Whitefish to hold open house on US 93 corridor plan
This rendering, taken from a draft of the city of Whitefish's Highway 93 South Corridor Plan, shows a proposed bridge over the Whitefish River that would replace culverts at Spokane Avenue.
Whitefish leaders will host an open house next Thursday to educate the public and gather feedback on the city's Highway 93 South Corridor Plan.
The plan, which is still subject to revision, has been in the works for about three years. Once finalized, it will set goals related to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, land use and the environment over the next 10 years along the U.S. 93 corridor south of downtown Whitefish.
The plan covers the area along Baker and Spokane avenues, from Sixth Street in the downtown area to about 2 miles south of Montana 40.
"The corridor plan was a lot of hard work, and city staff did a great job sifting through community input and putting it all together," Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld said in a statement. "We feel this will be a guiding document to really set the table for the gateway into Whitefish from the south, making the corridor a beautiful yet functional entrance into our community."
Whitefish Planning Director Dave Taylor and long-range planner Hilary Lindh have spearheaded the development of the corridor plan with input from a City Council-appointed steering committee that meets once a month.
The city says about 25 community members attended the first open house about the plan in September 2018, more than 60 turned out for a second public meeting in January 2019, and others weighed in via an online survey.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process, but the plan is now ready for public review. It's expected to go before the City Council and the city Planning Board for formal hearings later this summer.
The draft plan says the U.S. 93 corridor "should represent what people who live here think of as the Whitefish character," and there should be "a clear distinction between developed commercial areas within city limits and the more rural and agricultural feel south of the city." It says the corridor should be "a place where businesses serve visitors and residents alike, but without competing with or detracting from the downtown retail core."
The plan also notes the Whitefish River "should be more visible and accessible," and the corridor should have "abundant green space, shade trees, protected bike lanes and other amenities that make it an enjoyable place to bike and walk."
Actions aimed at achieving those goals could include various improvements to roads, transit, lighting, landscaping and pedestrian paths; reducing speed limits; establishing a permanent vehicle-counting station to monitor traffic patterns; acquiring property or easements along the Whitefish River and the Montana 40 intersection; replacing culverts under Spokane Avenue with a more attractive bridge; and increasing the frequency of Adopt-a-Highway litter pickup.
The 109-page draft plan can be found at cityofwhitefish.org/206/long-range-plans.
The open house will start at 5 p.m. Thursday on the second floor of City Hall. It will be followed by a work session with the Planning Board starting at 6 p.m. Comments also can be submitted to Lindh, the long-range planner, at hlindh@cityofwhitefish.org or by mail to 418 E. Second St.
Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com.