Rezone requested for affordable housing project
The Whitefish Housing Authority, in partnership with the nonprofit Homeword, is looking to develop an affordable housing project on Edgewood Place on what was previously a mobile home park. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A request to rezone property proposed to be developed for affordable housing is set to go before the Whitefish Planning Board on Thursday, Aug. 16.
Homeword is requesting to rezone about 2 acres on Edgewood Place near Wisconsin Avenue to high density multi-family residential. The property is owned by Alan and Lisa Stinson who have agreed to sell the property to the Whitefish Housing Authority, which is working with Homeword to develop the site with an affordable housing project.
The property was a mobile home park, but now is largely vacant except for a few accessory buildings that remain on the site. The property is currently zoned limited business district, which would not allow for residential development, according to the city planning staff report.
Homeword has said it has a goal of developing a 38-unit housing complex on the property that would include affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Homeword and the housing authority are currently in the process of apply for federal tax credits with the Montana Board of Housing to develop the project. The low-income housing tax credit is a federal income tax credit for owners of rental housing that meets certain low-income occupancy and rent limitation requirements.
The Wisconsin Avenue corridor plan designates the land use as the property for high density multi-family residential.
The neighborhood is a variety of multi-family housing, single-family housing and neighborhood commercial, the planning report notes, current zoning permits development of commercial uses by right that “would not necessarily be compatible with the adjacent residential neighborhood.”
Planning staff is recommending approval of the zone change.
The Whitefish Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Also on the planning board agenda:
- A request by Carolina Homes for a preliminary plat in order to develop a nine-lot subdivision on Whitefish Avenue near the intersection of Akers Lane. The property is just less than an acre in size, currently undeveloped and zoned two-family residential.
Planning staff is recommending approval with 16 conditions.
- A request to rezone one parcel annexed into the city limits from county residential to suburban residential. The property is located at 2030 Highway 93 West.
- A request to rezone three parcels annexed into the city from county two-family residential to city two-family residential. The parcels are along State Park Road and Salmon Run.