More concerns on Subdivision
I am writing to express some concerns with proposed subdivisions east of the Flathead River.
The landscape is very wet, the water table is very high. I have a lot of personal experience with the land here. I’ve built countless amount of fence in the lower pastures that are at the same elevation level as the 21 acres that Location Ventures want to develop. Every time I put a fence post in the ground water comes out of the hole at about 12 inches deep. I am also very concerned about running city services under the river and zoning changes. I am uncertain why we would have zoning if it is only so that someone can change it.
As far as the wildlife is concerned, we have seen many grizzly bears on the ranch.
Two years ago, we had six grizzly bears every night for 6 weeks, in our yard eating apples off of the 120-year old apple trees. We often would wake up to them fighting. One of the older bears, dens up above Logan Pass between the Loop and Haystack Butte. There is also a herd of elk that breeds in the fall and calves in the spring down on the Bad Rock Wildlife management area. The unique landscape offers thick vegetation down by the river on the Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area, where the elk can hide during the day and then large pastures on the ranch where the elk can feed at night.
This landscape has also allowed for several other different species of animal to call this place home. My kids and I have seen two breeding pairs of trumpeter swans, which technically do not even have a home range in Montana. There are also many sandhill cranes, Whitetail, deer, and dozens and dozens of coyotes. We’ve also seen wolves on two different occasions in our lower pasture. My point is that I do not believe this is the place for town to grow.
We all know that the developers need city services to come under the river in order to make these large land purchases pencil out for developing.
If the zoning doesn’t change, they cannot pencil out. We also all know that if city services and zoning changes happen on the east side of the river, Columbia Falls will double in size and go all the way across the river all the way up to Columbia Heights. We all know that people are moving here.
Most of us came from somewhere else. My family has been here since the 1800s but that doesn’t make me special. And my family came from somewhere originally too. I believe we all agree that the best place for Columbia Falls to expand would be to the west. Even if there is a gap between North Hilltop and LaSalle there is still plenty of room on the north end of Lasalle for growth.
Having luxury homes built on the ranch we caretake will not make affordable housing. We also know that this type of development makes rural and agricultural land costs exorbitantly high, and no longer allows families like mine, the opportunity to make a living with cattle or any other livestock in the Flathead Valley. Thanks for taking time to read this letter. I hope that it helps.
Jesse Johnston
Columbia Falls