Microdistillery planned for Wisconsin Avenue

A new microdistillery planned for Whitefish continues to search for a home and now has its sights set on Wisconsin Avenue.

Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits is seeking a conditional use permit to operate in the former LaChance Builders location at 204 Wisconsin Ave.

Danette Sefcak, of Whitefish, originally sought a permit to operate the distillery in an industrial zone on the south end of Baker Avenue. City council approved the permit, but plans for that location ultimately fell through.

Then in April, Sefcak applied to operate on East 13th Street in a new addition to the building where the UPS Store and Wireless Connection operate.

Plans for the latest location on Wisconsin include a tasting room with a limited menu of appetizers prepared on site.

The distillery will operate under State Liquor Board requirements, which limits the number of ounces served to each customer. Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday

The property is zoned WB-1, which conditionally permits microbreweries. According to the planning department, the city zoning administrator has determined a microdistillery is similar enough to a microbrewery that they fall under the same permit process.

The distillery plans to provide 25 parking spaces by creating a parking area to the west of the building and using the spaces currently in front of the building.

Planning staff is recommending the placement of a sign to alert drivers of the bike and pedestrian path along Wisconsin.

The Whitefish Planning Board meets June 18 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.