Whitefish considers zone change for housing project

In preparation for a proposed affordable housing development at 530 Edgewood Place, the Whitefish City Council will consider rezoning 2 acres from limited commercial to a high-density multifamily residential zoning district today.

Homeword, a Missoula-based nonprofit working in tandem with the Whitefish Housing Authority, requested the zone change. The project is proposed next to Piggyback BBQ and is a finalist for tax credits through the Montana Board of Housing.

In other business, the council will consider awarding a contract for $374,836 to Sandry Construction of Bigfork — the low bid among five proposals — to create a new 600-foot roadway between the Emergency Services Center and West 18th Street. The link will create a safer connection to the city’s public works facility than the existing route that uses West 18th Street, which is a steep, one-lane driveway, according to City Manager Adam Hammatt’s report to the council.

A resolution to reserve funds from the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability program will be voted on by the council. The money can be used to pay for the construction, maintenance and repair of city streets, alleys and bridge.

The Public Works Department has suggested using the road and bridge money for the reconstruction of Monegan on the city’s eastern edge. Once the site work has been completed at the Trailview subdivision, the reconstruction of Monegan would commence.

The council will consider an ordinance adding a new chapter to Whitefish city code, establishing the Whitefish Climate Action Standing Committee.

A council work session at 5 p.m. will be a joint meeting with the Whitefish Strategic Housing Plan Steering Committee and the Whitefish Planning Board to discuss inclusionary zoning.

Both the work session and the council meeting at 7:10 p.m. will be held at Whitefish City Hall.

Features Editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.