Seventh Street rebuild up for discussion

The rural feel of West Seventh Street is poised for a big change next year.

The roadway from Baker Avenue to Karrow Avenue is slated to be rebuilt with curbs, a sidewalk, a bike and pedestrian path and streetlights. Water, sewer and other utilities will also be upgraded.

The proposed rebuild is listed as a top priority for Whitefish’s resort tax funded street reconstruction projects. The resort tax monitoring committee reviewed the priorities Jan. 16 and voted unanimously to move forward with the project.

Yet, some residents in the neighborhood say they would be just as happy to see the roadway remain unchanged.

West Seventh resident Dee Blank says the proposed urban street design is inappropriate and will take away from the rural feel of the area.

“We’ve fought long and hard to retain the quiet character,” Blank told city council at their Feb. 3 meeting. “The urban street design doesn’t fit here. Give the taxes to another street.”

Judy Hesslin says that while she would like to see a bike path, it would be nice to keep the rural feel.

“We don’t need streetlights on every street in this town,” she said. “It’s nice to have a little rural left in our community.”

Public Works Director John Wilson notes that no final decisions have been made about the project.

“We can tailor the details with input from the neighborhood,” he said, noting that public comment is welcome at the next council meeting Feb. 18.

He said it might be possible to build a more urban street from Baker to O’Brien Avenue, while keeping a more rural feel from O’Brien to Karrow.

According to Wilson, the road is due for some upgrades no matter what the final design looks like. The water utilities are old and undersized, and there is the possibility some sewer lines could be extended.

Three years ago an asphalt overlay helped upgrade the road surface from Baker to O’Brien Avenue, but the road is rough beyond the intersection.

“The overlay was seen as a Band-Aid,” Wilson said.

“The street is in bad shape and is dangerous for pedestrians in spots. I’d hate to see us skip over it entirely.”

Councilor Frank Sweeney questioned whether there were more pressing street projects that should be bumped ahead of West Seventh.

“I don’t see this as our greatest need,” he said. “Why is this project more important, and given the fact that residents are fine and are not clamoring for this to happen.”

Council will decide at their Feb. 18 meeting whether to move forward with the project.

If approved, engineering and design work will take place this year, with construction beginning in 2015.

Council meets Tuesday next week at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.