Teen shelter tops Whitefish agenda
Seven public hearings, including a permit request for a homeless teen shelter, will keep the Whitefish City Council busy tonight during its only meeting this month.
The Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana is asking for a conditional-use permit for a community residential facility to house five unaccompanied homeless high school students under the supervision of an onsite manager in a home at 200 Colorado Ave. The home is a former parsonage owned by St. Peter Lutheran Church.
The Whitefish Planning Board recommended approval of the Sparrow’s Nest permit request, but added six conditions pertaining to lighting, parking and fire codes and other concerns.
There will be a continuation of a public hearing regarding a conditional-use permit request from 1840 Baker LLC to develop multiple principal structures. The undeveloped property on the south end of Baker Avenue is zoned industrial and secondary business district with special conditions.
During a Nov. 16 public hearing on the Baker Avenue property, the council opted to postpone a decision on the permit in light of its decision to deny a rezoning request. The council asked the planning staff report to reflect the current zoning in place.
A conditional-use permit request is the crux of another public hearing for 2nd Street Lofts LLC to develop a mixed-use multifamily project with 15 dwelling units and a footprint greater than 7,500 square feet at 214 E. Second St. in downtown Whitefish. A neighbor is concerned about parking and alley congestion.
Whitefish West Limited Partnership is asking for an amended preliminary plat to develop five duplex lots into 10 townhouse lots at 265 Haugen Heights Road. The Maple Ridge subdivision was formerly known as Timber Ridge.
Another public hearing will consider an ordinance reaffirming the council’s prior approval of the City Hall and parking structure complex, designating the projects as urban renewal projects and approving the financing for the facilities.
The city’s bond counsel is asking for the ordinance because the city’s urban renewal plan doesn’t specifically identify a parking structure at the proposed location and identified a new City Hall in a different location.
The council will consider a resolution establishing rates charged to purchase space for a nameplate on a memory wall in the Whitefish Cemetery.
A public hearing regarding an amendment to parkland dedication requirements is on the agenda. The proposed change would state that for property being appraised by the state of Montana as agricultural or forest lands, the applicant shall submit an appraisal no more than 60 days old with the final plat to determine fair market value.
A resolution approving an interlocal agreement with the Whitefish Fire Service Area to extend the agreement for five years will be considered, though there is not a public hearing scheduled for that agenda item.
The council also will decide what to do about a $227,687 budget shortfall for the $14.95 million City Hall and parking structure project. It will consider various proposed design changes and some budgeting maneuvers to offset higher than expected construction and labor costs.
The council begins its marathon session at 5 p.m. with at least nine interviews for candidates seeking appointment to various city boards and committees. At 6:30 p.m. a work session about the proposed renewal of the Whitefish Fire Service Area interlocal agreement will be held.
The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. All sessions are at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.