Please don’t approve Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing, but if you do…require a working signal Public Comment from Ryder and Melissa Day Aimee Brunckhorst
From: MELISSA LOVEJOY <melissa.acglovejoy@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 11:16 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Please don't approve Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing, but if you
do...require a working signal
Dear City Council.
We're originally from North Kalispell, but for the last several years we've been living in North Dakota. Now,
we're looking to move back to the valley, to raise our family in the community we know and love. But as we
consider this move, we can't help but feel a little uneasy about the way Kalispell is managing its growth.
The proposed Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing development is a perfect example. The traffic concerns
alone make us hesitate. You've got a development of 355 lots being funneled through an unimproved county
road, and an intersection at Highway 93 that's already dangerous. The developer's own traffic study says that
intersection is going to fail unless a signal is installed right away—yet here we are, talking about approving this
subdivision without a clear commitment to fix the problems it creates.
From following this subject and listening to the last Planning Board meeting, we noted that commissioner
Graham has changed his mind from what was, in our opinion, sound thinking to require the condition of
the working traffic signal before Phase 1 of development. We were grateful for his position. It made so much
sense! Yet now he seems to support approving this subdivision even when he is aware that the level of service
on the road with degrade significantly. How can this be? We understand the developer has agreed to put up a
bond to fun the signal at 93. That's great! So please, Councillor Graham and City Council members, at least
continue to support that condition.
Here's the thing: We want to come back to a community that's thought about the future, not one that's rushing
into growth without the infrastructure to support it. We've seen what happens when towns expand too quickly—
it's not pretty. Traffic becomes a nightmare, and the whole character of the place changes. That's not the
Kalispell we want to come back to.
If you approve this development, please make sure it comes with the condition that the traffic signal at Highway
93 and Tronstad is installed before Phase 1. If we don't hold developers and our city planning folks
accountable now to the regulations that are already in place to support smart growth, we're setting a
dangerous precedent for future problems and potentially even possible litigation if it's shown that the city
disregarded its own regulations and approved something known to create more problems and hazards.
Let's prevent those tragedies and problems before they happen. Please help us keep our faith in you, the city
planners who lead us.
Please vote to protect the valley we all love. Let's make sure the Kalispell we're moving back to is just as
great—if not better—than the one we left.
Thank you for considering our concerns,
Ryder and Melissa Day
Former Kalispell Residents (Soon to Return)
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