Commission recommends removal of two expired PUD overlays in housekeeping zone‑map amendments

At its March 19 meeting the Whitefish Planning Commission recommended city council approve two housekeeping zone‑map amendments to remove expired planned‑unit development overlays.

Staff member Wendy Compton Ring said both projects were originally approved as PUDs in 2022 and have since expired by their recorded conditions: one PUD’s condition expired in August 2025 and the other’s preliminary plat and PUD expired in October 2025. The first site, at East 6th and Spokane Avenue, will revert to WB2; the Edgewood property and associated unaddressed parcels will revert to WR2, WCR, and WA underlying zoning. Staff reported no public comments and recommended council approval to bring the maps back into conformance.

Commissioners asked procedural questions: staff explained zoning map amendments and rezonings will continue to come before the commission even as some other land‑use items are moved under a revised process referenced by staff, and that subdivision and conditional‑use procedures are treated differently. For the Edgewood parcel staff noted earlier annexation and that water and sewer were not extended under the expired preliminary plat; commissioners also discussed private‑road standards used in some PUDs and confirmed private roads are not maintained by the city though they must meet many standards.

Motions to recommend council approval of both WZC26‑01 and WZC26‑02 were moved, seconded, and approved unanimously at the meeting.