Mini-cabin development approved

A plan for a dozen small cabins in a condominium neighborhood has received approval from the city.

Whitefish City Council July 5 approved a conditional use permit for the cabin neighborhood on Nelson Lane off of Highway 93 West near the U.S. Border Patrol office.

Garth Boksich, of GMJ LLC, said the cabins will have individual owners and building footprints ranging between 600-1,100 square feet.

“This is inspired by the tiny home concept,” Boksich said. “But the cabins will be a little bit bigger than that and they will not be manufactured homes.”

Eleven new units would be constructed, in addition to an existing family home already on the property. The cabins would be individually owned and rented and would have two parking spots and laundry facilities for each unit. Three guest parking spaces will also be available off Nelson Lane.

Chris Hyatt, who said he was speaking on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Border Patrol, said there is concern over Nelson Lane once its paved being less than 12 feet from the building.

“All of the facilities have created barriers for security reasons,” he said. “This road being expanded and on a hillside would make it easier access for someone to run a vehicle into the building. The concerns are with safety of the facility.”

City Planner Wendy Compton-Ring said the road easement is about 36 feet for Nelson Lane, the city is requiring paving of road at 24-feet wide and that would leave about 12 feet between the road and buildings.

Councilor Andy Feury said the distance between the road and the border patrol building is not the fault of the developer.

“I don’t think that’s something they have to deal with unless they want to,” he said.

Additionally, an owner cannot be found for a 26.5 foot piece of land adjacent to Nelson Lane that the developer wants to use as a part of the road. As part of the conditions of approval the developer must obtain legal right of the unclaimed land.