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Council raises Legacy Homes fee‑in‑lieu to reflect market; resolution adopted unanimously
Summary
The Whitefish City Council adopted Resolution 25‑34 to update administrative procedures and raise the Legacy Homes fee‑in‑lieu to $378,089 based on a three‑year average of home sales; councilors reiterated preference that developers build affordable units on site where practicable.
The Whitefish City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 25‑34 on Oct. 20, updating administrative procedures and the annual fee‑in‑lieu used by the city’s Legacy Homes affordable‑housing program.
Planning staff explained the annual formula is based on a three‑year average of single‑family home sales inside city limits. Staff reported the updated three‑year average produced a fee‑in‑lieu of $378,089; the change was presented as an annual administrative update and was adopted as presented.
“Previous three‑year average was about $1.2 million for the average house,” Planning staff Wendy said while summarizing the calculation and the table included in the staff packet. A council discussion that followed reiterated the policy intent: the Legacy Homes program favors on‑site affordable units where feasible and uses fee‑in‑lieu only in cases where building units on the project site is impractical.
Councilmembers said they remain wary of routine reliance on cash payments instead of integrated affordable units and asked staff to apply the fee‑in‑lieu option skeptically. Several members praised Housing Whitefish and other local efforts that use funds to preserve rental opportunities and keep families in town.
Ending: The resolution takes effect immediately; staff will apply the updated fee schedule when evaluating future PUD and Legacy Homes calculations.
