Council approves rezone for planned multifamily housing

A zone change for two acres on Skyles Place on the north side of Whitefish could lead to the development of multifamily housing on the property.

City Council last week approved a rezone of the property from limited business district to high density multifamily residential.

Architect Mark Johnson, representing the property owners, said the goal is to redevelop the property for longterm workforce housing, which is “in high demand right now in the community.” He anticipates it will be developed with one bedroom and studio units.

“The proximity to downtown makes it ideal for walking and biking,” he said. “This is also an infill project, which is better than expanding to new areas.”

Johnson said that while he didn’t have an estimate for the number of units that would be built, the developer wants to be “sensitive to the community.”

Mayor John Muhlfeld said the project would be compatible with the neighborhood.

The rezone was requested to implement the future land use map changes adopted as part of the Wisconsin Avenue Corridor Plan. James Atkinson, on behalf of Tom Carson, is seeking the zone change for the parcels involved that include commercial storage and auto repair, as well as single and multifamily residences.

The intent of the rezoning is to facilitate future redevelopment of the parcels to multifamily residential workforce housing, which would not be permitted in the current zoning, according to planning staff.

City Council also:

- Approved an application by Ross Thiessen for a conditional use permit to construct an accessory apartment at 718 Third Street West.

- Approved a request by Commerce Street Condos to amend the zoning map to change a half acre from industrial to industrial and secondary business with conditions zoning for a business space at 1820 Baker Avenue.

Amy Ericksen requested the change to allow for use of the property for selling refurbished furniture.

Conditional zoning allows an applicant to rezone a transitional property into a blended zone that offers restrictions on development requirements and future uses in exchange for the inclusion of some uses allowed in an adjacent zone, according to the planning department.

- Approved adding two handicapped parking spaces to Baker Avenue at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The church requested the spaces saying that elderly parishioners often have a difficult time finding parking near the church building.

The city’s cost for creating the parking spaces is $100. Public Works Director Craig Workman said the spaces would benefit the church, but also nearby businesses.

- Approved an update to the city’s Capital Improvement Program plan for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Whitefish adjusts its plan annually with its budget or when significant changes are necessary. Two recent changes occurred prompting the adoption of the updated plan.

State Park Road, which the city is planning for reconstruction of, requires a $1.5 million stormwater system so that was added to the capital plan. Also, two projects related to expanding water service to the south side of town changed resulting in an additional $10 million in total being added to the water capital improvements in the plan.

Actual appropriation of funds takes place when Council adopts its budget each August, and the CIP plan is simply a planning document.