Planning Board looks at changes to retaining wall regulations

The Whitefish Planning Board will consider a change to the zoning code regarding retaining walls at its Thursday, Feb. 21 meeting.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

City Council previously directed city planning staff to bring forward amendments to the code to prevent large retaining walls built in setback from impacting adjacent property owners.

The proposed revisions would set a setback requirement for retaining walls based on wall height. Walls up to 2 feet high aren’t regulated.

Walls above 2 feet and up to 4 feet in height would require to meet a 6-foot setback standard.

Taller walls, up to the 8-foot maximum, would still be allowed for primary vehicle or pedestrian egress, but pedestrian access retaining walls would need to meet full building setbacks if they exceed 4 feet in height. Special exemptions would be approved by the zoning administrator for extreme topography, but only for wall height, not setbacks.

City Council is set to look at the change on March 2.