YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

PLEASE SEND COMMENTS NOW!

See talking points below .

This is one of your most important and final opportunities to

let the

Flathead County Commissioners know that

you care about how
Whitefish grows!

Even if you commented before, please take time to do so again.

March 14th is the last day the Flathead County Commissioners will take public comment on the new zoning they are proposing around Whitefish. Click here and here for news coverage about this zoning.

Thank the Commissioners for the leadership they have shown thus far in proposing new zoning around Whitefish that moves importantly toward respecting the existing zoning that has been in place for many years. But ask them to take another bold step forward.

Ask the County Commissioners to: "Please adopt the existing zoning in place in the Karrow Avenue area and around Whitefish as outlined in the 12/10/15 letters from the City of Whitefish. Please don't allow more new retail commercial uses along the highway entrances to Whitefish. And finally, please do more to protect the drinking water of Whitefish by keeping the existing 200 ft setbacks from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Creeks." (see letters below)

Please take a few minutes right now and click here for additional sample comments you can easily cut and paste into and email or letter. And click here to send your comments to the Flathead County Commissioners by email before 5pm on March 14 which is the last time they will take written comment on this zoning proposal.

Ask the County Commissioners to open a new door to independent, yet cooperative, long-term planning that will honor the past and build a legacy for future generations!

Here are links to comments that the City of Whitefish submitted to the County:
Dec. 10th letter re new zones proposed
Dec. 10th letter re new zone text changes
Here is the link to comments that we submitted: Dec. 14th CBF letter

The county is proposing to adopt two new sets of zoning regulations around Whitefish. The first zoning Resolution 2416 considers establishing five new county zoning classifications for zones around Whitefish: and the second Resolution 2417 creates the Rural Whitefish Zoning District (yellow area in map above), which include these five new zones as well as existing zoning, in the two-mile area around Whitefish. Click Here to send comments before Monday at 5pm, on 3/14/16.

Here is what's at risk and why your voice is important:

New County Proposed Zoning would allow for retail businesses that Whitefish Zoning says should be in the downtown area, to sprawl down Highway 93. In addition to historically permitted uses, the new county commercial zoning -- B-2A --being proposed, allows for "antique, gift and card retail sales". This new use is not defined and as such could open the door to almost any retail use. The new zoning being proposed also allows for stand alone "convenience stores" (not required to be part of a gas station as in the current zoning) along Hwy 93 South and other city entrances. Again stand alone "convenience stores" are not defined and could open the door to almost any retail use. The county should adopt zoning that leaves in place the existing zoning uses and not add new ones.
Keeping Downtown Whitefish the highly successful and attractive retail and commercial center of Whitefish is dependent on not allowing, new, loosely defined general retail uses to be added to the proposed county zoning for highway entrance corridors as it will serve to drain life and vitality out of downtown Whitefish.
Changing zoning for a small group of property owners along Karrow Avenue and near Lost Coon Lake is not appropriate at this time and is not consistent with City of Whitefish zoning policies. (See column on right for discussion of this issue.) Approximately 132 acres of SAG-10 acre agricultural zoning would be changed to R-2.5 acre residential zoning and 219 acres from SAG-10 to SAG-5 acre agricultural zoning.
New County proposed zoning converts some 7,683 (!) acres of agricultural and timber lands surrounding Whitefish from a zone of 15 acre per lot to 10 acre lot size. Under this proposed change, lots for development around the city would be significantly increased and this is not consistent with the Whitefish Growth Policy and it's infill policy. The infill policy does not allow additional development on agricultural and timberland until the city has reached an established level of infill development in the city.
Standards for protecting water quality and riparian areas will be reduced under the new proposed County zoning. The county recently agreed to a a 100-foot undisturbed setback from Second Creek only; other streams in the Big Mountain resort residential zone would fall under the county's 20-foot setback. The City of Whitefish had asked the county to retain the 200 ft setback on First, Second, and Third Creeks. Research shows that 200 ft set back is needed and is soundly based in scientific studies that show such setbacks are necessary to protect water quality and riparian areas and wildlife. (click here to view some of this research)
The Montana Depart of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has submitted comments saying that the proposed county setbacks from streams, rivers, and other bodies of water are inadequate to protect wildlife and riparian areas.
Compatible standards for permitted signs are needed. The proposed county zoning allows for types of signage that the City of Whitefish zoning code does not allow for, including: internally lighted signs; neon and/or other lighting arranged around a building, sign or other structure for the purpose of attracting attention; electronically automated changeable copy signs, except such signs displaying the time and temperature.

As the image above depicts the pattern of growth that the City of Whitefish Growth Policy calls for supports:

Residential and commercial infill development to prevent highway commercial sprawl, and to keep a vibrant, prosperous, and attractive downtown core,
Well-designed neighborhoods with city services, pedestrian-friendly facilities, and affordable housing options,
Preservation of important agricultural and forest lands as working landscapes. The policy also recognizes the importance of these more rural lands to water quality and wildlife.

Support what makes Whitefish a great place!
Please send comments!
It really does make a difference!

Sincerely,

Citizens for a Better Flathead

We are one valley. Speak up for planning that respects the character of our small towns, friendly neighborhoods, and the quality of our environment as our greatest economic asset. Our future and the legacy we leave future generations all depend on our finding ways to build bridges & everyone working together.

Ask the County Commissioners to take one more bold step forward in planning for future growth around Whitefish.

The Karrow Ave. area and the Lost Coon Lake area are areas where Flathead County is proposing to change sections of land in this area from the former Whitefish zoning of 15 acres agricultural to 2.5 acre lots and 5 acre lots. Click yellow links below for maps and a chart that explain these proposed changes:

---Map of previous WF zoning; note that WA=15acre zoning

---Chart comparing previous WF zones with proposed county zones.

---Map of all proposed zone changes as of 12/2015

Neither city nor county infrastructure is currently available for increased density in this area along Karrow Ave. Allowing development on 2.5 acres per home on septic and without adequate facilities for sewer, storm water, road improvements, and sidewalks, blocks the city from cost effective growth in the future.

The Whitefish Growth Policy call for zoning that retains these agricultural lands, encourages infill development that makes use of existing city services, and prevents commercial sprawl along highway corridors.

Recently, just east of Whitefish off of Highway 40, an out-of-state developer proposed to the county a similar change in agricultural zoning to allow more residential development on undeveloped farmland he had purchased (see yellow area next to city limits above; Shaw Zone Change )

     Here again the Whitefish Growth Policy does not support this conversion of farmland to residential use until such time as the city has achieved its infill goals and is ready and able to extend services.
     The City has more comprehensive plans and policies in place than the county does to ensure that the city can expand and grow in a cost-efficient manner. State law says that the county must adopt zoning in areas around the city as nearly as possible compatible with the city plans and policies. The intent of this state law is to allow cities to plan for future growth and to not be boxed in by patterns of low density development that is too costly to retrofit for services and increased density.
      The City of Whitefish has adopted policies that seek to secure high quality residential development as the city grows and continued preservation of important farmlands, river corridors, and wildlife habitat.

The county, however, moved ahead and approved the additional development for Shaw. The City of Whitefish has now sued arguing the County is ignoring state law in not adopting zoning compatible to City zoning in areas around the city where the city is likely to grow.

Click here to read more.

Citizens for a Better Flathead encourages you to make a difference by participating in the decisions that are shaping the future of your community!

Our work and alerts such as this are dependent on the generous support of individuals like you.