Council approves updated plan for Riverview Meadows

City Council last week approved amending a planned unit development overlay at the Riverview Meadows subdivision.

The change allows for the development of an additional six multifamily units on one of the lots, which is currently undeveloped.

The original PUD allowed for 18 units in three buildings, but Michael Morton of Mkay requested to increase the total units to 24.

The property is on Akers Lane near the TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel.

The original submission to the city was to construct the units in one building, but after neighbors of the project spoke out against the change before the Planning Board, developers changed the plan to spread the units over two buildings.

Morton said the neighbors vehemently objected to the original proposal.

“We listened to the neighbors comments and agreed on two buildings,” he said. “We want to be good neighbors.”

After struggling to make a decision on the request, the Planning Board suggested the neighbors and the developer work together before coming to Council.

“Thank you for going back to the neighborhood and coming up with a solution,” Councilor Andy Feury said.

The PUD also includes 13 detached single-family homes along the Whitefish River and 10 attached townhouses fronting the Whitefish Avenue extension.

The updated plan calls for constructing eight two-bedroom units, eight one-bedroom units and eight studio units. This is a decrease in the total bedrooms for the building.

There will be five total units that will go to the Whitefish Housing Authority for affordable housing.