Whitefish Council takes up Second Street housing subdivision

Whitefish City Council on Monday will consider a request for a nine-lot subdivision on East Second Street.

The subdivision is proposed for a parcel just under 5 acres in size with access off Second Street and Wild Rose Lane. High Water LLC is seeking a preliminary plat to develop the subdivision.

City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St.

The property is currently undeveloped and zoned one-family limited residential. The density for the property is proposed to be 1.8 dwellings per acre.

The subdivision is planned to include a roughly 7,700-square-foot homeowners park near the center of the neighborhood. This is less than the minimum required by city regulations and the Planning Department is recommending that the applicant either redesign the subdivision to increase the park area, pay a fee in lieu for the difference or pay a fee in lieu of parkland.

The city received 12 public comments regarding the plan with concerns about the proposal regarding infrastructure installation and maintenance, impact on adjacent development, high groundwater in the adjacent neighborhood, traffic and loss of mature trees on the property.

Rachel Desimone, who lives on Wild Rose Lane, outlines a number of objections with the proposed subdivision including concern about what effect the subdivision will have on her home because of high ground water in the area.

“I am fearful for my home and my property if the city allows [this] to move forward with construction and subdivision without proper evaluation first,” she said.

David Diehl, who also resides on Wild Rose Lane, laments the design of the subdivision in a letter to the city saying the developer is trying to “squeeze” more lots into a relatively small area.

“There are simply too many lots proposed to increase profits, but to the detriment of the future homeowners and neighboring communities,” he writes.

FOLLOWING A public hearing, Council will consider a request by Karrow Whitefish Investment, LLC for an amendment to the planned unit development for the 95 Karrow project on the former Idaho Timber site.

The project was first approved in 2018 to include professional offices, housing, lodging, a restaurant and retail spaces. Council has already approved three changes to the previously approved plan for the property.

The developer has been working toward final plat and meeting conditions of the previously approved plan, according to the Planning Department staff report, and has done significant site work for the property.

The current request is to establish reduced setbacks and increased lot coverage standards across the project. At the time of the original application, there was limited detailed information showing the exact dimensions and locations of buildings on the proposed lots and now actual building design has occurred necessitating the current amendment, according to the applicant.

“The purpose of the amendments is to maintain a cohesive, urban-influenced community keeping in character with the original intent of the project,” the applicant said.

Finally, Council will consider a request from Fire Chief Joe Page to award a contract with Nirbuilt Airboats of Ashland, Nebraska for about $100,000 for the purchase of an airboat to be used as a rescue boat. The purchase of the boat will be aided by a $25,000 grant from BNSF Railway and a $10,000 grant from the Whitefish Community Foundation.

The Fire Department’s previous rescue boat was taken out of service due to air leaks and the inability to obtain parts for the outboard engine. The Fire Department provides rescue and hazmat services on frozen and shallow waterways and the boat is vital to that work, Page notes in a memo.

The department does have a hovercraft, but that lacks the space to carry hazmat booms or a place to bring a patient on board if used in a rescue operation.

During a work session beginning at 5:45 p.m., Council will hold its annual goal-setting work session.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.