Despite public comments, both in favor of keeping and losing the city’s Architectural Review Committee at the Whitefish City Council meeting last week, the 2023 state Legislature gave the city no choice but to repeal the section of city code that spawned the committee.  

Senate Bill 407 “prohibits municipalities from requiring review from an external board with respect to compliance with local design review criteria.” 

The committee was established in 2003 to review building applications and make recommendations to staff on applications fo every project except single-family homes. In 2023, the city code was changed to designate the committee as a recommending body, and staff had the final word. 

Several councilors searched for ways to keep the committee, but even though it was essentially providing free consulting, Jacobs said the city would not be in compliance with the law.

She then quoted the law.  

“Local design review standards imposed by local government must be clear, objective and necessary to protect public health or safety or to comply with federal law,” she read, and added, “I think we can also build some of our standards directly into the zoning. We just need to tie them to health or [public safety].” 

Whitefish City Attorney Angela Jacobs acknowledged the committee was instrumental in creating a well-designed community. 

“They were an incredible resource to staff, and I will say, I think they were actually a resource to developers because they’re getting advice on the design of their buildings,” she said. “They’ve been a huge asset to the city and [we] really appreciate their time and the effort that they’ve put in.” 

Staff will look into possibly making an interim committee on a one-year trial basis. The council voted 4-1 to disband the Architectural Review Committee, with Qunell in opposition.