Resort scraps part of Glades subdivision

Whitefish City Council unanimously

approved June 20 a request to vacate the final plat of The Glades

at Big Mountain, Phase 2 subdivision. Winter Sports, Inc.

determined the project was no longer economically viable and that

financing was “non-existent.”

Resort CEO Dan Graves told council that

the real estate market continues to be down and the four lots in

question are of irregular shape. He said they were “in a hole” and

some were shaped like Tennessee and Idaho.

“It’s almost impossible to think anyone

would buy these lots,” Graves said. “They have no real estate

value. If I could sell them for $50,000, I’d be lucky. I don’t know

if it’s good to go into further debt for this phase.”

After reviewing the request, the city

Planning and Building Department found the project was isolated and

that no other development or third-party would be harmed if the

project was abandoned.

The Glades is a 13 phase subdivision at

the base of Big Mountain. Phase 2 is across from the resort’s

medical clinic off of Glades Drive.

John Constenius, a lot owner at The

Glades, told council during public comment he takes exception to

the vacation request. He noted that each lot owner put $10,000

toward a ski-in-ski-out lift that was to be built after 50 lots in

the subdivision were sold.

“Giving up devalues my property,” he

said. “You don’t sell ski-in-ski-out property without a chair

lift.”

Graves said he understands Constenius’

concerns, but noted that the proposed chair lift is likely not

going to happen anytime soon, with or without Phase 2, due to the

poor real estate market.

“There’s no telling when 50 lots will

be sold,” Graves said. “I don’t think it will be in my

lifetime.”

Graves noted that the proposed lift was

mostly below snow line, too, and that there is no snow-making

capabilities nearby.

“It’s peculiar how the [idea of a lift]

ever got started,” he said.

Councilor Bill Kahle, a local

developer, sympathized with the resort and Constenius.

“I understand [the resort’s] pain,” he

said. “I also understand John’s concerns. He bought something with

expectations.”

However, Kahle said he didn’t see the

vacation as a dramatic impact to current owners at The Glades.

Councilor Phil Mitchell said the

vacation request is a sign of the economic times.

County commissioners granted

preliminary plat approval for The Glades Phases 2-13 in 2005. City

council granted final plat for Phase 2 in 2008 with the agreement

that all improvements would be made by October 2009.

The deadline was extended twice until

the resort requested in April its final plat be vacated.