Do NOT approve the permit request for Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail Crossing Public Comment from Amy Vanderbilt Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Amy Vanderbilt <avandy325@live.com>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 9:25 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Do NOT approve the permit request for Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail
Crossing
Importance: High
Dear Kalispell City Council members,
I respectfully (resubmit with pertinent updates for the latest proposal) submit the
following comments regarding the proposed development and annexation of the 110-
acre parcel on the north side of Tronstad Road; the Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail
Crossing. Even at the revised density of 250+ housing units, this proposal is NOT
APPROPRIATE for this location now or in the future. The current authorized lot size of
2.5 acres should remain in place. There should be a full open public comment period to
invite and hear/read comments from the public regarding this (or similar) high density
As a full-time, year-round resident living approximately 1/2 mile south of this proposed
development on Jackson View Trail, I am extremely concerned about the impacts to our
rural lifestyle in this area east of US 93 based on the following points:
Traffic: While the (revised) plan addressed impacts for Tronstad and US 93,
Whitefish Stage is largely ignored. As you likely know the section of Whitefish Stage
between Reserve and Hodgson has been of concern since the late 1990's when former
County Commissioner Dale Williams gained notoriety for taking people on a high-speed
tour of the road. There are grossly inadequate and very unsafe sections of road
shoulder, very deep ditches, no bike lanes, and already congested traffic from cars
attempting to avoid the Reserve congestion, using Tronstad and Rose Crossing as
alternates. The proposed development of 380+ homes on Tronstad would significantly
add to these stated problems.
Long-Term Infrastructure Planning: There has not been a comprehensive plan
regarding roads, traffic, and infrastructure in this area. As evidenced from the soon-to-
be-started improvements to Reserve, the project did not look at Whitefish Stage - nor
provide future plans - for that road. The proposed Tronstad Meadows & Whitetail
Crossing development would rapidly exacerbate the existing problems.
There is no timeline yet (that I am aware of) for Montana Department of Transportation
funding for rebuilding of Whitefish Stage north of Reserve and such a large development
near Whitefish Stage should be tabled until such time as that rebuild occurs. It is
foolhardy to consider a subdivision of such scope and size without having the adequate
infrastructure in place before hand.
Traffic Study: The study associated with the proposed development was a huge
underestimate of Whitefish Stage activity. Try coming north on Whitefish Stage most
afternoons during the school year! That doesn't even account for summer traffic when
Reserve (and now Rose Crossing) traffic is exponentially higher at all times of the
day. Vehicles routinely have to sit through at least three or four traffic light cycles to
continue north across Reserve, and again the addition of 380+ homes would exacerbate
this dramatically. The associated study seems to have been conducted in a perfunctory
manner to check off a box and completed when traffic volume was at its lightest time of
the year, in February!
Kalispell City Water Supply Concerns: With the recent PFAS/ PFOS
contamination in the northern Kalispell Grandview wells, it does not make sense to add
so many homes to the system until the existing issue is resolved. With the March 2024
well re-testing, the northern Grandview well tested at 13 ppt, well over the newly-
established EPA maximum allowable 4 ppt. This is a no-brainer decision; STOP!
Impacts to historic rural life style, lack of consideration for ongoing open
space in long range planning for Flathead County: Kalispell and Flathead County
are some of the fastest growing areas in the country. We are in danger of "killing the
golden goose" if growth and development continues at the rate it has been at for the last
few years. Yes, there (has been) is a dire need for affordable, sustainable housing for
those who live and work in Kalispell. But I urge you (the Planning Board) to step back
and assess how many housing starts and apartments we currently have under
construction right now. I submit that we are closer to meeting the projected long term
goals than we realize. This development will (NOT EVEN) address affordable housing
needs anyway.
Impacts of Cumulative Night-Sky Pollution: We have lived in our house since
1998. We used to see the Milky Way from our yard due east of Ponderosa Estates That
stopped when the Ford Dealership moved to its current location. We were away when it
opened. Upon our return, it was like a new city had been built where the Ford dealership
now resides. Now granted, the dealership installed far more lights than they received
approval for and the light poles and fixtures are white (rather that the dark color that
the Architectural Committee approved), but there is now a new Costco and may Toyota
rumored to being under construction in the nearby field and more and more light
pollution just keeps adding to the problem.
With no control over the brightness of LED light emissions, there is no telling how bright
the Flathead Valley night sky will get.
I. for one, am extremely concerned about the effects of cumulative night sky pollution in
the north end of Kalispell and the Flathead Valley near Glacier National Park. What will
380+ new homes and street lights add to the area north of Tronstad and Whitetail
Crossing? More night-sky pollution that most of the residents currently living north of
Reserve do NOT want and did not move to this currently rural area to
experience.
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Given these concerns, I respectfully request that you (again) deny the Frank Garner
and MT Seven Properties application to amend the growth policy.
While I am in favor of affordable housing (where there is comparable housing) density,
which this development would likely (still) NOT provide anyway, the lacking
infrastructure, increased traffic and increased safety and water safety issues do not
support the city's approval of Tronstad Meadows & Whitetail Crossing until such time as
the above stated issues have been addressed.
I implore you NOT to approve this permit request under these circumstances!!!
Sincerely,
/s/
Amy Vanderbilt
684 Jackson View Trail
Kalispell, MT 59901
406-752-7660
avandy325@live.com
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