Rewind 2021: A look back at the stories that shaped the last year

From a surge of development to a shortage of workforce housing, schools continuing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and volunteers helping out neighbors with both donations and service - here is a look back at the top stories of 2021 in Whitefish.

Affordable housing

Whitefish has continued to face struggles in having an adequate amount of affordable and workforce housing.

The median home price in Whitefish in June shot up to $619,000 compared with the median home price here in June of 2019 at $470,000.

Whitefish’s Legacy Homes Program took a major blow this year at the hands of the Montana Legislature and governor when a bill was signed into law effectively prohibiting inclusionary zoning meaning that local governments can no longer require the property be dedicated for housing for specific income levels or at specified sale prices. The citys’ program utilized the zoning regulation.

But city leaders said that while the bill was an unfortunate step, Whitefish would begin looking at other options for creating deed-restricted affordable workforce housing.

A huge step in providing affordable housing was accomplished when the Alpenglow Apartments opened during the summer. The apartment complex on Edgewood Place includes 36 units and is a partnership between the Whitefish Housing Authority and Homeword, a Missoula nonprofit housing developer.

The housing authority continues to work on creating more affordable housing through projects already in the works and seeking out additional funding and property for future opportunities.

It finalized plans to develop the snow lot into a townhouse project. This summer the authority expects to break ground on 24 townhouse units on the property at the corner of Railway Street and Columbia Avenue.

A group of business owners and community leaders began organizing during the summer looking to tackle issues surrounding the lack of affordable rental housing in Whitefish. Around town businesses have often been posting help wanted signs and have been closing at least one day per week due to the lack of staff as a result of a shortage of housing.

Development

It was the tale of two hotels when City Council in October denied one hotel and approved another during the same meeting.

Council rejected a proposal for a hotel just off U.S. Highway 93 in the south end of town, and then later that night approved a boutique hotel planned on Central Avenue.

Council denied a request for a conditional use permit to develop an 85-room hotel on Hedman Lane off highway 93 saying the hotel would have a negative impact on traffic and didn’t fit the community’s vision.

Council approved a request for a planned unit development overlay to construct a 40-suit boutique hotel, including a bar and lounge, at 38 Central Ave. Council seemed to feel the downtown hotel provides benefits to the community and is part of the city’s downtown master plan.

Plans came forward this year for the Mountain Gateway development proposed for 32.7 acres at the base of Big Mountain. The plan calls for 318 housing units with commercial development at the intersection of Big Mountain Road and East Lakeshore Drive.

Plans call for a 270-unit rental community, 24 condo units and 24 townhouse units. Areas of the property would be left as open space and developed parks.

A section of the property is proposed for a neighborhood commercial development with access off East Lakeshore Drive.

A nonprofit organization called Flathead Families for Responsible Growth was formed in response to the project raising concerns about the impact the large project will have on Whitefish, but organizers say they also want to advocate for responsible growth across the community.

City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the Mountain Gateway project on Jan. 18.

Police Chief

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial abruptly retired in August. While he had mentioned at city meetings that he planned to retire during the year, his departure was seemingly sudden. He had served in the position since 2001.

Then a month later it was revealed that Dial and interim police chief Bridger Kelch are both subjects of an investigation by state officials after alleged acts of corruption involving another Whitefish man who is facing separate federal fraud charges. Both face allegations by the Montana Department of Justice's Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Bureau (POST).

Dial at the time denied the allegations and said he planned to fight against them, while city officials said they continue to have confidence in Kelch’s ability to lead the department.

Schools

There’s always a lot happening with Whitefish Schools and this year was no exception.

Early in the year, Superintendent Dave Means was selected to serve in his role permanently after having spent time as the interim superintendent. He received overwhelming support from the school board, administrators and community members in being selected for the position on a full-time basis.

Joining the school district, new Muldown Elementary Principal Catey Nasello brought her experience as both an elementary school teacher and an administrator to her new role in Whitefish.

In the spring, U.S. News Best High Schools rankings placed Whitefish High School in the top 10% of all high schools in the country and No. 2 in the state of Montana.

A facilities plan developed by the school district shows that Whitefish High School is quickly nearing its student capacity level based upon enrollment figures. Muldown Elementary is also predicted to reach its capacity level by 2025. The plan says that the district needs to begin planning now for how to address the need for more space in the near future.

Following a heated meeting, the school board in August voted to require masks for K-6 students in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The school board said the requirement for younger students came because vaccination was not yet available to children under 12.

The decision drew protests, including one that drew about 100 people, from those who said the district should not be requiring students to wear masks.

Discussion by the school board regarding Covid mitigation measures also prompted a group of parents and community members to mount an attempt to recall the entire school board. Though the petition didn’t gain the traction it needed to get the required signatures to go on a ballot, the school board termed the petition as an unfounded distraction.

Hospital

North Valley Hospital this year changed its name to Logan Health — Whitefish along with officially merging with the health care system formally known as Kalispell Regional Healthcare that has also been renamed. The Whitefish facility came under the umbrella of KRH in 2016, but the changes were the next step in the relationship.

The hospital, in coordination with the Flathead City-County Health Department and with assistance from the City of Whitefish, held COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Whitefish.

The Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic provided more than 7,600 doses to more than 4,750 members of the community for more than 140 hours over seven months.

Healthcare workers and volunteers at the clinic were happy to be able to assist in a positive step in the pandemic.

“We really wanted to do whatever we could to support the community,” said Heather Murray, employee health nurse for the hospital.

Good news

The Whitefish Community Foundation’s annual Great Fish Community Challenge handed out $4.2 million in funds to 61 Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations. The total amount awarded included about $3.5 million donated by 2,683 donors during the six-week Great Fish Community Challenge, plus a 56% match on the first $20,000 raised by each organization.

The Whitefish Community Foundation also awarded $15,150 in incentive grants throughout the Challenge.

Several conservation easements were completed this year aiming to protect wildlands around Whitefish.

A conservation easement along the Stillwater River near Olney was completed in January securing protection for 1,072 acres surrounded by Fathead National Forest and Montana state forests. The property is protected in an agreement involving F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber company and the Flathead Land Trust. The Trust for Public Land negotiated the agreement.

John and Anne Collins finalized a conservation easement on their property on Whitefish Lake. The easement protects 672 acres of private land along the northwest shore of the lake and adjoins Montana State School Trust Land.

The extended Collins family has long ties to Whitefish, and when John and Anne purchased the property near Lazy Bay 20 years earlier their intention was always to place it in a conservation easement.

Late in the year, a 100-acre conservation easement near Tamarack Creek north of Whitefish was completed thanks to efforts by the Vital Ground Foundation. The property just south of the Stillwater State Forest is considered a habitat-rich zone and prime grizzly bear habitat.

Looking to serve an increasing number of families, North Valley Food Bank completed a substantial remodeling project expanding its building on Flathead Avenue.