County poised to decide Whitefish 'doughnut' future

The Flathead County commissioners are expected to vote today on how to proceed with zoning and lakeshore regulations in the “doughnut” area around Whitefish.

They will discuss recommendations made last month by the county Planning Board at 10 a.m. today. Public comments will be taken from 8:45 to 9 a.m.

The county is tasked with determining how to move forward with permanent county zoning in the area around Whitefish following a Montana Supreme Court ruling in July that ceded planning control from the city of Whitefish to Flathead County.

Another piece of assuming control of that area is handling lakeshore protection regulations for Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes, which had been overseen for decades by the now-defunct Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee.

The Planning Office developed a matrix of 10 zoning options for the Planning Board to consider.

The board recommended repealing the 1996 Whitefish City-County Master Plan — the county’s most recent master plan for the area outside Whitefish — prior to the expiration of interim zoning. Interim zoning was approved for the doughnut area as a placeholder until a final plan materializes.

The board further recommended that the county possibly amend the county growth policy to add the future land-use map from Whitefish’s 2007 growth policy and revise the text as needed. Then the county could consider replacing interim zoning with county-initiated zoning classifications based on the county growth policy.

Regarding the lakeshore protection regulations, the Planning Board recommended amending the county lakeshore protection regulations to include Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes.

The board further recommended the county review, revise and update its lakeshore protection regulations. That review would be prioritized as the Planning Board puts together its annual work plan.