Traffic concerns delay decision on Wisconsin Ave. development

Whitefish City Council will make a decision on a 102-unit housing development after the New Year after concerns were raised last week about the traffic impacts it could have on an already busy Wisconsin Avenue.

Council chose to delay a vote on the proposal, citing reservations about the project due to its traffic impact to the neighborhood. Council asked the developer to work with city staff on potential solutions before returning in January.

Wisconsin Development Partners is requesting a conditional use permit to develop about 10 acres off of Wisconsin Avenue at the former gravel pit located on the west side of Wisconsin directly across from Alpine Village Market. The area is comprised of vacant land and the parcels for Big Mountain Trailer Court.

The plan calls for 36 multi-family condominiums in three 12-plexes on the south third of the property, while the 66 condominium cabins would be located in the center and north end of the project.

Will MacDonald, representing Wisconsin Development Partners, said he expects the project will be made up of nightly rentals.

A traffic study conducted by WGM Group was submitted as part of the developers application to the city. The study says the development will not negatively impact traffic operations on Wisconsin Avenue, and no roadway improvements are needed as a result.

However, Councilor Andy Feury quickly took issue with the traffic study that selected a day in September as a peak traffic day for Wisconsin Avenue.

“When it snows 10 inches on a Tuesday in February — that’s the peak traffic day,” he said, making reference to skiers driving Wisconsin Avenue to access Whitefish Mountain Resort.

“If someone tries to make a left turn into this [development] on a powder day it’s going to back traffic up to Second Street,” he said.

Two access sites are proposed off Wisconsin, including a new public right-of-way that would provide access to the site and once developed would eventually connect East Marina Crest Lane to the west of the project. This extension of Marina Crest Lane would create a connector between Wisconsin Avenue and Dakota Avenue.

Several residents of Dakota Avenue have voiced concerns about traffic impacting surrounding neighborhoods and specifically Dakota once a connector between Wisconsin Avenue and Dakota Avenue is complete.

Steve Gordon, who lives on Dakota, told Council his street is very “family-oriented.”

“My concern is the volume of traffic that’s going to be on Dakota,” he said.

Dave Fern, who also resides on Dakota, said while the development is appropriate infill, he is concerned that an increase in traffic is a major issue.

“I’m worried about what the traffic is going to look like at the height of the season,” he said. “You have the opportunity to control the traffic.”

Rather than looking for a last-minute fix during the meeting, Council asked the developer to work with the city to find a solution to traffic concerns. One suggestion is to create a left-turn lane off of Wisconsin Avenue into the development.

City planning staff had already recommended the developer work with the Montana Department of Transportation and city Public Works to install a pedestrian activated light at the crosswalk on Wisconsin Avenue, which is a secondary state highway under the authority of MDT.

McDonald said he is willing to work with the city on traffic concerns.

“We want to put forward a project that Council can get behind,” he said.