Massive housing project proposed for Whitefish

The first major housing development to surface in Whitefish since the economic downturn began several years ago is on the Whitefish Planning Board agenda tonight.
The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2nd Street Apartments that would offer 164 apartments in 17 buildings and nine condominiums spread over three buildings at what are now open fields north of the intersection of East Second Street and Armory Road.
One single-family home off Wild Rose Lane would be retained on the 23-acre site.
William MacDonald and Sean Averill of Community Infill Partners want to rezone the property from one-family to two-family residential on one parcel and from agricultural to estate residential zoning on two adjoining parcels. A planned unit development overlay, which allows more flexibility in the project design, would blend the densities of the two zoning designations.
An extension of Armory Road to the north would be developed as a new road to serve the subdivision. The developers propose an eight-foot sidewalk on one side of the new road.
Community Infill Partners would take advantage of density bonuses by providing 10 percent of the project — 17 units — as deed-restricted rental units for moderate-income families. The developer has entered into a letter of intent with the Whitefish Housing Authority to manage the affordable housing, according to the Planning Office staff report.
The project has about 71 percent open space, with an overall density of 7.3 dwelling units per acre.
Cow Creek runs through the property and there are wetlands associated with the creek. The developers propose to protect that area with buffers and setbacks that meet the city’s critical areas ordinance, now called the water quality protection ordinance.
The developers also intend to provide both a sewer and water easement from East Second Street to the north edge of the property. The city has planned for a number of years to extend a sewer main along Cow Creek and under the railroad tracks to provide gravity-flow wastewater service for a large portion of the city north of the tracks, the staff report said, noting the developers also propose a water easement through the center of the project in the event the city wants to loop the water system.
Notices were mailed to adjacent property owners, and so far the public comment has been evenly split between those who support and those who oppose the project. Among the concerns were water quality in Cow Creek, noise and increased traffic.
“The Planning Board needs to weigh the pros and cons of the project, the staff report advised. “On one hand the applicant will be providing benefits to further the goals of the city, including affordable housing, the extension of utilities and a much-needed right of way to further the development of a better transportation circulation system on the north side of East Second Street. On the other hand, the density is great and the use vastly different than the immediate neighborhood.”
The Planning Office recommends approval of the project, subject to 18 conditions. The Planning Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Whitefish City Council, which is scheduled to hold its public hearing on the project on April 15.
Also on tonight’s agenda is a public hearing to consider a request from Whitefish Mountain Resort for a variance to obtain a two-year extension to a subdivision improvement agreement for phase 2 of Northern Lights West.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall.

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