Implications of doughnut decision loom

With Flathead County set to resume jurisdiction of the planning doughnut, Whitefish has been left scrambling to maintain some input in how the land directly outside its city limits is managed.

Whitefish Planning Director Dave Taylor says the city and county planners have not yet met to discuss the future of the planning area, but he notes changes are likely.

For one, the City-County Planning Board could be scaled back to just a city planning board.

Prior to the interlocal agreement, a city-county board gave recommendations to the county for planning decisions outside of city limits.

“We’d like to see it continue,” Taylor said, “but does the county expect it will shrink back?”

The Whitefish Lakeshore Protection Committee and Board of Adjustments are two other city-county boards that could be impacted, Taylor notes.

A Highway 93 South corridor study has long been discussed and is a major priority of Whitefish’s Growth Policy, but was put on the back burner while the doughnut dispute played out.

Taylor says the corridor plan remains important, but most of the major planning issues involve properties outside city limits. He’s unsure if the county will implement a study, or if the city will be involved in the process.

“We want to do something in cooperation with the county,” he said.

“It would be nice if we could maintain some input.”

He noted that the city will continue to make recommendations to the county regarding planning in the doughnut. According to state law, county planners must consider zoning and growth policies of municipalities.

“The county is supposed to consider our recommendations,” he said. “Whitefish already has a growth policy and the county has the document and should be using that as part of their decision making.”

Citizens For a Better Flathead director Mayre Flowers says its critical Whitefish continues to plan for areas outside of city limits. She notes that Kalispell’s growth policy includes a three-mile buffer around city limits.

Until the county has interim zoning in place, Taylor says anyone currently with county zoning in the doughnut should deal with the county.

“Anyone in a Whitefish zone will continue to talk to us — until we know different,” Taylor said.

County Planning Director BJ Grieve was unavailable for comment.