Council approves zoning amendment clarifying setbacks for Whitefish airstrip

The Whitefish City Council on May 5 approved a zoning text amendment, Ordinance 25-5, clarifying standards for airports, landing strips and helipads in the WA zoning district and aligning local setback language with FAA design guidance.

Staff presentation: Dave, the city planner, told council the amendment was prompted after the Community Development Board (acting as the Board of Adjustment) overturned an administrative interpretation of setbacks in January. The 2014 code language had been read to require a 300-foot setback from adjacent property lines in some interpretations; staff said that interpretation effectively rendered the long-standing Whitefish Turf Airstrip nonconforming. The proposed changes clarify that aircraft safety setbacks apply to runways, landing strips, helipads and accessory buildings — not to an entire airport property — and base runway setback distances on FAA guidance.

Key changes: The amendment sets runway safety setbacks at 125 feet from the runway centerline (staff said accessory building setbacks were set at 150 feet, exceeding FAA guidance) and retains a 300-foot setback for helipads (staff noted FAA guidance is about 280 feet). The amendment also removed a 2014 termination provision that would have allowed a heliport conditional-use permit to lapse if not actively used.

Public input and planning board recommendation: The Community Development Board held a public hearing April 17 and recommended the amendment 6–1. City staff said it received roughly 30–40 public comments in the packet, a majority supporting the change. Residents and local aviators who spoke at the council hearing, including Corey Seaman and others, described the airstrip’s long local history and urged the council to align setbacks with FAA practice; some neighbors asked for a more detailed master plan to address off-site impacts such as noise and safety.

Council action: Councilor Giuseppe moved the ordinance and Councilor Cornell seconded. After discussion the council approved the ordinance on a recorded vote of 4–2, with Councilors Davis and Norton recorded in opposition. Council members who supported the amendment said it was a limited clarification, not an expansion of operations, and staff reported consultation with the Montana Aeronautics Division and FAA references.

Why it matters: The amendment restores clarity to how the city applies safety setbacks in the WA zone and affects future conditional-use reviews involving the Whitefish turf airstrip and any proposed helipads or accessory structures adjacent to runways.