Council hears housing needs assessment; planning commission unanimously recommended approval

City staff presented the Columbia Falls housing needs assessment Monday as the first step in updating the city's growth policy, reporting projected housing shortfalls and vacancy data required under state guidance.

Eric McKinney, the planning director, said the city selected consultant Wendy Sullivan and her team last fall to conduct outreach and compile census, permit and business-survey data. McKinney said the consultant’s report estimates between 250 and 385 homes will be needed over the next 10 years depending on growth assumptions, which the report translates to roughly 32 homes per year under a 10-year horizon.

McKinney told the council the planning commission reviewed the report and "recommended approval unanimously" and that the document is "3 82 compliant" as referenced in the meeting. He recommended the council move forward with designating the housing assessment as the basis for the upcoming land-use plan, and said the council would consider a resolution to adopt the document at a subsequent meeting.

Daniel Sitter, executive director of Housing Whitefish, spoke during public comment and urged the city to identify near-term actions that could increase housing supply quickly, such as zoning code adjustments to allow modest infill or accessory units. Sitter said the report highlights underutilized lots and that the city should prioritize infill where utilities already exist to limit future taxpayer liabilities.

The housing study also included counts of short-term rentals: staff cited 223 active vacation-rental licenses in the Columbia Falls area, with 83 inside the city limits. McKinney said the report will inform the next step, a land-use plan that will include greater public engagement and pose specific policy options for council review.

The council did not take a final adoption vote at the meeting; staff said a resolution adopting the assessment will be placed on a future agenda.