Planning Commission to discuss new residential zoning district

The Whitefish Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a recommendation by city staff to amend the city's zoning districts as part of implementation of the Vision Whitefish 2045 growth policy at its Sept. 17 meeting. The item will be heard by the City Council on Oct. 5.  

The text amendment introduces a new residential zoning district into the code as part of the implementation of Vision Whitefish. According to the staff report, the proposed WR-M Micro Lot Residential would allow for small lot, reasonably priced, residential developments similar to Trailview in Whitefish and Vista Ridge Cottages in Kalispell, including tiny home, small home, townhome, cottage and row-house type developments. 

Vision Whitefish 2045 adopts a placetypes map. One of the placetypes is compact suburban neighborhood, which calls for small lot development to “accommodate smaller lots, townhomes, cottage courts, small-lot (2,500 square feet) development and other low-rise missing middle housing that gently increases density while keeping a suburban feel.” 

The Planning Commission meets Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Whitefish City Council Chambers.