The Whitefish City Council held the second of three public hearings on the adoption of Vision Whitefish 2045, the updated growth policy before addressing and editing the document, nearly line by line.  

The Council will continue its review of the document and is expected to adopt the plan at its next public hearing on April 6. 

A dozen members of the public made comments, mostly about the housing element of the plan. A couple of them expressed a desire to keep the Lupfer and O’Brien avenues designated as Historic Urban, just like “The Avenues” region. 

Whitefish resident Leo Keane said the growth policy is producing a welcome mat. 

“What are we trying to create with Vision 2045? Considering the speed and direction Kalispell is moving, we could be just that soon enough – Kalispell north,” Keane said. “Creating sprawl is the antithesis of quality, of beauty, of what it is that makes Whitefish special. 

“For if you build it, they will come,” he added. “Conversely, if you don’t build it, maybe we can stave off the flood. Maybe people will take this opportunity to stay in their current homes and transform their communities into places more like Whitefish.” 

He added that the new Montana Land Use Planning Act expedites approvals for subdivisions and will result in more volume and less quality. 

The Council reviewed the growth policy document for two hours and agreed upon edits. Councilor Ben Davis came to the meeting with comments organized to address the document from the beginning of the housing element. 

Comments, additions and edits were made to approximately 200 pages. Work will continue at the April 6 meeting where the public comments will also be heard. 

Mayor John Muhlfeld cleared up a rumor about triplexes and quadplexes being added to Somers, Park and Columbia avenues. He assured the public the information was unfounded and untrue. 

Reporter Julie Engler can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support.