No vote on planned Haugen Heights subdivision
No decision has been made on the future of a new subdivision planned on the west side of Whitefish after it was discovered the project might include lots for townhouses or condos.
Whitefish City Council tabled a vote July 7 on whether to grant a preliminary plat for the Timber Ridge subdivision to allow the public to be notified of the changes.
Developers from Lethbridge, Alberta are planning the 15-lot subdivision on 4 acres off Haugen Heights Road in the Old Town neighborhood. The property is zoned as WR-2, which allows for single-family homes and townhouses.
City water and sewer is planned to be extended to the property and the development will be annexed into the city after approval of the plat.
Access to the subdivision will be from Haugen Heights Road and Lake Park Lane. A sidewalk is planned for Haugen Heights and Lake Park will be paved.
Developers are planning to pay cash in lieu of the required 0.45 parkland dedication.
At a June 19 City-County Planning Board hearing, it was discovered the developers were interested in having single-family homes on the west side of the project and duplexes on the east side. But, a city staff report and portions of the preliminary plat application indicated the subdivision would only be single-family.
At the July 7 council meeting, developer Shawn Hess said the original plan was for single-family lots, but they decided to consider duplexes after a zone change was approved in October for the Tamarack Ridge subdivision off Haugen Heights Road.
“Because our zoning allowed duplexes, we went back and looked at it,” Hess said. “I don’t know if it changes the scope or feel of the development dramatically.”
City manager Chuck Stearns said the developers can’t plat the subdivision for single-family lots then change their mind.
“You can’t have it platted as single family, then decide you’re going to do duplexes,” Stearns said. “You have to decide in the platting what you want.”
He said it was “clearly noticed” as 15 single-family lots in the original application.
Council voted 5-1 to table the vote and have the project readvertised to notify the public of the changes.
One neighbor to the project voiced multiple concerns.
Kathleen Harding said the proposed road through the project ends at her property on Lake Park Lane, which would allow vehicle headlights to hit her home. She said the project should be allowed to end in a cul-de-sac, which might fix the headlight issue.
Harding also said the city accepting cash in lieu of parkland is “short-sighted.”
“As a community it is important to preserve green space,” she said. “Especially if duplexes are going to be allowed — those people aren’t going to have yards at all.”
“I really believe the subdivision should enhance the neighborhood, not take away from it,” she added.
She also said the public notice was incorrect if the developers intend to include lots for duplexes.
“The public has the right to be correctly informed,” she said.