Developers of the proposed Mountain Gateway housing and commercial development at the base of Big Mountain failed to win favor from the Whitefish Planning Board.

Following more public testimony and a lengthy discussion among Planning Board members Thursday night, the board voted 3-1 to recommend the project be denied. That recommendation will be forwarded to the Whitefish City Council, which will hold a hearing and consider the project on Jan. 18. The council will make the final decision on the project.

Flathead Families for Responsible Growth, a new nonprofit that has taken a high-profile role in opposing the Mountain Gateway proposal, again had a visible presence at Thursday’s public hearing that was a continuation of the Oct. 21 hearing. The group has been vocal, asserting the project at the intersection of Big Mountain Road and East Lakeshore Drive will negatively impact water quality, traffic and the small-town way of life in Whitefish.

“This is a good first step,” Flathead Families board member Carol Atkinson told the Daily Inter Lake Friday. “We know we’re not done yet.”

She credited the Planning Board for allowing public testimony from not only the four people who didn’t get a chance to speak on Oct. 21 but also anyone else who wanted to comment.

“One of the things that’s happened here is the community is really becoming aware of the process of something like this, the importance of being active and proactive,” Atkinson said.

She lauded input from two Flathead Families’ board members for the information they provided to the board — Richard Hildner and Carolyn Pitman.

Hildner talked about the fire hazards such a development would pose to Big Mountain. Pitman pointed to the power of the community's voice, and talked about the many projects the community has gotten behind and accomplished, such as the library, fitness center, athletic complex and others. When there’s a challenge, the community rallies, Pitman said.

Arim Mountain Gateway LLC is seeking two separate approvals for its project.

First, the developers want to create a planned-unit development to develop a mixed residential/commercial project with 318 residential units — 270 apartments, 24 townhouses and 24 condominiums — north of the intersection of East Lakeshore Drive and Big Mountain Road. The lots are zoned two-family residential, low density multi-family residential and Flathead County two-family residential. The three county lots would be annexed into the city at the time of approval.

Secondly, the developer is asking for a conditional zone change to apply neighborhood commercial zoning to the northeast corner of the intersection of East Lakeshore Drive and Big Mountain Road. The lot is zoned two-family residential.

News editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 406-758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.