Neighborhood drops opposition to 93 South subdivision

The developer of a proposed subdivision on Highway 93 South has worked out a deal with neighbors concerned with the project’s density.

Mkay Enterprises is looking to construct a 41-unit housing subdivision on a 9.5-acre property between the Whitefish River to east and the highway to the west. The Les Schwab Tire Center is immediately to the south.

The developer 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.

According to Thomas Tornow, attorney for the Rivers Edge Homeowners Association, the developer dropped an attempt to transfer commercial densities into an area zoned for single-family homes next to the Rivers Edge neighborhood.

“This was a major point of opposition from the neighborhood and contributed to a proposed low-income housing development not receiving an award from the state,” Tornow said, referring to an earlier attempt by The Commonwealth Companies to develop the property with 36 affordable housing units along with commercial use.

In February, Whitefish placed a temporary moratorium on blended density zoning for planned unit development overlays. The city planning department is working on a rewrite of the code.

Mkay Enterprises also has reduced the overall density of its project and included a buffer between the development and Rivers Edge.

In return, Tornow said, the Rivers Edge HOA is withdrawing its opposition to the development.

Four rent restricted affordable apartments remain part of the revised project.

“The revised project is better for Whitefish,” Tornow said. “The Rivers Edge neighborhood gets the protection deserved, the Whitefish Housing Authority gets more rent restricted housing units, and the city is fixing its zoning code.”

The project goes before the city Planning Board on March 17.