Board votes on number of requests
In addition to the Legacy Homes Program, the Whitefish Planning Board on April 18 also considered requests for two subdivisions and the expansion of the Firebrand Hotel dining room.
- The board voted to recommend approval for a request by IO2.5, LLC, for a preliminary plat and conditional use permit for a nine-lot subdivision at 2041 River Lakes Parkway. The subdivision would include three two-unit homes and on three-unit townhome, and the property is currently undeveloped and zoned for high density multi-family residential with a planned unit development overlay.
Last August the same property came to the board with a proposal for a commercial development, which was met with disapproval from neighbors to the property.
The board voted 3-1 for both the preliminary plat and CUP, with Steve Qunell voting in opposition because of planning staff’s finding that the state Department for Environmental Quality is not approving projects involving water main extensions or any expansion of the city’s current water allocation.
The project will go before City Council on May 6.
- Another request by Sage Partners LLC for a preliminary plat for six-lot subdivision received a recommendation for approval board. The property is an undeveloped low density multi-family residential and two-family residential mix located at 415 1/2 Colorado Avenue. The project will also go before Council on May 6. The board voted 3-1, with Qunell voting in opposition due to a lack of DEQ authority to approve projects involving water main extensions.
- The Whitefish Hotel Group, LLC, also is requesting a conditional use permit to expand the footprint of the Firebrand Hotel by 588 square feet. The renovation would enclose the current outdoor patio and include it in the hotel’s dining area. The property is zoned general business district. The board recommended approval unanimously.
The hotel said the outside patio area is under-utilized as it is north facing, so it plans to re-purpose the space to create a large dining area.
The existing roof would be extended to enclose the area and windows would be added above the existing stone wall. The final design would have to obtain approval from the Architectural Review Committee.
A CUP for the hotel was first approved in 2015 as a requirement for buildings with a footprint that exceed 7,500 square feet.
- The city is proposing several housekeeping amendments to the zoning code, but that item and another zoning text amendment related to the Legacy Homes program were tabled for next month’s meeting. The amendments are to fix errors and inconsistencies found by staff, remove a loophole involving guest quarters, implement a portion of the downtown master plan regarding ground floor use restrictions and implement a portion of the Wisconsin corridor plan regarding formula retail/restaurants and setbacks along Wisconsin Avenue.