Public Comment for May 20_2024 from Colby ShawS/20/2024
Re: Growth PolicyAmendment Public Hearing
To: Mayor, City of Kalispell Manger and City Council.
Thank you for hosting public hearing regarding the Growth Policy Amendment for Tronstad
Meadows and Whitetail Crossing. As we all know the Growth Policy was prepared by the Kalispell
City Planning Board and Adopted by City Council July 3.2017. Resolution #S821AThis Policy is in
place for the next 20 years.
It has been approximately 7 years since the Growth Policy has been amended or reviewed by the
Planning Board. Under the Growth Policy Administration, the Growth Policy should be reviewed
once every five years by the Planning Board for relevancy and a report given to the Kalispell City
Council who may initiate and update as needed. Growth Policy Page 1 S
The Growth Policy Update Implementation Strategy states the Planning Board should schedule a
formal work session in the fall of each year to conduct a review of the Growth Policy and evaluate it
for relevancy. The Planning Board should prepare a report to the City Council as to whether it
should be amended with consideration being given to changes in the legal framework, factual
errors or contradictions, significant changes in the community or new and relevant information that
would affect the specific policies and goals -Growth Policy Page 68. There was no "Formal Work
session" for Growth Amendment. There was a Staff report submitted to the Planning Commission
on April4, 2024, with a public hearing for Planning Commission on April9, 2024. This leaves no
time for scrutinizing this growth amendment and in fact resulting in a piece meal manner, in which
the City claims is an issue too often and wants to avoid.
Growth Policy Update Implementation Strategy is also stated in section 4. The public, as a whole,
benefits, rather than one or a few property owners at the expense of others - Growth Policy page 69.
This is currently what is happening. This development benefits the developer but not the
community as a whole and especially the neighborhood the proposed subdivision would go.
Annexation Policy Map —Those areas beyond the annexation boundary would require additional
scrutiny and possibly be subject to various alternative methods both in terms of the method of
annexation as well as the timing and provision of municipal services — Growth Policy Page 101
Issues with Land Use Chapter4: Residential development in Kalispell has often occurred in a
piecemeal manner, resulting in disjointed service delivery and a lack of community cohesiveness
and interconnectivity - Growth Policy Page 21
This proposed Subdivision is in fact lacking community cohesiveness and interconnectivity. The
location does not feel as if it's part of the City of Kalispell and certainly does not have pedestrian or
bicycle paths. In fact, there are no paths from Reserve Street on Highway 93 to Church Drive.
Chapter 8 Transportation: Issues: 2. Several local, collector, and arterial streets lack pedestrian and
bicycle facilities and pose significant safety problems — Growth Policy page 47.
The current Annexation boundary from Ponderosa Lane to Church Drive has approximately 1 S
businesses on the East side of Hwy 93. Only one of those businesses has applied to be annexed
into the City of Kalispell and that is Ponderosa Animal Clinic. This is due to their failed septic
system. All neighborhood residential properties in the area are also County and have their own well
and septic and from all the neighbors whom I have spoken to, none will want to connect to City
services.
Highway 93 North Area Plan: Goal 1, Policies: C. With the construction of the Church Drive
overpass on US 93, "Every Effort" must be taken to fully utilize this interchange and conversely
limit direct access onto US 93 for at least 3/4 mile along areas north and south of this facility to
avoid congestion points and the need for future traffic signals. The judicious use of right -in right -
out approaches, frontage roads and good internal development street design will mitigate the need
for direct access out -Growth Policy page 84. Tronstad Road to Church drive is just over'/Z mile
and less than 3/4 mile.
The current traffic study by Abelin traffic services states Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail Crossing
will meet 3 of the 9 warrants with MDT that would trigger a Traffic Light. This would contradict what
the city is wanting per the Highway 93 North Area Policy.
The traffic study also suggests that MDT is planning to reconstruct Whitefish Stage and is currently
in the design phase, however a construction date for this project has not been set.
City of Kalispell Fire station response time will take too long.
Growth Policy Amendment Staff Report — Staff states "There has not been a significant review
of the annexation boundary as it relates to this area:'- Page 1 S.
The proposed subdivision only borders on 2S yards of the Northeast property of the Qua[ Meadows
Subdivision. This would take on the characteristics of spot zoning.
Due to the lack of significant review by planning staff, inadequate formal work session by Planning
Board, the requirement of "every effort" to limit access onto Hwy 93 to avoid congestion points,
the fact there are no pedestrian or bicycle paths or facilities, lack of proper infrastructure to
Whitefish Stage Road, no newfire station, the process is being piecemealed and does not benefit
the public, as whole, but rather the developers.
This proposal should be denied.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Colby Shaw