Subdivision aims to be a 'green' model

Project calls for community gardens, brewery and toy train on Wisconsin Avenue

By RICHARD HANNERS/Whitefish Pilot

Noise from a toy train almost de-railed a "green" and "sustainable" demonstration project when it was presented to the Whitefish City-County Planning Board on May 15. But after discussing the issues and mitigation efforts, the board unanimously approved the project.

The Rail Town Gardens planned-unit development (PUD) calls for mixed-use development on 3.66 acres along Denver Street between Wisconsin and Colorado avenues. The PUD would blend WB-1 and WR-3 zoning to allow mixed-use retail-residential closer to Colorado Avenue.

Scott Elden, of Elden Creative in Whitefish and a former member of the city's Architectural Review Committee, headed up the project's design for developer Dan Weinberg.

The residential component would include eight cottage-style homes, three duplexes and four lofts above office space in the center of the project. Ownership would be condominium-style with shared energy sources.

The commercial component, adjacent to Wisconsin and in the center of the project, would include a renovated Rising Sun Bistro restaurant, a restaurant, brewery and ice creamery building, and two three-story buildings with offices and retail. The developer said one of the offices will be used by the Whitefish Lake Institute.

The project will be constructed in three phases, with the commercial components built first. Reconstruction of Denver Street will take place in conjunction with phase one, and an attempt will be made to preserve existing trees until construction requires their removal.

Weinberg voluntarily included two units of affordable housing in his proposal, but they won't be stipulated until the preliminary plat is submitted. The Whitefish Housing Authority may acquire four more units, but they won't be stipulated.

An open area in the center of the PUD would include a community garden and a community building with a kitchen and a caretaker unit. Additional open space would add up to 1.89 acres total, or 52 percent of the site.

Plans call for a toy train with a four-stroke engine to run through the open area, but several neighbors filed concerns about possible noise and visual effects. The developer said he will strategically place landscaping and screening to mitigate for impacts from the 16-inch gauge 2-foot high train.

Elden told the planning board the train's engine sounds "like a Honda generator" and will generate less noise than the neighborhood lawn mowers.

Weinberg, who proposed running the train from mid-afternoon to 9:30 p.m., said he is working with Whitefish High School students to develop a way to reduce noise levels. The city currently doesn't have an applicable noise ordinance.

Betsy and Woody Cox, owners of Good Medicine Lodge, south of the proposed development, expressed concerns about the "amusement park" atmosphere Weinberg might bring to the neighborhood, including "noise, trash, lighting, safety, pollution, health, loss of trees or limbs, appropriateness and image."

Good Medicine Lodge has won national recognition, Woody told the planning board, and guest rooms are located in back, away from traffic noise on Wisconsin Avenue. He also noted safety concerns with G16 trains, citing one death and a paralyzed victim from wrecks.

"We believe a train is incompatible with existing uses in the area in addition to being incompatible with a project whose aim is to be a green demonstration project," the couple said in their letter.

The couple also expressed concerns about "the appearance of the mass of parking and the requisite lighting, proposed outdoor music" and services related to "an amusement park atmosphere."

Laurel Grady, who lives in Aspen Court, expressed similar concerns as well as the possibility her view of the mountains would be obliterated by the project's three-story buildings.

"I do not understand why a project of this scale is being proposed for a heavily residential neighborhood when there seems to be other properties available that, if developed, would not have such a big impact on people in their homes," she said.

Elden responded pointing out that "it's a garden — we're not going to have rock concerts." He also said he visited Grady and alleviated her concerns about lost views.

After watching some YouTube video clips of G16 trains in action, several planning board members had comments about the toy train.

"Why is the train so important?" Ken Meckel asked, puzzled.

"I can't believe they'll use a gas-powered train when they're oozing green," Ole Netteberg noted.

Regarding safety, Greg Gunderson asked what would happen "if mom and dad are pulling weeds in the community garden, and little Johnny wanders off in the bushes" toward the train tracks.

Elden conceded he was taken aback by the train idea when he first heard about it, but with so many new and interesting ideas presented in the project, the train helps to hold it all together.

Weinberg also requested three zoning deviations, including reducing required parking by 31 spaces, or 24 percent, and putting six parking spaces in the "front yard" area near Denver Street.

City planner Wendy Compton-Ring said the developer's idea is that people will ride bikes or take the SNOW bus to the site, and some workers will live there.

Elden criticized the city's parking standards, saying they increase stormwater runoff and generate solar heating if followed to the letter. He also noted that 15 new spaces would be created when Denver is reconstructed..

"We're proud of our parking proposal," he told the planning board.

The developer also requested reducing side-yard and rear-yard setbacks, but after listening to neighbors, Weinberg agreed to move the toy train's garage back another four feet away from the Good Medicine Lodge property line.

In addition, three of the proposed buildings would exceed 4,000 square feet and fall under the so-called "mini-boxstore" regulations approved by the city council last fall. According to the planning staff report, "As proposed, the scale and mass of the buildings are complimentary to adjacent structures."

Overall, city planners found Weinberg's proposed development "should not significantly affect the integrity of the neighborhood" and "minimal impact on property value is anticipated." They recommended approval of the project with 19 mostly standard conditions.

Rail Town Gardens is slated to go to the city council on June 16.