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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Q.: What is Galactic Park?
Q.: And what is Fox Run at Galactic Park?
Q.: When will construction begin on the Galactic Park development?
Q.: Who is developing Galactic Park?
Q.: What is Double–Tree, Inc.?
Q.: Does Double–Tree have a track record?
Q.: What is Double–Tree’s approach to projects?
Q.: Where is Double–Tree headquartered?
Q.: What is Utility Solutions, LLC?
Q.: What is the Four Corners County Water and Sewer District?
Q.: So what is the relationship between the Four Corners County Water and Sewer District and Utility Solutions?
Q.: Why did the District Board decide to contract with Utility Solutions to provide water and sewer service?
Q.: What is the service area that Utility Solutions plans to supply?
Q.: How does the Elk Grove subdivision fit into the overall plan?
Q.: How will this decision benefit the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions?
Q.: So who is going to pay for the connection to my property?
Q.: What are the advantages of centralized water and sewer systems over individual wells and septic tanks?
Q.: Why go to all this trouble to put in centralized water and sewer systems when individual wells and septic tanks seem to work just fine for many people?
Q.: Why do we need these developments at all? Why can’t Four Corners just stay as it is?
Q.: Exactly how can growth benefit the area?
Q.: So how then do we balance growth and having a good environment?
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Q.: What is Galactic Park?
A.: Galactic Park is a subdivision that offers exclusive building sites for single family homes nestled in a forest of mature cottonwoods along an attractive water course known as the Spain Ferris Ditch. The multi-use subdivision also has a commercial section that surrounds the high-tech campus and building of Zoot Enterprises, a leading software development company. At completion, sites will be available for other high-tech businesses in the commercial area.
Q.: And what is Fox Run at Galactic Park?
A.: Exclusive residential home sites in the Galactic Park subdivision are being marketed under the name Fox Run at Galactic Park. The objective for Fox Run is to create a tranquil, environmentally sound, yet technologically advanced, community in an unspoiled, secluded setting. Protection and preservation of the beauties of nature in the development are key components.
Q.: When will construction begin on the Galactic Park development?
A.: Construction of roads and infrastructure in Galactic Park is nearing completion as of May, 2005, with final plat approval by the Gallatin County Commission projected for mid- summer 2005. Meanwhile, many Fox Run homesites have been pre-sold.
Q.: Who is developing Galactic Park?
A.: New West Partners, LLC, is completing development of Galactic Park. Double–Tree, Inc., manages New West Partners.
Q.: What is Double–Tree, Inc.?
A.: Double–Tree, Inc. is a Montana corporation founded by Barbara Campbell, a Montana native and Bozeman resident, in 1977. Double–Tree is a partner in the development of the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions, and also manages New West Partners, LLC, and Utility Solutions, the private company formed specifically to own and operate public water and wastewater systems in the Four Corners area. Double–Tree has helped communities across Montana establish water and wastewater systems, build affordable housing for their residents, and further their economic development plans. Barbara Campbell and her company provide complete solutions that include engineering, construction, and financial structuring for a wide range of projects.
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Q.: Does Double–Tree have a track record?
A.: Since its inception in 1977, Double–Tree has successfully assisted dozens of municipalities, counties, non-profit organizations, and private-sector businesses across Montana plan, structure, and administer public facilities and projects. These have included water and wastewater systems, housing and healthcare facilities, and economic development projects. With more than a quarter-century of experience, Double–Tree has emerged as one of Montana’s leading private consulting companies in its fields of expertise.
Q.: What is Double–Tree’s approach to projects?
A.: Barbara Campbell and her company provide complete solutions that include project planning and structuring, financing, engineering, and construction management. Based on local participation and community input, Double–Tree has perfected a community planning process that was born out of a need to assist smaller communities with their development efforts.
Q.: Where is Double–Tree headquartered?
A.: Headquartered in Bridger, Mont., the company opened a second office in Bozeman in 1997. That office is located adjacent to the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions in Four Corners.
Q.: What is Utility Solutions, LLC?
A.: Utility Solutions, LLC, is a private company formed specifically to own and operate public water and wastewater systems in the Four Corners area. The members of the company are Barbara Campbell and Montana Ventures I, LLC, a Kentucky limited liability company. Double–Tree serves as manager for Utility Solutions.
Q.: What is the Four Corners County Water and Sewer District?
A.: A water and sewer district is a mini-government, something like a special-purpose municipality. The Four Corners County Water and Sewer District was approved by the Gallatin County Commission under Title 7 (“Local Government”) of the Montana Code in April 2003 to provide water supply and sewage treatment to the planned Galactic Park, Northstar, and Bozeman Hot Springs subdivisions in the Four Corners area. Owners of those subdivisions, along with the owner of the adjacent Garden Center subdivision, submitted the petition asking the County Commission to establish the District.
Q.: So what is the relationship between the Four Corners County Water and Sewer District and Utility Solutions?
A.: The District’s elected Board of Directors agreed to forge a public-private partnership with Utility Solutions by contracting with Utility Solutions for water and sewer service for the District. By unanimous vote on October 13, 2003, the Board passed Resolution #10-13-2003 enabling the District to contract with Utility Solutions for water and sewer service and to implement a system of rates, charges, and special assessment levies to pay for the contract and District operations.
Q.: Why did the District Board decide to contract with Utility Solutions to provide water and sewer service?
A.: The timeframe, cost, and technical expertise required to design and construct a centralized water and sewer system are considerable, and the Board of the District decided all that was beyond the District’s limited means. Meanwhile, Double–Tree, as developer of the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions, needed to move forward with privately owned water and sewer systems to satisfy preliminary plat requirements for the two developments under the allowable time limit prescribed by the County Commission. To serve all the properties within District boundaries, including Galactic Park and Northstar, the District Board of Directors found it expeditious and in the District’s best interests to contract with the private company, Utility Solutions, to provide the required water and sewer services.
