Planning board looks at requests for condos, brewery, bar

The Whitefish Planning Board will hear requests for a 52-unit condo, an expansion of the former Great Northern Brewing Co. building, and a request to turn the former Whitefish Marine building into a tavern during its meeting this week.

The board will meet online only on Thursday, April 16 via WebEx, beginning at 6 p.m. Those who wish to make public comments are encouraged to send an email to dtaylor@cityofwhitefish.org prior to the meeting.

To access the meeting online and provide public comment, go to https://tinyurl.com/rhf7a5d and register. Attendees can also listen to the meeting by calling 1-408-418-9388 and use event number 266 265 846.

First on the agenda is a request by Ronnie and Sharon Kyle for a conditional use permit to construct a three-building, 52-unit condominium development at 1515 Highway 93 West.

The buildings are planned to be split in 18-unit and 16-unit buildings on about 4.5 acres, with the 16-unit building having two floors of condos and under-the-building parking. The two 18-unit buildings would have subgrade parking and three floors of condos. All buildings contain combinations of two, three and four bedrooms.

The property is currently developed with a single family home and several outbuildings that would be removed. The project would be accessed off Highway 93 West via a large landscaped roundabout, which intends to slow traffic down before reaching the building. Guest parking would be available along the entrance and under the buildings.

The project would feature a central open space with a clubhouse, grills, hot tubs, grassy areas and paved plaza spaces.

A wide sidewalk would loop around the entire open space to connect the buildings and the sidewalk along Highway 93 West.

The project proposes to a pay cash-in-lieu fee of about $1.2 million rather than provide affordable housing units under the city’s Legacy Homes program requirements.

A CUP is required for developments with multiple buildings on a single lot.

Karla McKellar is the owner of the property.

Planning staff is recommending approval with 12 conditions.

The board will also look at the fate of the building of the former Great Northern Brewing Co., which closed in February. The building has since been purchased by Rob Isackson and his partners.

Blackstar Partners is requesting a conditional use permit to operate a restaurant and brewery in the space and expand the building.

The owner is looking to increase the hours of operation to be open until 2 a.m., and increase the square footage of the restaurant service area on the first floor by reducing the brewery square footage, adding square footage to the second floor, and proposes to add a rooftop deck and service bar.

The CUP is required in order to extend hours of operation and increase the square footage of the service area. Hours are planned from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The rooftop patio will be under the city’s allowed third-story requirement of 45 feet and also set back 20 feet from the north and east property lines to meet city setback requirements. The patio will “not be able to be visually seen very easily from street level” and will match the styling of the existing building, according to the application.

Planning staff recommends approval with 11 conditions.

The board will also look at a request by Goosebay Capital LLC for a CUP to operate a bar/tavern at 6191 Highway 93 South.

The existing building has been used for commercial activities in the past, including as the previous site for Whitefish Marine, but it’s currently empty.

The property is 1.12 acres and zoned WB-2, secondary business district.

The CUP would enable the applicant to use the existing building at the property, and a CUP is required for a bar and tavern. The applicant would transfer an existing Montana beer and wine license to the property.

Planning staff recommends approval with nine conditions.

All items are scheduled to go before City Council on May 4.