Changes to growth policy to be addressed, board attendance causes delays for some

The Whitefish Community Development Board in May voted to accept the economic development element of the growth policy update, much of which was rewritten and submitted by Heart of Whitefish. 

Considerable consternation aroused by the decision led to a request by the City Council for the board to revisit the section. Board Chair Whitney Beckham said the board will go through the economic development section of the growth policy again, line by line, to address the changes. The date for this action has not been set. 

The Community Development Board voted to recommend a text amendment, and two applicants chose to delay their hearing by one month due to low board attendance at its regular meeting last week.  

Whitefish City Planning Director David Taylor said minor changes to the formula retail business section of the city code were needed.  

The term “formula retail” was changed to “formula business” to broaden the definition to include bars or lounges, equipment and gear rentals, gyms and fitness studios, restaurants, retail sales and a few additional businesses. 

The code also restricts formula hotels from downtown. 

A new section in the code refers to the existing architectural review standards which require that formula businesses do not use traditional building designs and color schemes in Whitefish. 

“For instance, when McDonald’s remodeled, we required them to not look like any other McDonalds,” he said. 

Taylor said box stores are one form of formula retail, but so are other franchises with 10 or more stores elsewhere. Mackenzie River Pizza was not a franchise when it opened in Whitefish. It is now, but it is allowed to remain. 

“The intent is to maintain the integrity of downtown Whitefish as being unique local businesses,” Taylor said.  

Taylor added that the changes broaden the types of businesses that can be restricted downtown and in no way open the doors to more formula businesses. 

The board voted unanimously to recommend the text amendments. This item is scheduled to be heard by the Whitefish City Council on July 7. 

Haley and Bevan Evans requested a 20-foot setback and 20% lot coverage to build a new single-family home at 485 Armory Road. Frank Lamb requested a 10-foot setback to develop a single-family home at 415 Columbia Ave. 

Since only four board members were present, and four votes are required to pass a variance, both parties chose to come back next month, when there are, hopefully, more board members present. 

“It’s unfortunate that for two months in a row we haven’t been able to field the full board and stuff will just keep stacking up,” Taylor said. “I’m not sure what else we have on the agenda for the next couple months, but the agenda is going to get bigger and bigger.”