Community Development Board delays action on Vision Whitefish 2045 economic development goals after board split

The Whitefish Community Development Board voted Feb. 20 to delay formal action on the draft economic development goals and objectives in the Vision Whitefish 2045 growth policy, after a split among board members and public commenters.

Alan Tiefenbach, the planner presenting the update, told the board the Montana Land Use Planning Act requires an economic development assessment in a growth policy and said the city hired an economic development consultant who reached out to about 30 stakeholders and presented interim findings to the board in April and June. “Economic development is one of the topics that Montana Land Use Planning Act requires to be addressed in a growth policy,” Tiefenbach said.

The board’s motion, made by Chair Steve (last name not specified) to adopt staff’s recommendation to delay further discussion until the entire economic development chapter is completed, was seconded and initially produced a tie vote. After clarification about voting eligibility and a deciding vote…