Whitefish to assess traffic restrictions, impact fees

The Whitefish City Council will look at a traffic and parking restriction ordinance and review the annual Impact Fee Report during its biweekly meeting tonight at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

The Public Works Department has received various concerns about parking and traffic, which will be addressed in a public hearing. According to a staff report, the Riverwood Park Community Association requested that the city consider prohibiting semi-truck traffic on Arielle Way from Shiloh Avenue to JP Road, due to concerns about safety and infrastructure.

The report also discusses requests for restricting parking on the west side of Shiloh Avenue, either side of Dodger Lane and either side of Flathead Avenue.

Local residents on Shiloh Avenue report that weekday parking on both sides of the road reduces the roadway to one lane and reduces visibility at intersections. On Dodger Lane, residents report vehicles are parking on both sides of the road and pulling into the grass to access the dog park and skate park. This is killing the grass and creating erosion issues, the Public Works Department reports.

The Whitefish Police Department and Fire Department hope to restrict parking on either side of Flathead Avenue. They say it is a primary route for emergency vehicles and vehicles parked alongside the road increase response time, especially in the winter, when parked cars on the south side of the road make it more difficult to clear snow.

City staff is recommending the City Council approve an ordinance to establish these traffic and parking restrictions.

The council will also review the annual Impact Fee Report, which shows the source and amount of money collected, public improvements financed in whole or in part by impact fees and any administrative expenses incurred by impact fee funds.

“Whitefish has continued to see strong building and growth over the past few years, which has continued into the first few months of FY20. Impact fee revenues exceeded budgeted expectations in FY19 and were up 68.8% from FY18,” the report states.

Impact fees are a source of funding for eligible projects in Whitefish’s Capital Improvements Program. The reports states the city anticipates using “significant amounts of water and wastewater impact fees” in the near future.

The council will also look at approving the preliminary plat for a two-lot minor subdivision, called Aspen View II, at 317 Texas Ave. City staff is recommending the council approve the plat.

A special session of the City Council will begin at 5 p.m. The council will interview candidates for vacancies on the planning board, the Whitefish Climate Action Plan committee, the Whitefish Housing Authority and the Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection committee.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.