Planning board looks at hotel, subdivision projects

Plans for a hotel and housing subdivision on vacant land along Highway 93 South in Whitefish will go before the city Planning Board on March 17.

The Marriott hotel chain is looking to construct a three-story 111-room hotel south of the Mountain Mall pond. Immediately to the south, developers on a separate project are looking to construct a 41-unit housing subdivision on the 9.5-acre property.

Mkay Enterprises has submitted a preliminary plat application and planned unit development for the housing project known as Riverview Meadows. The project proposes four units to be used for affordable housing. The property is situated between the Whitefish River to east and the highway to the west. The Les Schwab Tire Center is immediately to the south of the property.

The PUD calls for a mix of single and multi-family housing on the eastern portion of the property. The project is looking to create 13 single-family lots to be developed off a cul-de-sac on the eastern portion of the property. Heading west toward the highway, plans call for two townhouse buildings containing a total of 10 units and then three six-plex apartment buildings.

City planning staff are recommending approval of the project with 27 conditions.

The developer is proposing to develop the project in three phases, first with the detached single-family lots anticipated during 2017-2018. The second phase for the townhouses and apartments is planned for development in 2017-2019.

Density within the PUD is proposed to increase from east to west, with the lowest density development along the river and adjacent to the River’s Edge neighborhood, and increasing in density moving toward the highway. An extension of Whitefish Avenue is planned through the development and will serve as a transition line between single-family and higher density housing to the west.

The PUD includes an open space corridor along the Whitefish River at the easterly edge of the site. The open space will be preserved and accommodate a segment of the city’s bike and pedestrian trail. About one acre of land is set to be dedicated as open space.

In a separate application, Whitefish TP LLC has submitted a conditional use permit to the city to construct a Marriott TownePlace Suites, which are guest suites that have a kitchenette.

The hotel will be located on a portion of the tract of land that wraps around the west and south side of the Mountain Mall pond, which serves as the stormwater pond for both the mall and the River’s Edge subdivision. Amenities for hotel guests include an indoor pool, patio, breakfast area, workout room and meeting room.

The PUD requests a 42-foot height roof at the entrance to the hotel. The maximum height for B-2 zoning, which is on the property, is 35 feet.

The plan calls for 115 parking spaces to be constructed for the hotel, along with landscaping of the site.

Planing staff is recommending approval of the hotel project with 16 conditions.

The Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. at interim City Hall at 1005 Baker Ave.