Firebrand looking to expand to full service bar inside hotel
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 8 months AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | October 18, 2017 8:04 AM
The Firebrand Hotel is seeking city approval to operate with a full liquor license at the establishment at the corner of Spokane Avenue and Second Street.
The Whitefish Planning Board will consider the hotel’s request for a conditional use permit during a public hearing at its Oct. 19 meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
The hotel was granted a CUP in 2015 to operate at its location. It currently includes a restaurant and lounge with a beer and wine licenses, but would like to operate with an all-beverage license in its restaurant and lounge.
The Planning Office is recommending approval of the permit with four conditions, including that no bar can be located on the hotel’s rooftop patio.
Whitefish City Council last year approved the operation of a rooftop hot tub at the downtown hotel as an amendment to the hotel’s CUP. The OK came after objections from neighbors who said the change would increase the noise coming from the hotel creating a disturbance to the residential area to the east of the building.
A few other items are also on the planning board agenda on Thursday.
Falling Leaf LLC is requesting an amendment to the Great Northern Heights planned unit development to increase the townhouse lot coverage from 35 to 50 percent.
Great Northern Heights was approved in a series of preliminary plats beginning in 2004 and the most recent phases reached final plat in 2014. The PUD overlay includes 22 duplex and townhouse sublots. The PUD allowed the developer to reduce side yard setbacks on the duplex lots to five feet, but lot coverage was not changed.
The properties are located on Great Northern Drive and Brimstone Drive.
The planing department is recommending approval with two new conditions added to the PUD.
Robert and Crystal Black are seeking a conditional-use permit to expand a non-conforming residential structure and add an accessory apartment on Greenwood Avenue. The property is located in the WB-2 commercial zone. The planning department is recommending approval with 10 conditions.
The city of Whitefish also wants to rezone a parcel at 453 Armory Road that is being annexed from county suburban agricultural zoning to Whitefish country residential zoning.
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