Whitefish City Council OKs apartment building; recreation fees going up

The Whitefish City Council last week approved a fee hike for recreation programs and a construction permit for a new apartment building.

Devin Stus with Modus America Corp was granted a conditional use permit to construct a second 12-unit multi-family apartment at 719 Edgewood Place.

The new building will contain 12 studio apartments and share parking and access with the Phase 1 building and the site will incorporate open space for residents. The long-term rental apartment building is Phase 2 of the development. The first 12-plex is already built on the property.   

“The suites are proposed to rent between $1,200 and $1,300 a month, which is within the 60 to 80% of the area median income,” said Stus, who attended virtually. “We believe this building supports what is sometimes called missing middle housing.” 

There were no public comments and the vote was unanimously in favor of approving the permit. 

“I'm excited to see the change in ratio for the parking lots versus dwellings has enabled things like this,” Councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano said. 

THE COUNCIL adopted a new fee schedule for all recreation programs with a 5-0 vote. 

Parks and Recreation and Social Services Director Maria Butts said her department did an analysis for each program after reviewing costs for services, the history of past fee increases and compared Whitefish's fees with other similar municipalities. 

She said the city’s philosophy has been to fully cover the direct costs of programming but do not cover administration fees. 

Resident programs that serve as a form of childcare for the working families were increased no more than 20%. Non-resident, childcare-like programs were limited to a 25% increase.  

“The nonresident fee would be higher and at a higher rate increase, percentage wise,” Butts added. 

Recreation program fees were increased to reflect the market comparison with similar recreation programs. 

THE CITY also removed an expired planned unit development overlay from 38 Central Avenue. The overlay was for a potential hotel on the site which is now home to a food truck court.