In a recent government meeting, the Whitefish City Council discussed a request from the Willow Homeowners Association (HOA) for a minor variance to the constructed area regulations concerning their lakeshore property at 1340 Wisconsin Avenue. The HOA aims to replace an existing 110-foot long, 2-foot wide fixed walkway with a floating walkway measuring 5 feet in width, which would increase the constructed area from 680 square feet to 996 square feet.

The property previously received a lakeshore variance in 1998, allowing the dock to extend beyond the standard 100 feet due to shallow waters. The proposed changes would add 330 square feet to the constructed area, raising concerns about compliance with lakeshore protection regulations.

City staff outlined three criteria that must be met for granting a variance: demonstrating a hardship due to strict enforcement, proving that no reasonable alternatives exist, and ensuring that the variance would not adversely impact the lake or lakeshore. Staff concluded that the HOA did not meet these criteria, citing the availability of alternatives, such as reducing the dock size or using narrower walkways, which could comply with regulations.

The Lakeshore Protection Committee unanimously recommended denial of the variance request, emphasizing that the proposed changes could lead to safety issues, as highlighted by a resident who reported incidents of instability on the current walkway. The council is expected to deliberate further on this matter, weighing the safety concerns against the HOA's request for an expanded walkway.