Whitefish council tackles pot rules, infrastructure projects
The Whitefish City Council on Monday is poised to finalize its game plan on where marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in the city.
With voter approval of citizen Initiative I-190 last November, marijuana sales for adult use become legal in Montana starting Jan. 1, 2022, and cities are putting in place updated standards and regulations about where dispensaries may be located.
During work sessions in August and October, the City Council directed the planning staff to initiate zoning text amendments to repeal the current ban on medical marijuana storefronts and permit both adult use and medical marijuana facilities in city limits, with some added development standards.
The zoning text amendments detail the various types of facilities that would be permitted, either administratively or conditionally. In general, sales would be administrative conditional uses in the WB-1, WB-2 and WB-3 commercial zones, as well as the industrial zones of WB-4, W-I and WBSD.
Formula retail restrictions would apply in the WB-1 and WB-3 zones. Manufacturing and testing facilities would be allowed in industrial zones and the WB-2 zone.
Outdoor cultivation would be permitted where agricultural uses currently are allowed.
The Planning Board last month unanimously recommended approval of the proposed standards and zoning text amendments.
IN OTHER business, the council consider approving the initial design of the Texas Avenue reconstruction project. It’s the next step in the roughly $4.6 million Edgewood Place and Texas Avenue reconstruction project that is being paid for with resort tax revenue.
Construction began last summer on Edgewood, and the city’s Public Works staff has been working on the preliminary design of Texas Avenue, according to the Planning Office staff report.
The council also will consider awarding an engineering contract for the Spokane Avenue water main replacement project, which is estimated to cost $1.95 million.
The city received eight proposals, and a selection panel unanimously agreed a contract should be awarded to Morrison-Maierle.
A request from the Whitefish Housing Authority to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Snow Lot Townhomes project is another matter the council is expected to vote on. The housing authority has asked the city to allocate $2 million of the city’s ARPA funds to cover the gap in the townhome project by paying for a portion of eight units targeted for households in Whitefish making low to moderate income, not to exceed 80% of the area median income.
The council will consider approving an updated site plan for the city-owned property on Monegan Road with affordable housing. Two years ago the City Council reviewed a potential site plan of the 88-acre city-owned property on Monegan Road, which currently houses the parks shop and wastewater treatment plan. To support the city’s housing goals outlined in a strategic housing plan, the potential site plan included roughly 10 acres fronting Monegan Road for workforce housing.
For the Monegan property to be developed into affordable housing, the city needs to take several steps, including a survey and site plan, subdivision of the property, a Growth Policy update and rezoning to residential.
The city staff recommend the council approve the updated site plan and provide direction to proceed.
At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, the Whitefish Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will present its report on efforts to complete the Riverbend section of the Whitefish River trail.
The council meets at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall. The meeting also is accessible online via a Webex link; go to cityofwhitefish.org for directions.
News editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 406-758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.