Agreement reached over Whitefish apartment complex

A neighborhood dispute over a proposed apartment complex on U.S. 93 South in Whitefish has been resolved.

The Park Knoll Homeowners Association and the developers of the Whitefish Crossing apartment complex have reached an agreement, allowing the project to move forward while minimizing its impact on the adjoining Park Knoll neighborhood.

Jeff Badelt and Sean Averill of Montana Development Group plan to build 60 apartments in five buildings on 3.5 acres west of the Naturally Clean dry cleaners.

The Whitefish City Council late last year approved a zone change for the project but delayed a decision on a planned-unit development overlay after Tom Tornow, attorney for the Park Knoll Homeowners Association, filed an appeal with the Whitefish Board of Adjustment.

Tornow alleged that the decision by the city planning director to allow for the blending of density in the planned-unit development is not permitted in the city building code.

The developers then redesigned the project, moving 24 of the units away from the land adjacent to the Park Knoll residential neighborhood.

The homeowners association is withdrawing its appeal and the city is amending its zoning code to remove the obstacle raised by the homeowners association..

Tornow said in a press release Tuesday the dispute was resolved “the Whitefish way” by the neighbors and the developer sitting down and talking.

“The developer gets the project it wanted. Whitefish gets the apartment complex it needs,” Tornow said.

“The neighborhood gets the protection deserved. The city’s Housing Authority gets the first rent-restricted affordable housing units under the city’s zoning density bonus; and the city is fixing its zoning code.

“This resolution was reached as it should have been in our small, friendly community, by open communication and consideration for others,” he said.

 The six rent-restricted affordable apartments remain part of the revised housing project.