Plan emerges for seasonal worker housing

A proposal to change the former Whitefish Independent High School building into a boarding house could provide housing for seasonal workers.

The Reisch Family Partnership is requesting a conditional use permit to develop an eight-room boarding house at 625 Park Avenue. The boarding house, near Whitefish High School, would house a maximum of 34 full- and part-time workers. An on-site manager will also reside at the house.

The Whitefish Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the request at its Monday Dec. 12 meeting.

“Hospitality establishments in the Whitefish resort community are experiencing a shortage of seasonal workers and one key element of this shortage is the unmet need in available and affordable short-term to medium-term housing,” the Reisch Family Partnership stated in its application. “The proposed project will help to alleviate some of this deficiency and thus directly improve economic activity.”

The building is currently vacant. The building has housed a plethora of businesses and organizations over the past 60 years. It’s been used as a church, a physician’s office, a day care and held the independent school until the new high school opened a few years ago.

Hurraw!, a lip-balm manufacturer, in 2013 was denied a permit to operate a home-based business in the building when it was looking to expand its operation.

The Reisch Family Partnership most recently opened the Montana Tap House on Wisconsin Avenue earlier this year.

The planning department is recommending approval of the request with 10 conditions.

Also, on the agenda is a request by Lakestream Fly Shop owner Justin Lawrence to operate a recreational guide and outfitter business at 669 Spokane Avenue. He is requesting a conditional use permit to open the business in the building that most recently housed The Shak restaurant.

Lakestream has been looking to move its business off of Central Avenue saying it needs more space for parking and outside displays. This summer, Whitefish City Council, approved a change to the city’s zoning code that allows for recreation guides and outfitters as an allowed use with a conditional use permit in the WB-2 zone. Previously those types of businesses had only been allowed downtown.

The planning department is recommending approval of the request with eight conditions.

The Whitefish Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave. in Whitefish.