Whitefish City Council considers apartment project

A plan to construct 146 rental apartments on the north end of town goes before the Whitefish City Council on Monday.

Ruis Texco LLC is seeking a planned unit development for a multi-family residential project known as the Whitefish Corridor Community located between Colorado and Texas avenues, north of Edgewood Place, on 6.55 acres.

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

The plan calls for 44 units, or 30% of the apartments, to be deed restricted for permanent affordability.

The property currently hosts four residential structures and outbuildings that are to be removed as part of the development. The zoning is two-family residential to the east and high-density multi-family residential district to the west.

The proposal has drawn comments both for and against. Those in opposition say the project will add traffic congestion to an already busy area including the Wisconsin Avenue viaduct and is not in keeping with the neighborhood, among other concerns. Those in favor say the project would result in much-needed housing.

In an email to the city, Andrea Brew said the land should be used as originally zoned in order to maintain the character of the town. She said multi-family projects should be located on land zoned as such.

“These zones were designated for a reason and shouldn’t be disregarded or they become meaningless and irreparable damage is too easily done to the community,” Brew said.

Mallory Phillips said in an email that the project is proposed in a central location that is close to downtown thus making it an ideal location.

“We know that we need to build more housing, and if not here then where?” Phillips said. “We are in a housing crisis and the housing has to be built somewhere, and this would be built in our urban core where people can walk/bike/bus and will have less of an impact as it utilizes existing infrastructure.”

The developer is volunteering to provide affordable units in exchange for incentives that allow for additional building height, increased density and to reduce the off-street parking to provide 280 spaces instead of the 306 that would be required without affordable housing.

The apartments, a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, would be located in seven buildings. The plan calls for buildings fronting both Colorado and Texas avenues, while the remaining larger buildings are located within the center of the property.

Throughout the site are open space areas which include green areas around the buildings and three larger areas including an area along Waverly Place, an area outside the building within the community spaces near Colorado Avenue, and an area in the center of the western buildings near Texas Avenue.

ALSO COUNCIL is set to approve the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2024.

The total proposed budget for fiscal 2024 is $49.3 million compared with last year's approved budget of $53.4 million. The city will adopt the final budget once property valuations come in from the state in August.

A resolution of intent to annex a property just under 1 acre in size will also go before Council. The property is at 580 Lund Lane and annexation was requested by the owner.

Council is set to vote on a resolution adopting the Vision Whitefish 2045 public engagement plan for how the city will ensure public engagement and participation throughout its growth policy update.

During a work session at 6 p.m., Council is set to review and discuss bills from the 2023 Montana Legislature that impact planning regulations.

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