Kalispell Avenue residents aim to preserve character of neighborhood

A group of neighbors on Kalispell Avenue are requesting that the City of Whitefish change the zoning on a portion of their street to better fit with how the street is developed.

The west side of the street is zoned WR4 high density multi-family residential, while the east side of the street is zoned WR2 two-family residential. They would like the west side of Kalipsell from Third Street East to Sixth Street East changed to WR2 zoning.

Sarah Canepa, who lives on Kalispell, said about 75% of the lot owners on the street have said they want the zone change to happen.

“We are concerned that the WR4 zoning allows greater density than the current character of the street,” she said in addressing the City Council earlier this month. “This will help maintain the residential character of the neighborhood. We want you to do a growth policy amendment and a zone change. We are a group of citizens that request you to take action.”

Mayor John Muhlfeld applauded the neighborhood for organizing to request the change. While the city has known for awhile that the zoning for that portion of the street doesn’t make sense unless the homeowners came forward with a request the city was unable to do anything to rectify the situation, he noted.

“We can’t down zone without the consent of those who live there,” he said. “I hope that other neighborhoods where changes like this need to happen will bring that forward also.”

The WR4 zone is intended for higher density residential purposes including for buildings with up to seven units and for limited nonresidential uses. The WR2 zoning district is intended for residential purposes to provide for one-family and two-family homes.

Planning and Building Director Dave Taylor said while neighbors have submitted a petition to the city, they have not filed a formal zone change application or paid the required application fee.

Taylor says at this point he is waiting for formal direction from Council on whether the planning department should initiate a zoning change or wait for an application from the neighbors.

If 25% of the property owners in the area affected or within 150 feet of the potential zone change challenge the change then it would require a two-thirds majority vote from Council to approve it.

Taylor said some neighbors could challenge the zone change because it would likely reduce the property values of the lots within the change.

About a half dozen residents of Kalispell addressed Council at a recent meeting and others sent letters to the city saying they agree with the zone change to protect the character of the neighborhood.

John Lacey said he has lived on the street for 23 years and supports the rezone.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes to this portion of downtown and we’d like to maintain the historic nature of the neighborhood,” he said.

Colette Beausoleil spoke in favor of the zone change.

“The zone change will maintain the residential character of our neighborhood,” she said. “The avenues remain as a charming historical marker of this town’s early days and continue to provide residents and businesses with a sense of community.”

From her home, Virginia Cronk says she watches visitors to Whitefish park and walk down the street taking pictures of the refurbished house and gardens.

“It’s quite an attraction so please don’t lose sight of that,” she said. “As well of the fact that it’s a lovely neighborhood to live in.”