Stand strong Whitefish, you are worth it

Just think. No architectural review, no control on strip development, no guidelines, no sewer, no clean water, NO STATE LANDS, no affordable housing. Is that what you want to surround yourself by? I don't. I live in the outer limits of the doughnut, the mile two to four area that the current proposed interlocal agreement between the city and county will place under sole county planning if approved by a City Council vote scheduled for Sept. 7 at City Hall. I am very concerned that I don't know what this will mean for me, our community and its future.

How many new business interests are lining up and pushing our county commissioners to get Whitefish to give in to their demands? It's hard not to be suspicious of the county wanting total control of land-use decisions to reap the benefit of prestigious development in Whitefish. What's driving this need for a change?

Can we count on the county commissioners to continue the hard-fought integrity of those City Council members who brought us the boulevard landscaping on U.S. 93? Think of all of the great projects in the last few years that have improved Whitefish: our streets, library, cultural center and two new athletic sites. Our downtown has taken great pride in continuing to maintain its character while continuing to grow annually. It's highly likely that our character will be lost without any control over what type of projects are being developed surrounding our borders. All of the businesses in Whitefish should feel threatened by these changes. Many of these great projects took a lot of negotiation and a lot of time of our dedicated City Council.

A specific choice was made to create a recreation-based cultural destination resort community that truly is a great place to live. Now, what will happen in the next 5, 10 or 20 years if we lose control of our planning? Every place has to have vision and integrity, it should be agreed upon yet most of all upheld. I believe Whitefish has tried to do that. But, if the council lets go of the ability to control its boundary planning district it would, and most certainly will be, the end of what so many people have worked so hard to save, worked so hard to live in, and worked so hard to live for.

I urge our hard working mayor and councilors to not sign this agreement until the new growth policy that will replace the current city-county plan is written and the public has had time to comment and help shape this plan. We are members of the Whitefish community, and need to have planning decisions that affect us made by the same elected officials who have guided our progress in becoming the desirable place we are now. Without this approach, the proposed interlocal agreement leaves my family and others who have invested our lives in our homes and businesses with absolute uncertainty that is not justified. Stand strong Whitefish, you are worth it.

P.S. Please call or write our City Council members and county commissioners on this issue before Sept. 7 and check that you are registered to vote by Oct. 4.

Joan Vetter

Whitefish