Tronstad Road development Public Comment from Mark OdellAimee Brunckhorst
From: Mark Odell <mode116465@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2024 8:24 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Tronstad Road development
To whom it may concern,
The Tronstad Road development could possibly become a workable proposal and be implemented
responsibly, but not at all as it currently stands. It is a disaster in the making as is. The infrastructure
necessary to support 380 homes in a 110 acre area is simply not in place, and it is not easily or quickly
rectified. Roads, well access, EMS requirements, and the aesthetics are all seriously wrong. The
neighbors of that area are largely agreeable to a proposal of 2.5 acre lots with SFUs on them, but that has
not been an acceptable response to the developers. The argument that the houses to be built will be part
of an affordable housing solution is specious because the law of supply and demand can't be ignored.
2.5 acre lots will be unaffordable for most Flathead residents, but the 380 homes to be sold at a fair
market value of what was stated at the planning council meeting of $450k isn't going to solve the housing
problem either because most residents can't even make that work. The reality is that those homes,
whether 380 California -style on -top -of -each -other or 40+ 2.5 acre lots, will be purchased by people with
the means to do so, and that's going to be mostly people either not from here or the people here with the
resources significantly above the norm. The supply of home will not nearly be enough to drive prices
down in the face of a demand many times over what's available. This will not make our children's ability
to stay here in adulthood improve.
It is also frustrating to feel as though the invitation for public comment some weeks ago at the planning
council meeting (as poorly as it was advertised) was a mere formality because the decision to approve
the proposal seemed a foregone conclusion. The multiple comments made for several hours against the
proposal were irrelevant.
One thing I want to address from my professional vantage point: There is a small but growing body of
empirical research showing a correlation of some size between mental health and environmental
stressors as manifested in traffic and residential density. This development, especially in contrast to the
more open space environment that many people moving here are attracted to, will be the creation of
more urban dynamics that have been shown to increase anxiety, stress, depression, and more specific
health and behavioral risks such as alcohol and drug use, aggression, incivility, and an increased risk of
violence. In my opinion, none of that is even on anyone's radar.
I plan to attend Monday's meeting and comment as it seems necessary. Thank you.
Mark Odell, PhD, LCPC, LMFT
GlacierHaven Counseling & Consulting, PC
P.O. Box 9864
Kalispell, MT 59904
406 755 5430