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Whitefish aims to rezone land for apartment project

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
by HEIDI DESCH
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. | April 7, 2025 12:00 AM

Whitefish plans to rezone a property on U.S. 93 approved in 2019 for an apartment development that never came to fruition.  

The Riverbank Residence was planned for 234 apartments, including affordable housing, in seven buildings on the former North Valley Hospital site. The 3.75-acre site adjacent to the Whitefish River. 

City Council will vote Monday on whether to rezone the property back to the underlying secondary business zone after the planned unit development on the property expired in 2022.  

Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E Second St. 

Following a public hearing, Council will decide whether to allow a conditional use permit for Trovare on Central Avenue to sell beer and wine. The culinary retail store hosts cooking classes and dinners and would like to sell beverages during those events.  

Bars and lounges and any alcohol license except a restaurant beer and wine license require a permit in Whitefish commercial zones.  

Council will also consider awarding a construction contract for the reconstruction of East Sixth Street. In addition to roadway surface concerns, the street lacks bicycle and pedestrian amenities, and has significant influences from school traffic, Public Works Director Craig Workman said in a memo.  

The contract is recommended to be awarded to Watson Excavating at $1.9 million.  

Up for consideration by Council is request from the proposed North Lake Fire District for the city to apply on their behalf for an easement on state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation land.  

Whitefish city staff has been working with leaders from the proposed fire district to determine the best way to improve fire protection services. A 1.5-acre piece of state property on the north end of Whitefish Lake has been identified as a potential site for a fire station, but since it’s state land, the city would have to apply for the easement.

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].   


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