by 1,500 local residents supporting the expansion project.

The council chambers were so packed with Safeway supporters that the council opted to push the project to the top of the evening's agenda. Though the public hearing technically had been closed, several residents testified during the public-comment portion of the meeting.

Dave Skinner said the council's attempt to "micromanage every architectural detail" is stifling and creates new buildings that are "kind of contrived."

Safeway journeyman grocery clerk Kathy Rogers reminded the council that Safeway has been a responsible business and takes its obligations to employees and stockholders seriously.

After explaining the design changes, Safeway real-estate manager Jeff Parker said he believes the new store "will be a worthy complement to the character of Whitefish."

One last attempt by council member Cris Coughlin to require Safeway to share in the cost of a future stoplight at Baker Avenue and 13th Street and dedicate right of way to widen 13th was quickly shot down by both the council and city attorney. Coughlin said her ultimate concern is long-term road safety as continuing growth puts pressure on city streets.

City Attorney John Phelps said Coughlin's proposal was "so vague they don't know what we're requiring.

"It could snowball into bigger problems … at this point there's no chance for give and take and it creates problems on enforceability and fairness."

Safeway plans to begin the rebuilding job this summer, essentially reconstructing and enlarging the store to 52,578 square feet. The store will reflect the corporation's "elite format" and upscale design reflected in its Boulder, Colo., store.

The new store will have service meat and seafood cases, a vastly expanded organic food section, expanded floral shop and pharmacy, scratch bakery and a new deli. About 50 to 60 more employees will be added to the current work force.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com