City seeks more input on downtown plan

Wanting more input on what the future of downtown should look like, Whitefish City Council has decided to hold off on approving an update to the downtown master plan. Instead, a community information session will be held in January where the city hopes to receive more public feedback on the proposed changes.

Council expressed some concerns about the updated document at their Nov. 4 meeting. They said the plan conflicts with the recently approved Depot Park master plan, and that four parking structures is too many. They also noted areas where retail encroaches into residential neighborhoods.

“It seems to me we’re heading more toward a preconceived idea of what downtown will look like,” councilor Bill Kahle said. “The town will take on a different feel and I don’t like the way this is going. What drew me to Whitefish more than 20 years ago was that it was a living and breathing town. It was gritty. I liked that.”

The updated plan lays out a path for future development areas around the downtown core, proposes zoning changes, and works as a companion to the growth policy and area neighborhood plans.

Planning consultants George Crandall and Don Arambula of Portland, Ore., who crafted the city’s 2006 downtown master plan, were contracted to update the document.

“Our objectives were economic development, to maintain character and ensure it’s pedestrian-friendly,” Arambula told council. “We want to allow for expanding the retail framework and making sure we have parking with the ability to get to downtown.”

The downtown master plan recognizes the Depot Park master plan, but says that consideration should be given to providing a permanent paved surface of about 20,000 square feet in the park.

Councilor Richard Hildner objected to including the idea of hardscape when it conflicts with the park plan.

“This space is truly an open, green space and that’s what’s in the park plan,” he said.

“We had very strong feedback from people who said they do not want hardscape at Depot Park,” added councilor Frank Sweeney.

However, councilor Phil Mitchell said he believes that events like the Tuesday Farmers Market need to be moved off the street and into the park, which requires hardscaping.

“I disagree with Depot Park being all grass,” he said.

The master plan emphasizes the need for adequate parking downtown to maintain business competitiveness. It identifies four potential sites for public parking structures and five areas for potential surface parking lots.

Mitchell said the parking structures don’t fit in with downtown, and he questions how the city would pay for that many structures.

“Where else is there four parking structures for a town of 6,000?” Mitchell asked. “I don’t see structures in other ski towns. If you put in four parking garages you lose the authenticity of the town. We’ll turn into a shopping mall — it’s going to ruin downtown.”

Arambula said the city has to plan to serve not just the residential population, but also the visitors. The spots marked in the plan are to show the best options for parking structure locations, he noted.

“We have ID’d four sites,” Arambula said. “That doesn’t mean you will be building four structures. You can use them as placeholders. Keep in mind this is a long-term plan.”

Creation of a downtown retail loop is one of the fundamental concepts in the plan. It calls for extending Central Avenue retail shops north to Depot Street and south to Fourth Street, as well as expanding retail in the Railway District.

Hildner said he has an issue with extending retail south of Third Street.

“I don’t disagree with the idea of a loop,” he said. “I have an issue with what I see as an expansion of commercial retail into the single-family residences. I see it as beginning to encroach and destroy the neighborhood character.”

Arambula said the idea is to expand along the edge of Third Street by one lot width, which would only impact about six lots. He noted that the expansion should be similar to the Railroad District that has retail buildings that blend in with the homes in the neighborhood.

“We want to define the growth of the retail so it doesn’t become a deterrent to the neighborhood,” he said. “There the retail [buildings] should have a residential character and have setbacks maybe with a lawn.”

Baker Avenue streetscape and roadway improvements were tagged as a high priority area. New traffic signals are suggested at three different intersections.

Kahle took exception to adding a light at Baker and First saying the signal would create a backup of traffic in downtown.

Arambula said a light at the intersection is important to get pedestrians moving from Central Avenue to the Railway District and that there has to be a decision on whether there is an “emphasis on passing through or being a destination” town.

“There’s three reasons why people travel here — the ski resort, golf course and the lake,” Kahle said. “The downtown enjoys having people when they’re not recreating. Having a traffic light there misses what the town is about.”