Residential parking lot denied

A

proposed private parking lot in a residential neighborhood was

unanimously voted down by City Council Feb. 6 after more than an

hour of public comment and debate.

Whitefish developer Greg Carter had

applied for a conditional use permit to add a private parking lot

on the 300 block of Kalispell Avenue behind an office complex he

built at 307 Spokane Ave. An existing house was to be removed and

donated to the Whitefish Housing Authority to make room for the

parking area.

The property in question is zoned as

high density multi-family residential. The growth policy

designation in the area is for high density residential and the

Downtown Master Plan calls out future uses in this area as

residential.

The planning department said the

project will impact the integrity of the neighborhood, but that

other permitted uses, such as a multi-family development, could

have more of an impact than a parking lot. Staff recommended an

option for approval that included 10 conditions, including

extensive landscaping and buffers, a light-tight fence and a

drainage plan.

On behalf of Carter, Scott Elden of

Montana Creative Architecture and Design, told council the

precedent for private parking lots in residential areas had already

been set. He pointed to the Post Office and First Interstate Bank

parking lots which are both in residential zones.

Carter told council there was no

personal financial gain by building the parking lot. The reason for

his permit request was because he was attempting to ease a parking

burden in that area of town. He previously told the Planning Board

there wouldn’t be restrictions on the public using the lot, but

that it would be predominately used by people working in the 307

Spokane building.

Carter noted that the proposed plan

featured 3,600 square feet of parking and 6,000 square feet of

landscaping and buffers to help mitigate concerns neighbors

had.

“I do understand many of the reasons

some are concerned about,” Carter said. “It’s a hurtful situation

and I wish it wasn’t that way.”

A handful of people spoke in favor of

the lot during public comment. Marshall Friedman said downtown is

tremendously strained by a lack of parking and that when Block 46

at Second Street and Spokane is developed the Whitefish Middle

School Auditorium will lose parking.

Eleven people spoke in opposition of

the project. Most were concerned that a parking lot would change

the character of the residential neighborhood.

John Ellis said he was astounded the

plan was being justified as a way to ease the downtown parking

problem.

“Sure, it’s a problem, but that’s our

burden with a successful downtown,” Ellis said, “but let’s not take

that out on the neighborhoods.”

Councilor Phil Mitchell said this was

one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make as a councilor.

“Greg is trying to solve a parking

issue,” he said. “Yet, I still have compassion for the Kalispell

Avenue neighborhood.”

John Anderson said Carter was trying to

do the “right thing” but that he hadn’t met the criteria for the

permit.

Richard Hildner said the parking lot

could devalue property in the neighborhood.

“People do make these [purchases] as

lifetime investments,” he said.