KALISPELL – The Flathead County Planning Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday for a proposed mobile home park in Evergreen.
Although a private study found no significant impact to traffic in the area, neighbors disagree and hope their concerns will be heard.
The West Evergreen Estates development is proposed south of Evergreen Drive in Flathead County that includes 121 units plus a manager’s residence along with seven acres of open space and parks.
Flathead County Planning Director Mark Mussman says the planning board is recommending that the project be approved.
"Both the conditional-use for the manufactured home park and the subsequent subdivision appear to meet the review criteria and therefore we have recommended approval," Mussman said.
One of the chief concerns by those who oppose the park is the increase in traffic to the area that already sees heavy traffic.
"I feel that we are going to turn into another West Reserve if we do allow this to happen for ourselves, you know we all struggle as it is to get on and off West Reserve as it is with 30 to 40 minutes when we are all getting off of work and now we are going to add that to West Evergreen Drive, another bottleneck?" area resident Rob Treat said.
But Bob Avalon with Abelin Traffic Services, — who conducted the private study — disagrees with Treat.
"Traffic tends to be a very personal thing. It’s somewhat kind of a challenge sometimes to separate your personal feelings about traffic and what the information tells you," Avalon said.
The study did suggest the county look at congestion at the intersection of Evergreen Drive with Whitefish Stage Road.
