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Board orders feasibility study on Big Mountain egress; votes to ask council to consider moratorium if route not built
Summary
Whitefish planning board members voted Aug. 27 to order a feasibility study and preliminary design for a two‑lane alternative egress from the Big Mountain community and added a recommendation that the city council consider a public‑health‑based moratorium on new subdivision approvals in affected planning areas if no reliable secondary egress is established within five years of plan adoption.
Whitefish planning board members on Aug. 27 voted to have staff pursue a feasibility study and preliminary design for a two‑lane alternative egress from the Big Mountain community and added language urging the city council to consider a public‑health‑based moratorium on new subdivision approvals in affected planning areas if a reliable secondary egress is not established within five years of plan adoption.
Why it matters: Board members said existing secondary routes — specifically Haskell Basin/Haskell Creek Road — are not reliable emergency evacuation corridors and should not be presented as such in the growth policy. Several speakers argued that relying on a single narrow or privately owned road increases community risk during a wildfire or other mass‑evacuation incident.
Feasibility study ordered The board adopted an objective directing staff to “develop a feasibility study and preliminary design for a two‑lane alternative egress from Big Mountain,” a direction supported by multiple board members. Toby (planning board member) framed the change as a practical…
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