Whitefish considers subdivision regs update

The Whitefish City Council has a heavy agenda with five public hearings scheduled tonight, including one on the first major rewrite of subdivision regulations since 1995.

The council will meet in a work session at 6 p.m. to review the proposed subdivision rule changes.

The proposal includes changes made necessary by amendments to the Montana State Subdivision and Platting Act over the past several years, as well as recent policy and regulatory amendments approved by the City Council.

Regulations also have been reformatted so they're easier to understand and use.

Other hearings include:

--A sign variance to allow two temporary signs and extend the 30-day time limit to the duration of the Third Street construction project. The variance was requested by Third Street business owners who need the flexibility while their street is being reconstructed.

-- Details of the Lakeside (City Beach) sewer lift station project and National Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusion. A categorical exclusion is frequently done for water or sewer projects in existing areas where there are no or limited environmental changes or impact from the project, City Manager Chuck Stearns said in his manager report.

-- A zoning text amendment that involves 2009 legislative changes to criteria used for amendments to the zoning map and zoning text.

-- A zoning text amendment to provide an option for issuing civil citations for zoning violations.

IN OTHER business, the council will consider an ordinance to extend the evening hours for the ice rink at Stumptown Ice Den. Longer hours would accommodate a local group of people who plan to start a curling program.

The council also will consider an ordinance providing that a number of misdemeanor violations in the city code be treated as municipal infractions.

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