Lakeshore Protection Committee

CITY OF WHITEFISH LAKESHORE PROTECTION COMMITTEE Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Place: Arches Conference Room Recorded By: Dabney Langellier Members Present: Donna Emerson Peggy Brammer Roger Rowles Nancy Schuber Toby Scott Tara Zimmerman Members Absent: One vacant position Staff Present: Jessica Nymark 1. CALL TO ORDER Summary: Toby Scott, the committee chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. 2. AGENDA CHANGES Summary: None. 3. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 9, 2022 MINUTES Summary: Members reviewed the minutes of February 9, 2022. ACTION: Roger Rowles made a motion to approve the minutes of February 9, 2022. Donna Emerson seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT Summary: None. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Summary: None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS & ACTION A. WLP 22-W09 – ANDREW BRACCIA Summary: The applicant is requesting to remove a dry-stone path and landscape retaining wall. Then, replace it with a stone slab stairway, drip irrigation lines, topsoil, and native plantings. All of the work will be done at 1940 E Lakeshore Dr. Jessica Nymark summarized the staff report for members, noting a couple of key points: • Existing within the Lakeshore Protection Zone (LPZ) is a dock, a dry stack stone wall, step stone walkway, and an irrigation water line. • The property is eligible for 960 square feet of constructed area. • The applicant would like to remove the dry set stone walkway and the dry stacked stone wall. Then, install a dry set stone stairway, no wider than 4 feet. • In addition, native plantings with drip irrigation will be on either side of the staircase. Page 1 of 2 Lakeshore Protection Committee March 16, 2022 • The existing water line will remain. • Constructed area within the LPZ will be 775 square feet with all the changes. • It is anticipated that machinery will only be used to install the stone slab steps. But no machinery may come in contact with the Lake, as a condition of approval. Recommendation: Staff is recommending approval of WLP 22-W09 with the 14 conditions of approval as noted in the staff report. Members discussed the application with Jessica, clarifying the following items: • All materials are approved, including the natural stone used for the staircase. • The staircase cannot be any wider than 4 feet. • The whole stone wall is coming out, but only 15 square feet are within the LPZ. • A new wall will be installed, but it will be outside of the LPZ and 10-foot buffer. • The existing layout has a total constructed area of 790 square feet, and the changes will bring it down to 760. They are entitled to 960 square feet. Eric Meadows, with Ben Young Landscape Architects, was in attendance to represent the application and noted: • The plant palate will be native. ACTION: Toby Scott made a motion to approve WLP 22-W09. Peggy Brammer seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 8. STAFF COMMENTS Summary: City Council met on the 7th and the following decisions were made: • The Atkinson standard permit for the shoreline stabilization was approved. • The Atkinson variance permit for the gravel application was approved. • The Chelf variance permit for the dock extension was approved, but only up to 100 feet. • The Gorder variance permit for the gravel application on the lawn and the Whitefish Lake Lodge variance permit will be on the next City Council meeting agenda. 9. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Summary: Members received the video on Mark Lorang discussing dynamic gravel beaches. It is very compelling scientific point of view. Members are interested in knowing where the City stands with this information. The City of Whitefish plans to make changes to the Lakeshore Regulations in the near future based on Lorang’s findings. The City will need to get a consultant to assist with this process and Whitefish Lake will need to be mapped out on where the dynamic beaches would even be possible. 10. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: The meeting is adjourned at 6:12 pm. Page 2 of 2