Looking Back: Whitefish Parking Commission gives tourists a break

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 

50 Years Ago 

July 15, 1976

Nancy Hendricks, Ken Ross, Jim Heitel and Larrye Bellah, all alumni of Big Mountain, operated Que Pasa, a Mexican food restaurant on the East Lake Shore Road at the junction of Reservoir Road. Pulling their restaurant experience, the quartet hoped to provide a service-oriented restaurant that fulfilled the local need for an authentic Mexican house. All the partners had been exposed to Mexican food in its various forms and were trying to serve it in a “dining atmosphere that is comfortable with prices that are competitive with the average pocketbook and with the accent on service.” 

40 Years Ago 

July 16, 1986

A zoning change allowing buildings in Whitefish over 35 feet high was forwarded to the Whitefish City Council by the City County Planning Board and Zoning Commission with hopes the council would use it. The Planning Board unanimously approved the zoning change guidelines but sent a message to the Council they would rather not see buildings over 35 feet tall in the city. The current ceiling of 35 feet would be altered in the general resort business district and industrial zone if Council adopted the planning group's proposal. Builders such as Sterling Investments Inc, owners of the former Viking restaurant on Whitefish Lake, would have to acquire a use permit before building over 35 feet. The planning group voted to send the zoning change to council after an hour and a half of long public discussion. The majority of the 20 people in the audience spoke against the zoning change. 

30 Years Ago 

July 18, 1996

Flathead County residents who parked for more than two hours in downtown Whitefish would receive a simple ticket, but visitors would get off with a warning. The Whitefish Parking Commission voted unanimously to give tourists a break by issuing an initial warning for overtime parking; however, if the out-of-country vehicle has not moved after four hours, a ticket would be given. “I think we should make visitors feel welcome,” Parking Commissioner Craig Drynan said. “I lean towards giving them a break.” Police Chief Bill Labrie feared residents would be upset by the discrepancy and enforcement. “You are going to have some local people who will be very offended by what you are going to do,” he said. 

20 Years Ago 

July 13, 2006

It had been nearly two decades since Flathead County implemented a county wide master plan, and if public input is any indicator, a new plan is long overdue. According to the draft growth policy recently released by the county, the number of growth-related complaints planners heard during scoping meetings held around the valley indicate the 1987 master plan “is not adequately protecting the public health, morals, convenience, order or general welfare.” Furthermore, the 155-page document states, as rapid growth outpaced the aging master plan, property owners sought to modify the master plan to suit their needs. 

10 Years Ago 

July 13, 2016

Tour Divide mountain bike race attracts special competitors. Cyclists haul all their gear and travel across 2,745 miles of rugged terrain, passing through Canada and five U.S. states while climbing more than 200,000 vertical feet. Despite its niche status, the Tour Divide is considered one of the world's toughest bike races — a mountain biking equivalent to races like the Tour de France. “There's not a normal cyclist in the world, I'll tell you that right now,” Tour Divide racer Ian Monteith said with a laugh. Monteith and his friend Renato Alessandrini, both in their 50s, stopped at Glacier Cyclery as they passed through Whitefish. They stocked up on supplies and got a few bike repairs before heading south toward the next lonely stretch of trail down the Swan Valley.