Whitefish considers boat/RV storage regs

The Daily Inter Lake

The Whitefish City Council tonight will take a second look at a proposed zoning text amendment to allow boat and recreational vehicle storage in several business and resort residential zones.

The council held its first hearing on the matter Feb. 2, when numerous citizens testified that the proposed regulations were overly restrictive, insensitive to landowners and potentially environmentally unsound.

No action was taken and staff members were directed to revise the proposal. Those revisions now are the focus of the second public hearing tonight.

The council wanted revisions to address four issues:

n Make a distinction between residential versus commercial boat/RV storage.

n Not require paving for storage areas because they don't generate enough traffic to create dust.

n Not require both landscaping and fence screening.

n Consider more residential zones to permit storage.

IN OTHER business, the council will hear about a new summer day-camp program aimed at developing a broader scope of recreational activities for Whitefish youth.

The council will weigh in on an appeal of the denial of Kathryn Dawn Duncan's family-transfer request.

A workshop to discuss zoning text amendments for vendors and temporary business uses will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. The planning department has seen a recent increase in the number of inquiries for vendor and temporary business operations, City Manager Chuck Stearns said in his council report.

"The current regulations are vague and difficult to implement," he said. "The purpose of this work session is to receive policy direction in drafting revised regulations."

The regular council meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.; both meetings are at Whitefish City Hall.