By a 5-1 vote, Whitefish City Council approved a conditional use permit for a mini-storage facility to be located to the west of the Army Navy store with an address on Highway 93.

Cecil Waatti of Rain Dancer LLC, the applicant, has plans to construct 122 mini-storage units at 6394 Highway 93 on a little over one acre of land. The property is zoned WB-2, or secondary business district, which requires a conditional use permit for mini storage.

According to the staff report, the applicant is proposing to build the units in four buildings. One building is to be located along the north property line, one on the west property line and two in the center of the property. All but the northerly building will have two stories.

Plans also include 35 parking spaces along the southern portion of the parcel as well as another 22 in the center. Access will be via an existing private access and utility easement toward the north that connects to Highway 93.

Councilor Ben Davis asked about the approach to the facility; he described it as “confusing” and Whitefish Director of Public Works Craig Workman agreed.

“I think it is a confusing means of ingress/egress, especially to a state highway,” Workman said. “It’s simply an easement. It’s not a public road, it's not even a private road. It's an easement that allows ingress/egress through a number of different businesses.”

Some of the other businesses that use the access are the Army Navy Surplus, the Baymont Inn, the Whitefish Inn, and a small shopping mall anchored by the Subway restaurant.

The Whitefish Planning Board met on June 16 and unanimously approved the request. City staff also recommended approval to council.. The property is to the east of the future Baker Avenue extension and Workman said the storage unit plan does not conflict with the potential Baker Avenue project.

There was some question about the type of fencing that is to be used around the storage facility and whether it would include razor wire.

“I’m just thinking of the other places I see around the valley that are all protected with some sort of fencing that I don't think… is what we want to see,” said Councilor Steve Qunell.

Whitefish Senior Planner Wendy Compton-Ring said the fence could go up to eight feet high and Cate Walker of Northwest Design Studio, representing the applicant, described the fencing in more detail.

“I believe what is currently anticipated is the automatic gate and the front fence or the fence that is facing the hotel will be an ornamental iron-type fence at 8 feet height and the rest will be a chain link,” Walker said. “That’s what’s anticipated at this time.”

The sole vote in opposition was cast by Councilor Andy Feury who stated his dislike for storage facilities.

“I think there’s no single land use that’s destroyed more highway corridors in this valley than mini-storage units,” Feury said.

He said he understands his personal view is not a valid reason to vote in opposition, but “in all good conscience, I can't vote for it.”

There was no public comment during the meeting nor letters sent to the city regarding the request.