The Whitefish City Council denied a request by Averill Hospitality for a zoning map amendment at 1350 and 1352 Wisconsin Ave., from WR-3, low-density, multi-family residential, to WRB-2, general resort business district.  

The zoning change would facilitate future development and align existing use with the appropriate zoning district. Currently, the properties are developed with single-family structures and accessory structures. 

Averill Hospitality co-owner Brian Averill told Council there would be “clear public benefit” to developments that come after a zone change for the land abutting The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, including an indoor facility for late night parties to minimize the noise on the lake. However, he has no plans prepared nor a timeline for the project. 

Whitefish resident Toby Scott spoke in favor of the zone change, calling it a “no brainer” and said the Averills have “the best of intentions” for the use of the properties. 

Parkway Drive resident Marcia Sheffels said she and the neighboring homeowners have found it difficult to work with The Lodge for nearly 20 years. 

"We have tried and have not gotten responses. Unfortunately, they have not been good neighbors,” Sheffels said. “I would strongly like to go on record that I opposed this zoning request.” 

The Council questioned staff about a zone change coming before an amended planned unit development.   

Councilor Steve Qunell was opposed to the zoning change. 

“Not only this Council, but the people of our community deserve to see the plan that you’re going to do with these two pieces of property you bought 10 years ago before we approve whatever zone changes you want to have there,” Qunell said. 

The motion to approve the request was denied 3-2, with Councilors Giuseppe Caltabiano and Andy Feury in favor. Mayor John Muhlfeld, Qunell and Councilor Ben Davis were opposed. 

THE WHITEFISH Assembly of God, located at 150 Lamb Lane, requested a conditional use permit to add a single-story, multi-purpose building to the west of the existing church for youth and teen activities. 

The building will contain a multi-purpose room and four classrooms. Access will continue to be from Karrow Avenue onto Lamb Lane. 

The Council approved the permit unanimously. 

Both applications were made prior to the adoption of the growth policy update, so were analyzed with the previous growth policy in mind. 

RISS GETTS, executive director of Whitefish Housing Authority, and Daniel Sidder, executive director of Housing Whitefish, requested $30,000 to hire a coordinator. 

“It is a lot of work to recruit the right people at the right incomes to these units to make sure that we are, essentially, doing the right case management and providing the right type of service to manage a program that we offer to developers and to the community,” Getts said.  

She and Sidder proposed the Housing Authority contract with Housing Whitefish to administer the rental portion of the workforce program. 

The Council voted unanimously to approve the request. Housing Whitefish will match the funds. 

Councilors Rebecca Norton and Frank Sweeney were absent.