Board looks at requests for winery; wellness center
A request for a building planned to house a winery downtown, and a separate request to allow for a wellness facility at a mixed-use project on the former Idaho Timber property top the list of items on the Whitefish Planning Board agenda for Dec. 20.
Nicole Erickson and Bald Eagle LLC are requesting a conditional use permit to develop a mixed-use building with a winery at 20 Spokane Avenue. Plans call for remodeling and expanding the existing building that houses Whitefish Builders and is south of Stumptown Marketplace.
The current building is one story, but the plan calls for adding a second story for three residential units. The winery would be located on the first floor including a tasting room and a small retail space, according to the application with the city. The total size of the building is about 3,770 square feet.
A CUP is required as a winery, considered similar to a microbrewery or micro-distillery, is a bar under the city zoning regulations. The property is currently zoned WB-3.
Planning staff is recommending approval with 10 conditions.
In a separate hearing, 95 Karrow LLC is seeking an amendment to a planned unit development overlay to add clubs, private and semi-private recreational facilities to the list of permitted uses within the 95 Karrow project at the former Idaho Timber site.
The request is the result of the owner working with a possible tenant for the project to develop The Wellness Institute that could contain an aquatics center, snack and juice bar, small ancillary retail, spa space and conference space.
In January 2018 City Council approved an preliminary plat and PUD for 95 Karrow. Since then the developer has been working toward final plat and meeting the conditions of that approval, according to city planning staff.
Planning staff is recommending approval of the request.
A planned affordable housing project on Edgewood Place is also before the board for consideration.
Homeword, along with the Whitefish Housing Authority, is requesting a planned unit development to create a 38-unit affordable housing project on 2.15 acres. The property is largely vacant and is zoned for high density residential.
Homeword last month was awarded a low income housing tax credit from the state Board of Housing for $6.7 million to develop a rental housing project for residents with an area median income of 60 percent or less.
The plan for the project calls for three buildings to house the rental units. One building would be located parallel to Edgewood Place with three units in two-stories. The second building would be two stories with 11 units located on the eastern portion of the property and perpendicular to Edgewood Place. The third building, located on the northwest portion of the property would be three-stories with 24 units.
The density of the project is 17.67 dwelling units per acre.
Access to the site is proposed to be off Edgewood Place on the south end of the project and Woodland Place on the north end of the project. Sidewalks would connect to Woodland and Edgewood.
There would be 57 parking spaces provided in the project for off-street parking. Open space areas are located throughout the development and a small playground is planned. In addition, a community room is planned.
The northeast portion of the lot is being reserved for a future phase. Homeword indicates there could be up to 14 units in this area, but there are not immediate plans for development.
Planing staff is recommending approval of the project with 13 conditions.
Also on the planning board agenda:
- A request by Aaron McPherson for a conditional use permit to convert an existing detached garage into a guest house on Peregrine Lane.
- A request by James Dodkin, with technical assistance from BCD Engineering, to subdivide a property into two parcels. The property at 441 Armory Road is currently vacant and is zoned country residential district.