Sign variances proposed for Don K

Signs are on the Whitefish City Council agenda again tonight as the council considers four sign variances to allow the Don K vehicle dealership to add wall signs for its newly acquired automotive franchises.

Don K owner Don Kaltschmidt will present his proposal for more signs during a public hearing.

He's asking for variances for wall sign area, number of permitted signs, the maximum size of temporary banners and alternative dimensions for internal directional signs.

Kaltschmidt acquired the Subaru franchise from Glacier Motors last year, and earlier this year finalized the purchase of Kari Dodge, adding the Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram lines to the dealership. He's also building a 2,200-square-foot Subaru showroom.

The maximum square footage permitted for the dealership is 230.7 square feet; Kaltschmidt's proposed master sign plan calls for 325 square feet. A total of 16 signs wall signs are proposed.

Free-standing signs would remain the same, with three signs totaling 75 square feet per sign.

Other requests that require variances are an increase in the size of temporary banners from the standard 24 square feet to 50 square feet; and an increase for internal signs from the standard two square feet per side to four square feet.

In other business, the council will hold a public hearing for an ordinance adopting the 2009 International Fire Code, an update of the 1997 code now used by the Whitefish Fire Department.

The council meets in special session at 5:30 p.m. to interview candidates for various city committees. The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.; both meetings are at Whitefish City Hall.