Different decisions on light requests
Two separate requests to allow flashing
lights at the Great Northern Brewery garnered different outcomes at
the Jan. 17 city council meeting.
Council approved a temporary permit
that allows the brewery to use a sky spotlight during Winter
Carnival, but they were unable to approve a variance for a
permanent, blinking snow and inversion beacon that would signal
good skiing conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The brewery has used a sky spotlight
during Winter Carnival in the past, although this is the first year
they’ve sought approval from the city. The brewery needs the city
to temporarily waive a portion of the sign code that prohibits
searchlights. The light will be used as part of the brewery’s beer
barter and anniversary party.
Brewery manager Marcus Duffey said the
searchlight adds a “unique and wow-factor” element to their
celebration. They plan on having more than 60 corporate guests
visiting the brewery during the Carnival.
“We want to showcase our brewery and
the community of Whitefish,” he said. “It is our goal to deliver an
entertaining and memorable moment for all of our guests — both
out-of-towners and locals.”
He said council’s approval for the
temporary permit would be a gesture that the city backs their
efforts as a prospering business downtown.
“You may think to yourself that success
in the short term and long term is not contingent on a klieg
light... I can tell you that it’s important enough to us that we
took the time and make the effort to go through this process,”
Duffey said. “Just as the klieg light would be a symbol of the
celebration of our anniversary, so too would your support be a
symbol of recognition of our noteworthy role within the
community.”
Councilors Richard Hildner and Frank
Sweeney were concerned approval would set off a trend of other
businesses using searchlights during celebrations.
Councilor Bill Kahle noted that a
nearly $1,000 permit fee would likely keep many businesses from
requesting to use a searchlight. He said he likes seeing the light
during Carnival.
“I feel like I’m in Hollywood,” Kahle
said.
Council unanimously approved the
temporary permit.
Later in the evening, council revisited
a sign variance request from the brewery to allow for two flashing
beacons on top of their building that would signal powder or
inversion conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Council tabled
the idea at the Jan. 3 meeting.
City staff determined the beacons
constitute a sign because they advertise conditions at the ski
resort. 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.
“It’s not like they missed one of [the
variance criteria],” Sweeney said, “they missed them all. That
gives me great concerns.”
Kahle liked the idea of the beacons,
but wanted to make sure the city wouldn’t get into hot water.
“I’m concerned we could be granting
something that is illegal,” he said.
A loophole suggested by city attorney
Mary VanBuskirk was for the resort to put the beacons on a
city-owned building, such as City Hall or the O’Shaughnessy. The
beacons would then be considered information that benefits the
public.
The other alternative was to review the
sign ordinance and make amendments to the code.
“I have no ambition to open up the sign
ordinance,” councilor John Anderson said. “The simplest way to keep
from opening Pandora’s box is to find a government building that
works. If that doesn’t work, I’m not sure we can do anything about
it.”
Resort marketing director Nick Polumbus
said their preference was to put the beacons on the brewery, but
that they’d consider the public building option. If those were
unappealing, they may let go of the idea.