Whitefish City Council on March 7 approved a planning contract to begin work on a Wisconsin Avenue corridor study.

The contract is with Applied Communications LLC of Whitefish. The contract is for up to $50,000.

The firm is made up of professional planners Kathleen McMahon and Robert Horne.

“As a local firm, they have an excellent familiarity with Whitefish and out adopted long range plans, as well as, the necessary experience for a successful project,” Whitefish Planning Director Dave Taylor said.

Horne served as the planning director for Whitefish from 2005 to 2007. Applied Communications have been the consultants on several studies and plans around Whitefish including the Wisconsin Avenue bike and pedestrian path project in 2008.

The firm will team up with Robert Peccia and Associates and GSBS Richman Consulting for this project.

“Because of the transportation element of the plan, having RPA on board will be very useful,” Taylor said, noting RPA’s work on the city’s 2009 transportation plan and design of the Wisconsin path.

Council in September 2014 tagged the Wisconsin Avenue corridor study as a priority. An increase in development pressure in the area was sited as reason for the study.

Taylor said the plan will look at whether things should remain the same or change in the future for the corridor.