Employee housing plan moves forward

Glacier National Park announced Thursday it is moving forward with a plan to develop new employee housing in Many Glacier and East Glacier.

The decision to move forward with the project was signed on March 10.

Last December the park released the plan, which is intended to address the lack of affordable housing for many of the 350 seasonal employees hired by the park each year.

Three new structures will provide housing for up to 44 employees, replacing 10 dilapidated trailers that provided 23 beds in St. Mary.

The proposal followed a 2011 analysis of housing opportunities that found rentals in the area were prohibitively expensive — in excess of $750 per month — and usually required at least a six-month lease.

Comment letters expressed both support and opposition, with primary concerns including a possible increase in commuting among seasonal employees on the east side of the park.

A 2012 scoping document completed by the National Park Service stated that both locations, while requiring long commuting distances for employees, are preferred for their existing utility infrastructure and prior development that would require the least disturbance at the sites.

Construction is expected to take a total of six months for each building, and will be completed in phases as funding becomes available.

Money is in place for a one-story four-plex at the Swiftcurrent housing area in Many Glacier. The new structure will include laundry facilities for employee use and will connect with existing utilities.

Additional funding will be needed to construct a one-story duplex at the East Glacier developed area and a two-story eight-plex at the Swiftcurrent housing area.

The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact (decision document) can be found at parkplanning.nps.gov/EastSideHousing.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.