Condo concerns

My name is Jesse Remington and my wife's name is Michelle. We have two small children and live about half a mile directly downstream on the Swan River from the proposed Kootenai Lodge Condominiums.

We moved to that location over four years ago and are originally from the area. We love it for how clean and picturesque it is, the free-roaming wildlife, how safe it is to raise kids in the area, how it is still rural, the people who live in the area that value it, and how close it is to outdoor recreation opportunities that we enjoy.

Although we are not opposed to development in general on a smaller, more individual and environmentally responsible manner that respects the land and those that live in the affected areas, the Kootenai Lodge Develop-ment does not do this.

We are concerned about its direct effects on the ecosystems, environment and safety of the area. We also feel that condominiums such as these be built in areas that are closer to cities that have the facilities and networks to handle such densely populated areas.

Concern 1: Impact on the environment, wildlife and water table-Condominiums are living quarters that are closely packed together for

multiple families.

The Kootenai Lodge development is to be constructed at the mouth and banks of the Swan River and Swan Lake, a key control point in the local eco-system and watershed.

Whatever development happens there affects everyone downstream at least to Bigfork as well as on Swan Lake.

Up until now in the area, single-family houses have been constructed on multi-acre plots. This allowed houses to remain spread out and allow the land a chance to absorb any human impact that might come from an individual home on that individual parcel of land. It has also allowed large tracks of timber to remain, which provide shelter for the wildlife and shade for the river.

We are concerned about how the water drainage from the rain and snow in the parking lots would go directly into the river affecting the animals and plant life.

To keep the area free from weeds and keep the lawns green, fertilizers and sprays will be used and this will also drain into the ground and water table. Where and how will all the water, sewer and detergents drain to?

With the huge increase in traffic on the road (and the river), there will be more trash, air and noise pollution.

The local wildlife will be driven away and the river wildlife will suffer. Swan River and Swan Lake are some of the last holdouts for Bull Trout and other endangered species in the west. Waterfowl use it as their homes.

This is not an area with city services. It is a rural area not meant to absorb the impact of such a densely populated pocket of people in such a key spot in the watershed.

Concern 2: Safety and traffic on the road and river-The area is known for how safe it is to ride bicycles, walk, jog and enjoy the area. Kids and adults regularly enjoy how easy and safe it is to get around by foot on the roads.

Boats and tubers regularly float the river drinking and eating and leaving trash. With the new condos, traffic on the roads and rivers would increase several-fold. Jet-Skiers in early summer months already from the lodge area regularly come down the river as far as the bridge. That type of dangerous water traffic will increase significantly.

Condominiums are

generally designed to be vacation homes, so the people staying there wouldn't have as much a mentality of community safety as those who live there full-time. The increased traffic on rural roads not designed for that type of pressure has a good chance to prove fatal at some point.

Sincerely,

Jesse & Michelle Remington

Swan Lake