Powder, inversion beacons denied

Whitefish City Council voted 4-2 to

deny a sign variance request for two flashing beacons on the Great

Northern Brewery building that would signal powder or inversion

conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Councilors Chris Hyatt and

Bill Kahle were in opposition of denial.

“I hope they bring this back at some

point,” Kahle said. “Bring it back and hopefully we will have a

strategy that is razor sharp.”

Phil Mitchell said he was sad the city

couldn’t legally grant the variance.

“For the life of me I don’t understand

why we can’t do this,” he said. “If it’s bureaucracy, that’s sad.

It doesn’t allow us to be creative.”

City staff determined the beacons

constitute a sign because they advertise conditions at the ski

resort. Flashing signs are not allowed under the city’s sign

ordinance without a variance.

Council was concerned that approval

could be viewed as arbitrary or capricious because the brewery was

unable to meet any of the criteria for a variance. Businesses

typically need to prove a hardship for a variance.

A loophole suggested by city attorney

Mary VanBuskirk was for the resort to put the beacons on a

city-owned building. The beacons would then be considered

information that benefits the public.

The resort was only interested in using

the brewery building.