Bed-and-breakfast endorsed

A bed-and-breakfast plan on West Second Street will come before the Whitefish City Council on Monday.

The Whitefish City-County Planning Board voted May 16 to recommend a conditional use permit for Ryan Zinke’s proposed bed and breakfast.

Zinke wants to turn a single-family home into the Snow Frog Inn with six guest rooms and live-in manager quarters.

“When the trees were removed, everyone saw that West Second Street needs some work,” Zinke said, referring to the reconstruction work on the street. “Second Street needs some improvement and not many people are willing to do that.”

Zinke proposed a similar plan last fall as part of a planned-unit development overlay that also included a microbrewey on the north side of the highway. He withdrew those plans before the City Council could hold a hearing on the application.

At the time, neighbors said the projects were too commercial for the area and would increase traffic and noise.

Zinke returned with an updated plan that eliminated the brewery.

The bed and breakfast also was scaled back. The original proposal included six guest rooms in one house plus three guest rooms and manager quarters in an adjacent house.

Ann Shaw Moran told the Planning Board the new plan is more in line with the neighborhood.

“I compliment him on the many improvements,” she said. “This has the potential to be compatible with the neighborhood and be good economically.”

Susan Prillman, whose home is overlooked by the bed and breakfast, acknowledged  the project has improved but said she still has concerns.

“I’m happy to see the landscaping increased, but I have concerns about events there,” she said. “It’s so very close and noise travels. I fear the quiet enjoyment of my property could be a thing of the past.”

One of the conditions of approval is that outdoor events shall go no later than 10 p.m.

The City Council will hold a hearing on the request during its Monday, June 3, meeting at City Hall. The meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.