Tronstad Meadows / Whitetail Crossing Public Comment from Joel & Kelly Witmer Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Joel Witmer <jgwitmer@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2024 5:49 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Tronstad Meadows/Whitetail Crossing
Dear Counsel Members,
In an effort to make this brief, we would like to express our opposition to the Tronstad Meadows and
Whitetail Crossing development and annexation as it is proposed. For reference, my wife and I are
residents on Sirucek Ln, just off Transtad.
The following are what we see as significant potential liabilities and safety issues.
-The roadway will only be widened where the development would be. Tronstad is a narrow, county
road with rolling knolls that obstruct driving views, and has no line separating traffic. This becomes
particularly dangerous during months with snow on the ground when the road narrows more from
snow pack on the shoulders and snow drifts frequently form. To make it worse, the road study shows
that speeds on Tronstad Rd are well above the 35 mph speed limit, and personal experience has
yielded several close calls with vehicles coming from the opposite direction. The addition of 355
homes on Tronstad will only inflame the hazardous conditions that already exist, as Tronstad is
already used as a cut-through by so many people.
-Entering onto Whitefish Stage Rd is tough enough with the poor design of the intersection and
limited views for cars traveling SB. Larger vehicles turning SB onto Whitefish Stage are forced to
cross into the NB lane, creating a safety hazard. The higher vehicular traffic will only exacerbate the
problem, creating a likely increase in accidents.
-The drop offs on the side of the road on both Tronstad and Whitefish Stage Rd will most certainly be
the cause for increased vehicles going off the road and into a ditch with the higher increase in traffic
flow.
-Bicycles and pedestrians are challenged with the current traffic conditions on Tronstad. The greater
traffic flow caused by the large development would all but drive bicycles and pedestrians from utilizing
this road as a means of travel.
-With the increase in vehicles driving down Sirucek Ln and through Ponderosa Estates, even since
the addition of Quail Meadows, has created a safety concern for families walking and biking through
the peaceful, serene neighborhood as the roadway is significantly narrower. This area is not
designed as a through roadway as it is a private road, but it is used as one. In an effort to avoid
going down to Whitefish Stage, human nature will automatically motivate people to drive through the
private neighborhood creating increased safety risks for residents.
These are just a few of the significant concerns resulting from the addition of this high density
neighborhood in a beautiful, rural area. Nothing about the design fits within the proposed location,
and the previous items stated are significant liabilities and safety concerns that must be considered.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and we are trusting the council to do the right thing.
1
Joel & Kelly Witmer
361 Sirucek Ln
2