The low growth forecast will hurt Whitefish in the long term

The Whitefish Community Development Board last month reviewed the draft demographic section for Whitefish’s ongoing growth policy update – Vision Whitefish 2045.

Part of this draft includes an estimate of expected population growth through 2045, which will directly impact updates to Whitefish’s zoning map upon completion of the new growth policy. Make no mistake – this population projection has no bearing on how many people will actually move to Whitefish in the next 20 years. It is unlikely that we are right. We cannot predict the future.

However, this forecast is incredibly important and is directly related to Whitefish’s growth over the next 20 years. The model used for the current forecast estimates annual growth below 1%, well below Whitefish’s historical average. This low estimate means that Whitefish’s zoning will not be adjusted to meet current and future needs.

You might say to yourself, “I like Whitefish the way it is.” I don’t want more people to move here.” That’s a fair way to think, but I ask you: What do you like about Whitefish? Do you like the small town feel? The community and the neighborly atmosphere? How easy is it to get around in a vehicle, on foot or by bike? Something completely different? These questions are worth thinking about.

There is a big problem with a low estimate:

A low estimate ensures that future growth will come from the annexation of the city’s outskirts. This means housing remains unaffordable, community is lost to accelerated displacement, traffic congestion increases, and Whitefish’s remote agricultural lands and open spaces are lost.

Reject this low assessment that only serves to make certain segments of the community feel better in the short term.

Ask the Whitefish Community Development Board to use a model that falsely overestimates future population growth within the current city limits in order to maintain Whitefish’s small-town feel where the neighbors know each other, the kids can walk to school, and the people can choose not to jump in their school car to get downtown. This is our only chance to get this right – to prepare for a future that upholds the values ​​of our community rather than choosing the path of least resistance.

Nathan Dugan is president of Shelter WF, a housing policy organization based in Whitefish.