Whitefish wants more control of construction past city limits

The Daily Inter Lake

Aiming for more control over development in its unincorporated planning area, the city of Whitefish wants to require zoning compliance permits and site plans.

The two proposals will be combined in one public hearing tonight before the Whitefish City Council.

The planning board last month recommended approval of both planning tools.

Compliance with the city's zoning regulations normally is accomplished in tandem with the building-code process within city limits, City Manager Gary Marks said.

But state law prohibits the administration of building permits outside city limits, making it difficult for the city to verify compliance with zoning regulations within the city's planning jurisdiction, roughly a 2-mile doughnut around the city.

If approved, a zoning compliance permit and an approved site plan would be required prior to any terrain disturbance for the purpose of development to demonstrate zoning requirements have been met.

The planning board recommended that city staff be given authority to waive the required site plan if information provided on the application form made it unnecessary.

DURING OTHER public hearings, the council will consider extending its temporary emergency stormwater law a full year to give the city ample time to develop and enact a permanent ordinance.

The council also will consider allowing deviations from the temporary stormwater law through the planned-unit development process.

The city wants to use tax-increment revenue to pay for the excavation and disposal of contaminated soil at city property at the northwest corner of Spokane Avenue and Second Street, but the council needs to OK it.

A land-use license with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for the Trail Runs Through It process will be considered.

Also on the agenda is a recommendation to authorize an easement agreement allowing construction of a bike trail at the Rocksund property south of Whitefish.

The meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall.