Whitefish kicks off growth policy update process

The city of Whitefish will be holding a public meeting to kick off its new Vision Whitefish 2045 Growth Policy update on Thursday, Aug. 24.

City staff will give a general outline and timeline for the project, present an overview of existing conditions and describe how interested parties can get involved in the plan and utilize the city’s new public engagement website.

The kick-off is the beginning of an ongoing public process that will include numerous public meetings, including visioning meetings anticipated for late fall.

“Whitefish has been experiencing unprecedented development,” Mayor John Muhlfeld said in a statement. “This growth policy process gives the whole community an opportunity to have a say in how and where we grow, and the plan will help give us the tools to grow sustainably so we can maintain the character and amenities that make this town special. I hope everyone can get involved.”

A growth policy, also known as a comprehensive plan, is an official public document intended to be a guide for making decisions about a city’s future, particularly with regard to land use, housing, infrastructure and natural resources. Although a growth policy is not regulatory, it is used as the basis for creating zoning regulations and is the blueprint for the future of the city. The city’s current growth policy was adopted in 2007.

The meeting will be in the City Council chambers on the second floor of Whitefish City Hall, 418 East Second Street, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, visit the Vision Whitefish 2045 page on the city’s public engagement website at www.engagewhitefish.com or contact City Long Range Planner Alan Tiefenbach at 406-863-2413 or atiefenbach@cityofwhitefish.org.