Tronstad & Whitetail Meadoes 5.28.24 Public Comment from Sandy MullerSandy Muller
Tronstad Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
May 28, 2024
Attn: Mayor Mark Johnson
Council Members
RE: Tronstad Meadows & Whitetail Meadows
To ALL,
On May 20, 2024, 1 spoke at the Kalispell City Council meeting but because I am not a great speaker and it
was getting late, I wanted to elaborate my comments & concerns.
From the day Frank Garner came knocking at my door, I cannot, for the life of me, wrap my head around
this potential subdivision going in on Tronstad Road. It is so out of place and does not even begin to fit into
the environment in this area, talk about a "fish out of water." It will forever change the landscape of the
rural area we chose to live in.
As the days have gone on, I live it, I breathe it, I sleep (or do not sleep) and continue to question this
subdivision. This is not a "facts Letter" as you know the facts. This is a "I don't understand" Letter of which
I hope you read and ponder the same questions as I do? With this being said, I want to share my thoughts
and questions with you so you can hopefully, ponder and question as well?
We went to a friend's house for dinner Last night that Lives out on Dillon Road. On our way home, at around
9:30, the sun was going down, it was a beautiful evening. We came home via Hwy 40, took a Left on WF
stage & made our way home, it was the most beautiful drive with farmland on both sides, large lots, not
necessarily large houses, and the epitome of the Flathead valley. As we reached Tronstad Road, I found
myself starting to cry, this big, beautiful piece of land that so nicely mirrors the whole of the surrounding
area could potentially be replaced with a huge subdivision. Might sound corny to some, but it was a very
emotional moment for me. I invite each one of you to take this drive, soak in the environment and the area,
and see for yourselves that a 380 house subdivision is totally out of place and does NOT belong here.
As you know there is a LOT of opposition to this project. This project is being pushed through as a package
of an Amended Growth Policy, Annexation & a Prelim Subdivision. My understanding is that this is not a
normal process to request all three of these at the same time. Is this a normal process? Is it allowed
because of the political connections & who knows who? I'm not saying this is a fact nor am I accusing
it, but I will say it is the wide public opinion, we hear it every day. I also know that this project was being
marketed on a website two days after Mr. Garner's visit; he sent me a text with the website link. It sure
Looks Like it's been preapproved, as I said this is just mine and many others opinion. I hope that I am wrong.
S. Mutter - page 2
Because we did not get true statements from Mr. Garner upon his visit, such as stating "it's affordable
housing (it wilt not be) and all infrastructure would be complete before construction begins (it will not be)"
what & who are we to believe, can we trust what is being promised prior to construction? And, why
so many houses, 380? Whys does it always have to be about $$? Not to mention that the remaining 120
acres on the other side will never be a coexisting subdivision Not to mention that the remaining 120 acres
on the other side wilt never be a coexisting subdivision, making it even more confusing to me.
As stated by Sands Surveying, they along with John Sonju, Frank Garner & CAE, LLC have been working
with the city for over nine months to get this subdivision through. We were notified ten days before it was
to be approved, it not only seemed sneaky and rushed, it was presented to us like it was no big deal. This
is our life; it IS a big deal! Families that have raised their children here and their children plan to do the
same, now will have no choice but to live in a congested area, this is not what we bought nor what we
signed up for. The developer gets to walk away with full pockets & not think twice about it. Why were we
not notified sooner as this project is LITERALLY in our back yard! Why is it that a wealthy Alabama
developer is allowed to come in and change mine, my neighbors and the surrounding resident's
everyday life without a second thought? How can he know what life is about here, our everyday life.
I am respectfully asking that you give this huge, especially important decision more time, before deciding
on going forward with this subdivision. There are currently so many changes going on in this corridor, it's
overwhelming, let all of these changes settle in first. There are many subdivisions within the existing city
limits that have not started buildingyet and manythat have not completed their building. What is the rush,
is it because the developer was trying to get it through before anyone realized what was happening?
And for the developer, they bought the land as it stands, County land, 2.5 acre lots. He should expect
nothing more. Build it as 2.5 acres, keep the integrity of this area intact.
Respectfully,
Sandy Mutter