Coaster project reflects changing attitude of developers
If you have been following the latest Flathead Valley growth activity, you may have noticed a new alpine coaster planned for 1/2 mile north of Lakeside on U.S. 93. I love the idea of more business and family-fun activities coming to Lakeside. We have been blessed here with many new and upgraded facilities built by personal investments, donations and hard volunteer labor. We all are invested in making Lakeside a livable and recreational-destination town.
My family has owned our property in north Lakeside for 42 years. Born and raised in Montana we knew this was our place for restoration of spirit and sanity, reconnection with family and nature. We bought our Lakeside property to ensure a continual connection to a family legacy going back to 1931 when Grandpa Fred built a cabin here, and it is still owned by family members.
Residential longevity doesn’t guarantee rights, but it does provide a perspective of how change has been managed in the last 91 years. No zoning has been around for the entire time, but the attitude of development has changed. Its about me and my needs. If my needs aren’t met I’ll just sue! No longer is the whole community considered.
This is a community of very kind and generous neighbors. They exhibit good character, kindness, honesty and want a safe environment for their kids. We don’t want an influx of incivility, greed and bullying to negatively effect our community. This is what is happening now with this new development.
The alpine coaster sounds like great family fun for another area in the valley or state. This amusement venue is to be built on an extremely dangerous stretch of U.S. 93. The limited sight-lines are very short for cars, semis, work vehicles and RVs traveling at a minimum of 55 mph over a hill (going south). Drivers now can’t stop if someone is making a left-hand turn at mile marker 99.
Then to add the alpine coaster’s new turn lanes, more traffic volume and pedestrians, the treachery of this deadly stretch only increases. You must also consider the attention factor the slide will have with all the drivers straining to look at the new coaster/rides and slow unexpectedly to gawk at this new, unexpected structure.
Other egress points on U.S. 93 will also be greatly impacted — Lakeview Estates and Cherry Hill Road, Mission View Terrace. There is not another 3/4-mile stretch of highway that has so many hills, reduced site-lines, curves, drop-offs and egress points to navigate. It all happens in a very short distance, carrying heavy volume and high speed traffic.
It is not only bad judgment to locate this fun, new amusement at this location, but a hazard to our community’s health and safety. Kids can’t walk safely to the site, cars can’t safely drive/turn in the area, pedestrians can’t cross the road and cyclists take frightful chances biking through this area.
Please build the alpine coaster elsewhere and save lives.
— Betsy Robinson, Lakeside