Q.: What is the service area that Utility Solutions plans to supply?
A.: The service area planned by Utility Solutions will include (but will not be limited to) the Four Corners County Water and Sewer District, including the Galactic Park, Northstar, and Bozeman Hot Springs subdivisions, the nearby Elk Grove subdivision, and later on other developed areas around Four Corners that lie outside District boundaries.
Q.: How does the Elk Grove subdivision fit into the overall plan?
A.: Utility Solutions has acquired the water supply and sewer collection systems that serve the nearby Elk Grove subdivision, and these will continue to serve only Elk Grove. The existing Elk Grove wastewater treatment plant also will continue to serve Elk Grove and will be expanded as necessary to serve the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions and other Four Corners County Water and Sewer District users, as well as others in the area who want to hook up to the systems.
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Q.: How will this decision benefit the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions?
A.: Utility Solutions will provide a central water system to the Galactic Park and Northstar developments that is completely separate from the Elk Grove water system. The new system will include water supply wells, a 750,000 gallon ground-level bolted steel water storage tank, and water distribution mains. Utility Solutions also will supply centralized gravity-flow sewer trunk mains in the two subdivisions and will construct a forcemain and two lift stations to convey the collected sewage to the Elk Grove wastewater treatment plant, which will be expanded to handle the increased treatment needs. Such centralized systems provide more reliable water and sewer service with lower maintenance requirements to the homeowner. They are also preferable from an environmental perspective, an important distinction to many homebuyers, and a major priority for Utility Solutions.
Q.: So who is going to pay for the connection to my property?
A.: In the case of the subdivisions, the cost of interior subdivision piping will be the responsibility of each respective subdivision developer. This cost will not be covered by Utility Solutions through the rate structure passed to the end user. A developer may, however, contract with Utility Solutions for installation of interior subdivision piping under compensation terms agreed between the parties. In the case of individual property owners outside the subdivisions, the same would apply: Each property owner who wants to hook up to the systems would be responsible for the cost of the piping needed to connect his or her property to the mains.
Q.: What are the advantages of centralized water and sewer systems over individual wells and septic tanks?
A.: From an environmental perspective, centralized water and sewer systems can offer significant benefits over individual wells and septic tanks. Water sources and volumes, as well as water quality, can be more closely monitored and controlled with a centralized water supply system. Higher wastewater treatment levels and greater control over how treated effluent is returned to the ground are advantages of centralized sewer systems. Instead of every home or business maintaining its own well and septic system – each of the latter being a potential source of groundwater degradation – centralized systems combine the equivalent of hundreds or even thousands of individual installations into just a few controlled points of draw and discharge. For these reasons, state regulatory agencies, the Gallatin County Commission, environmental groups, and conservationists strongly prefer centralized water and sewer systems over the proliferation of many individual wells and septic tanks to protect valuable water resources.
Q.: Why go to all this trouble to put in centralized water and sewer systems when individual wells and septic tanks seem to work just fine for many people?
A.: It is true that a developer in some cases can simply build homes with individual wells and septic systems and be subject to far less stringent permitting requirements than are applied in the case of centralized systems. However, the Gallatin County Commissioners have made centralized water and sewer systems prerequisites for final plat approvals of both the Galactic Park and Northstar subdivisions. Double–Tree, Inc. and Utility Solutions concur that such systems embody the environmentally preferred approach. In fact, respect for the environment represents a key element of all the activities of these two companies.
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Q.: Why do we need these developments at all? Why can’t Four Corners just stay as it is?
A.: Gallatin County is one of Montana’s fastest growing counties. Growth in this county, as in many parts of the state and the country, is inevitable. Given the fact that growth is going to occur anyway, the Gallatin County Commission has looked at the overall situation and determined that Four Corners is a preferred area in which new growth can and should occur. Double–Tree has taken the Commission’s planning objectives to heart in selecting Four Corners as a good place in which to build new homes for people who will be moving into, or relocating within, Gallatin County. By taking extra care to assure its developments are environmentally sound and by providing them with centralized water and sewer systems that protect the area’s valuable water resources, Double–Tree is doing what it can to enable responsible growth that benefits and enriches the area.
Q.: Exactly how can growth benefit the area?
A.: Growth can stimulate new business and create new jobs, benefiting the area’s economy and tax base, and helping residents earn better livings for themselves and their families. Double–Tree plans mixed-use, mixed-income communities in its Northstar and Galactic Park subdivisions, offering a wide range of opportunities – such as affordable housing at Northstar – to include people of varying income levels. Furthermore, the company is contributing more than $2 million in mitigation fees that will benefit area schools, fire services, and roads. An estimated $20 million is being invested in the subdivisions and the central water and sewer systems. With more than 600 homes planned for the Northstar and Galactic Park subdivisions, many more millions of dollars will be flowing into the local economy. All told, these projects will be adding significantly to the area’s property tax base and employment base.
Q.: So how then do we balance growth and having a good environment?
A.: Good question. By paying huge attention to the esthetic and environmental details of its developments, Double–Tree, along with Utility Solutions, is doing its part to ensure that growth does not come at the expense of a healthy, vital, and attractive environment. As just one example of Double–Tree’s level of concern, the company retains not one, but two Ph.D. wildlife biologists on its consulting staff to meet its commitment to protect the natural environment in Galactic Park. In fact, Barbara Campbell has laid out a guiding principle for her company that sums it all up perfectly: “Responsible Growth Respecting the Environment.” And that’s what the developments and the water and wastewater systems she’s building are all about.
If you have any other questions or concerns not addressed here, please feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to respond to them.
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