Whitefish planners present environmental goals for 2040 growth policy; public raises wildfire, water and wildlife concerns

Whitefish planning staff on Dec. 19 presented the draft environmental section of the Whitefish 2040 growth policy, outlining retained policies and new objectives on air and water quality, wildlife protection and climate change integration. Alan Tiefenbach, the city’s long‑range planner, told the Community Development Board the environmental chapter will be delivered in three parts and incorporates guidance from state law and multiple local agencies.

Tiefenbach said the draft follows the Montana Land Use Planning Act’s requirement for inventories, maps and descriptions of natural resources and for documenting threats to soil, surface water, groundwater, wildlife and wildlife corridors. He described retained items from the existing growth policy (shown in the draft as “yellow”) and new policies addressing dust from unpaved roads, open burning, vehicle emissions and anti‑idling rules. On population assumptions, Tiefenbach said the draft uses a range of growth scenarios and currently shows an overall growth rate of about 1.9% after increasing the assumed share of seasonal rentals from 25% to 30%.

On water, he said the city has adopted a critical‑area water quality ordinance, steep‑slope…