Letter to Planning Commish Ashley Creek Corridor Public Comment from Teresa Karst 10 Aug 2025
Kalispell City Council
P.O. Box 19997
Kalispell, MT 59903
Emails: publiccomment@Kalispell.com; planning@kalispell.com
Re: Files #KA-25-05 / KCU-25-04 - North Meadows Development, LLC
To Whom it May Concern,
My comments are in opposition to this development along the Ashley Creek Wildlife corridor and
waterfowl habitat in southern Flathead County.
The corridor has already been interrupted by the bypass. As I understand it, there will soon be exits
off the bypass from both north and south at Sunnyside Dr. This added traffic will make the recent
traffic studies obsolete. Though I may have missed it, I have not seen traffic counters for the sole
north outlet, on Denver Ave. While I am grateful for new Public Parks near Ashley creek, more
human use will be detrimental.
We all know all the reasons to protect wild areas for wildlife. Please keep in mind this is the main
southern wildlife corridor to Flathead Lake, coming all the way from Ashley Lake.
I am not sure folks realize that ducks and geese nest along here every year. In high water years, I
have newborn wild chicks learning to swim right up to my fence, about 140 feet from the creek. I
can list another 14 birds that routinely nest near and along the creek. There are already 2 species I no
longer see - Killdeer and Meadowlarks. There are hundreds of pollinators and dragonflies, signs
of a (now) healthy habitat. There are some mammals, also - Ha!!
Further important concerns:
Safety:
Ashley creek has a steep, straight up and down bank. The soil composition includes slippery clay. I
was warned to not get close to the bank as folks have seen animals drown in the creek, unable to get
up the steep, slippery bank. I would be concerned for children, attended or unattended. The water
gets fast going under the narrow Sunnyside Bridge. It will be more dangerous in high-water years.
Hiah water table:
I assume this is what was termed "geophysical concerns" in the Daily Interlake article from July 10,
2025. We know the 100-year and the 500-year flood plains enter the above property. A perhaps larger
concern is homes in this area, greater than 4S0 feet from the creek, have water entering
basements and crawl spaces, requiring sump pumps. Knowing there will also be "reverse seep" into
the aquifer, can the developer guarantee geophysical control for this now and the future?
Clean water:
We all know all the reasons that development, notably 175 parking spaces, contributes to direct runoff,
without filter, into our drinking water.
Define "buffer"•
I would question the development allowing the public access to the banks of the creek. A 200-foot
"buffer" full of people and nets is NOT a buffer. The human use, abuse, noise and lack of knowledge
around water-logged ground and wild animals will have a great negative effect on the critters and water
quality. Access would certainly be a safety concern for the public, residents and their visitors.
While I think the animals enjoy the ball games at Legends Stadium :o)), I don't think more noise would
be as welcome.
Lastly, I cannot see how the applicant would be able to honor the 200-foot barrier to Ashley
Creek. How are we assured of a full 200 foot buffer? Not just during construction, but for years to
come?
Thank you greatly for the opportunity to comment about healthy wildlife habitat and water quality.
What allows a pretty healthy section, for the approximately 2,200 feet of Ashely Creek I can see from
my home, (on the "other", east, side of N Belmar), is the number of homes and property owners with
creek frontage is 2. Two. And for one, the actual home is over 500 feet from the creek.
Sincerely,
Teresa Karst
1855 N Belmar Dr