Developers scale down Marriott hotel proposal
Revised plans for a Marriott Hotel on Highway 93 South will go before the Whitefish Planning Board this week.
Jordan Scott of Whitefish TP LLC, is requesting a conditional use permit to construct the 81-room three-story hotel that would be located on 2.66 acres of undeveloped land south of Mountain Mall.
The hotel would have 90 parking spaces in a lot wrapping around the north, west and a portion of the south side of the hotel. The site would have two driveways off a new east-west public street that would be constructed from U.S. 93 to Whitefish Avenue.
The developer is also proposing an outdoor pool/spa area along the south side of the building and outdoor seating areas on both the north and west sides of the building.
Scott previously submitted an application for a TownePlace Suites by Marriott. That hotel designed for extended-stay, was to offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens. The request was for 111 rooms with 115 parking spaces and included a zoning deviation to build up to 42 feet in height.
However, the application was withdrawn in March after the planning board recommended denial of the conditional use permit.
The current application does not include a request for a building height deviation. It is also in a different location north of Les Schwab. The proposal is in compliance with the city’s growth policy and zoning regulations, according to city staff.
“The quality and functionality of the proposed development has effectively dealt with site design issues because there is adequate parking for the use, traffic circulation has been evaluated and landscaping, along with a landscaping buffer, will be installed,” the staff report states.
Planning staff is recommending approval of the project with 16 conditions.
“The project is compatible with the neighborhood and community because design features are being implemented including, articulating the walls and roof forms making the building more interesting and reducing its mass, installing landscaping throughout the site and retaining existing trees within the site plan,” the staff report states.
Also on the planning board agenda, is review of a 12-condominium cabin neighborhood proposed off U.S. 93 West near the U.S. Border Patrol office.
Garth Boksich of GMJ LLC is requesting a conditional use permit for the development to be located along Nelson Lane. A private road/driveway would serve the cabins with each having two designated parking spaces.
The proposal calls for 11 cabins that are single-story and having building footprints ranging between 600-1,100 square feet. The 12th unit is an existing single-family home.
A pedestrian path is shown to provide access generally from Fox Hollow to Nelson Lane.
The current site plan shows the buildings fairly close together, approximately 5-10-feet, and planning staff notes that the building inspector may require the layout of the buildings to change.
The proposals are set to go before the planning board on June 16 at 6 p.m. at interim City Hall and will go before City Council on July 5.