City at decision point on parking

The feasibility study is complete and preliminary drawings have been presented. Now it’s time for Whitefish City Council to make a final decision about whether to build a downtown parking structure adjacent to a new City Hall.

Council is slated to vote on the matter at their May 20 regular meeting. City Manager Chuck Stearns says the vote marks a critical decision point that will determine the next step for two important tax increment finance funded projects.

“The question for council will be, ‘Do you want City Hall with structured parking, or City Hall with surface parking,’” Stearns said. “That would set in motion other decisions. We know we want City Hall [at its current location] but do we want it with surface or structure parking?”

Mayor John Muhlfeld said it’s time to make that decision.

“We can’t kick this can down the road much farther,” he told councilors at their March 18 meeting.

Representatives from Kimley-Horn and Associates presented their parking structure feasibility and concept design study to councilors at a work session earlier this month.

A few key findings in the study show that a parking structure at the City Hall site on the corner of Second Street and Baker Avenue would require an extra deep foundation due to native clay soils and high ground water.

Bearing piles are recommended to go 120 to 150 feet deep, which could bring the total cost up.

A traffic study shows that vehicles accessing and exiting a parking garage shouldn’t adversely impact traffic flow, except on the sidestreet approaches of First Street to Baker Avenue. During peak use, a westbound approach to Baker could experience 52 second delays. The site currently operates at 28 second delays. A turn lane, stop signs or a roundabout could be added to ease those traffic impacts, if needed.

Don MacArthur, with MMW Architects, showed three preliminary designs of a parking structure with City Hall.

“There is an architectural solution,” he said, noting the use of timber beams to reflect on Whitefish’s history. “All of these building are within the scale of Whitefish.”

One new alternative presented is a three-story City Hall along Second Street with council chambers on the third floor. This plan would provide 226 parking spaces. Total project cost is estimated to be $5.92 million.

The alternative for a two-story City Hall along Second Street would provide 216 parking spaces. The design is projected to cost $5.75 million.

The third design alternative features City Hall along Baker Avenue and retail spaces on Second Street. This concept provides 233 parking spaces at a projected cost of $6.41 million.

Both a new City Hall and parking structure are planned to be paid for with tax increment finance funds.

At a previous work session, councilors asked to see examples of other communities in similar size to Whitefish that have invested in a parking structure.

Dennis Burns, of consulting firm Kimley-Horn, noted four cities ranging from Aspen, Colo., with a population of 6,658, to La Grange, Ill., population 15,608.

However, Burns clarified, “If you’re looking at it based on population, you’re missing the point. These other cities thought of it as an economic development project — an investment in their downtown. Parking structures are more and more seen as a component of economic development rather than infrastructure project.”

“What makes Whitefish unique and special is this compact downtown core that has the potential to be better with parking that helps it grow and flourish.”