Somers group home scrutinized for proximity to wildlife area

A group home scheduled to be built near Somers has stalled, after public opposition to the home’s proximity to a wildlife preserve.

Intermountain, a Montana agency that serves vulnerable children and families, plans to build a $1.64 million, 5,500-square-foot facility on North Somers Road to house up to eight children in need of intensive therapeutic care and support. The property is adjacent to the Blasdel Waterfowl Production Area.

A $450,000 federal grant for the construction of Intermountain’s therapeutic youth group home near Somers is now on hold amid questions about the environmental assessment for the project. Flathead County was poised to ask the state Department of Commerce to release the Community Development Block Grant money on Tuesday, but declined to do so after receiving letters of concern from the Flathead Lakers, Citizens for a Better Flathead and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Comments from nonprofit land-use groups voiced concern about Intermountain’s master site plan that shows future plans for multiple structures and parking for 300 to 400 cars for occasional events.

All three entities providing public comment by the Jan. 6 deadline found deficiencies in the environmental assessment completed as part of the block-grant process. They asked the county to mitigate concerns ranging from stormwater management and sewage treatment to the home’s proximity to the waterfowl area.

The county commissioners last month issued a finding of no significant impact and public notice for the release of grant money. That triggered a public-comment period. The county, which had applied for the grant, conducted an environmental assessment of the property and determined the project wouldn’t have any significant impact on the environment.

“The environmental assessment will be evaluated in light of the comments and more research will be done upon which a future determination will be based,” Planning Director BJ Grieve said. Depending on the results of the county’s further examination of the environmental assessment, it could trigger the need for a more complex environmental impact statement or a revised environmental assessment, both of which would be subject to further public comment, Grieve said.

Citizens for a Better Flathead, which said it supports Intermountain’s application for federal money to expand its services, favors moving the location of the home away from  the waterfowl area. State Wildlife Biologist John Vore had the same request, stating the environmental assessment doesn’t adequately address the impacts of Providence Home on public use, particularly hunting, on the Blasdel Waterfowl Production Area.

Even though the land-use groups and Fish, Wildlife and Parks are urging a bigger buffer between the proposed group home and waterfowl area, in this case there’s no regulatory law requiring a setback.

Wortman-Obie said Intermountain will continue to work with the county and the land-use groups to allay their concerns.

“We feel confident that we will be able to mitigate any environmental impacts,” she said.

“In the end, this is a home for eight local children who need help and time to heal from trauma or emotional stress in their lives. Its footprint is small on our 76 acres and its impacts will be no more than most large family homes. “It must be built and operated to high standards to receive Montana state licensing and will be run in a professional and community-friendly way,” she said.