U.S. 93 zone, critical areas top agenda in Whitefish

The Daily Inter Lake

The subject matter of two public hearings - zoning along the U.S. 93 strip and the critical-areas ordinance - should pack the house at tonight's Whitefish City Council meeting.

The council some time ago asked the Planning & Building Department to propose changes to the secondary business district zone to allow additional permitted retail uses such as home furnishings, variety stores, sporting goods, personal services and expanded residential uses.

The idea was to provide "use by right" zoning for several existing uses that may be nonconforming, as well as update the law to allow new uses that weren't anticipated when the zoning code originally was adopted, City Manager Chuck Stearns said in his council report.

But when the Planning Board considered the new zoning proposal in January, the board was split and failed to provide a recommendation.

If the council is uncomfortable with acting on the zoning text amendment without a Planning Board recommendation, it can remand it back to the board for further consideration, Stearns said.

However, the public hearing has been scheduled and public comment will be taken at tonight's meeting.

A second hearing deals with a city-initiated zoning text amendment to the critical-areas ordinance to clarify how to handle the development of existing single-family lots.

The amendment focuses on slope analysis of single-family development with the greatest potential for impacting water quality.

An analysis would be required on lots between 10 to 40 percent slope located near water.

For slopes farther away, no additional slope analysis would be required, though such development still would be required to comply with other critical-areas components.

IN OTHER business, the council will talk about whether to use mail ballots or polling places for the 2009 primary and general elections. Stearns has given the council a list of pros and cons for both voting options.

The council also will discuss the possibility of city-initiated referenda in this election cycle.

At a workshop beginning at 6 p.m., the council will get an update of revisions to the Whitefish subdivision regulations.

City staff will describe main amendments required due to recent legislative changes to state law and get policy direction on other subdivision issues.

A plan for public outreach meetings also will be discussed.

Whitefish currently operates under 1995 subdivision regulations.

The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.; both meetings are at Whitefish City Hall.