Whitefish City Council last week gave its approval to waive a roughly $2,500 fee for property owners on Kalispell Avenue who are asking for a portion of their street to be rezoned.

Several residents along the street came to Council last month requesting the change saying it would better fit with how the street is developed.

The west side of the street is zoned WR4 high density multi-family residential, while the east side of the street is zoned WR2 two-family residential. They would like the west side of Kalipsell from Third Street East to Sixth Street East changed to WR2 zoning.

After homeowners officially submitted a petition with the request, city staff last week sought a decision from Council on how to handle the fee normally associated with a zone change.

Councilor Frank Sweeney said the circumstances dictate that the city should waive the fee.

“This is a citizen-driven initiative for their neighborhood that is consistent with the downtown master plan and the growth policy,” he said. “It’s high time we got behind and supported this.”

Councilor Rebecca Norton agreed.

“We need to empower people who live here to make sure their lifestyles match the zoning,” she said.

The proposed zone change will still have to go before the planning board and Council for a public hearing and vote.

If 25% of the property owners in the area affected or within 150 feet of the potential zone change challenge the change then it would require a two-thirds majority vote from Council to approve it. Some neighbors could challenge the zone change because it would likely reduce the property values of the lots within the change, Planning and Building Director Dave Taylor said previously.

The WR4 zone is intended for higher density residential purposes including for buildings with up to seven units and for limited nonresidential uses. The WR2 zoning district is intended for residential purposes to provide for one-family and two-family homes.

About a half dozen residents the street previously told Council and others sent letters saying they agree with the zone change to protect the character of the neighborhood.