Development is front and center as the Whitefish City Council starts the new year by considering a 56-unit residential subdivision next to the Grouse Mountain soccer fields on Fairway Drive.

The council will hold a public hearing at Monday’s meeting on the proposal by Little Bear Developments No. 2 LLC for a preliminary plat to develop the 7.1 acres. The company is proposing 20 lots — 10 single-family or duplex lots, eight townhouse sublots in one building, and two lots for condominium development with a maximum of four units on one condo lot and 25 units on the other.

All told the number of units in the Little Bear subdivision would be 56.

According to the Whitefish Planning Office staff report, the higher density portions of the project are located along the northern part of the property, with the lot for 25 condos and the eight-unit townhouse lot at the north edge next to the soccer fields.

A new private road would loop through the development and connect to Fairway Drive in two locations.

In November 2021 the Whitefish Planning Board voted 2-2 on the subdivision proposal and thus was unable to forward a recommendation to the council. The city planning staff, however, is recommending approval with 18 conditions.

There were concerns among the neighbors about additional traffic on their private roads, and it was noted the development would be a missed opportunity to expand a city park.

IN OTHER business, the council will hold hearings on two conditional-use permit requests for accessory apartments. One request is from Laurany Gergen for an accessory apartment above a new garage at 424 Somers Ave. The other is from Joy Keuylian for a guesthouse at 465 Armory Road.

Whitefish Christian Academy is seeking a conditional-use permit to make temporary classrooms installed in 2015 into permanent structures at the campus, 820 Ashar Ave.

The council will vote on a resolution to increase park and facility fees. The Parks and Recreation Department last increased those fees in 2016, and Depot Park fees were last increased in 2013. The proposed increases range from $5 to $50, depending on the tier.

PRIOR TO the regular meeting, the council will interview candidates starting at 5:15 p.m. and then make appointments to the Board of Adjustment, Planning Board and the Whitefish representative on the Flathead City-County Health Board.

A change in the interlocal agreement enabled the three incorporated cities to have a representative on the board.

Three candidates have expressed interest in the Health Board appointment, including Dr. Jessica Malberg-Fiftal, Kristen Riter and Shoshana Taylor.

Malberg-Fiftal, who has a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in combination with a Master of Science in Public Health, served on the Health Board but was not among the county commissioners' recent board appointees. Her term expired Dec. 31.

Riter has a career in biotechnology and specifically vaccine quality control, with experience auditing pharmaceutical and hospital sites for compliance, data integrity and adverse event reporting.

Taylor is a special education teacher by profession, and in her application letter said she has dealt with students with multiple health diagnoses.

The council will present a plaque to outgoing City Council member Ryan Hennen, and also will present a plaque to the family of Municipal Judge William Hileman, who died in October 2021.

An oath of office will be administered to incumbent council members Andy Feury and Ben Davis, and newly elected councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano. A deputy mayor will be elected.

Following the board applicant interviews, the council meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. at Whitefish City Hall. The meeting also can be accessed via Webex. More information is available on the city website.