City moves to create city planning board

The city of Whitefish has notified Flathead County of its intent to create a city planning board.

The city sent a formal notice and the county has 30 days to elect either a city planning board or a city-county planning board.

In a prepared statement, Mayor John Muhlfeld said the city is ready to sit down with commissioners to discuss the matter.

“We would be happy to schedule a joint work session or public meeting if the commissioners would like to discuss accelerating the county’s exercise of their control in the doughnut area,” Muhlfeld said.

Councilor John Anderson points out the since the county has jurisdiction of the doughnut, “Private property rights and growth near Whitefish are now dictated by the pace at which the commissioners can develop and implement their [planning ] process.”

Until the county makes a decision on which type of planning board it prefers, Whitefish Planning Director Dave Taylor says the current planning board and the Whitefish Lakeshore Protection Committee will not meet.

“While the city is hoping the county will continue the City-County Planning Board and Whitefish Lakeshore Protection Committee as advisory boards to the city and the county, the court’s ruling means that the city lacks the authority to assist members of the public with their properties located in the doughnut area,” Taylor noted.

He says individuals with planning and zoning issues in the doughnut should direct their questions to the county.

Taylor noted that he hoped that the matter would be resolved quickly so development projects are not delayed.