HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-24-16 DRB MinutesDesign Review Board
Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 5:30 pm, City Hall, City Commission Chambers – 121
N. Rouse
A. 05:33:22 PM Call meeting to order and Roll Call
Bill Rea – Chair ‐ Present
Lessa Racow ‐ Present
Charley Franklin ‐ Present
Melvin Howe – Present
Walter Banzinger ‐ Present
Cynthia Andrus – Present – Commission Liaison
05:33:58 PM – Deputy Mayor Andrus provides procedural information to the board.
B. 05:38:19 PM Changes to the Agenda
Walt Banzinger questions if what Ms. Andrus discussed would be included in the meeting minutes. Board confirms that
it will be included.
C. 05:38:36 PM Approve Meeting Minutes – February 10, 2016
05:38:51 PM Mr. Rea with regards to 7:23:59 it should indicate the last “10%” not “100%”.
05:39:25 PM Lessa Racow moves to approve the minutes. Second by Walter Banzinger. Board unanimously approves.
D. 05:39:36 PM Public Comment
05:40:18 PM Sherry Granier – 4858 Golden Gate Ave. States that she recognizes that the developer has a good
reputation. She is concerned because when she bought her house she was told it would be 12‐14 units per acres.
Currently the project will be at 90 units per acre. She would like for the developer to reduce to what they were told it
would be. She states that the HOA board did not approve the project. She states the Design Review for the
neighborhood is controlled by one individual, who is also the person who owned the property. She feels it’s one sided.
She feels they should be given some leeway on the project and ask for their opinion. She feels that the property would
be more accurately described as an apartment or rental, that being sold as condos, is misleading because individuals are
buying up a whole building.
Mr. Rea questions the written document she has that states the density will be kept at 12‐14 acres.
Ms. Granier states it is the original platted subdivision.
05:45:33 PM Pete Rinaldi – 4858 Golden Gate Ave. – He states that they original saw the platted lot being 12‐14 acres in
the meeting minutes as being stated by Allyson Brekke. He does not feel the revised drawings have addressed the
concerns presented at the previous DRB meeting. He feels density has been reduces, but it’s still too high. All of the
individuals living there will need a vehicle as they are too far from conveniences. States concerns with emissions and
noise associated with all those vehicles starting – he states all of those vehicles go against Bozeman’s environmental
image. He is concerned about his ability to back out of his driveway. He states that it had been indicated that the street
width was 33 feet. He said he measured and it’s 24 foot, 2 inches. He is asking for the density to be reduced, the
buildings to be limited to 2 story and for an additional access to be added for the project.
05:49:56 PM Deborah Diteman – 4886 Golden Gate Ave. – She states that there is currently no available parking and the
road is narrow. She states that there is currently no place for her guests to park and she feels that with this project the
tenants will take up parking. She is concerned about the pedestrian crossing, where the road narrows. She states that it
will cause vehicle back up because people are always walking through there and using that space – and it is narrow. She
has concerns about the light from vehicles going into house windows. She also mentioned that there are sidewalks and
crossing near a 50 MPH speed limit sign which will cause accidents.
E. 05:54:01 PM Action Items
A. 05:54:11 PM 15531 – Golden Gate Condominiums SP/CCOA – REVISED Resubmittal (Brekke)
4835 Golden Gate Avenue
A REVISED site plan and commercial certificate of appropriateness application to allow five multi‐unit
residential buildings, with a total of 70 dwelling units (reduced from 84), and affiliated private open space,
landscaping and surface parking.
05:54:22 PM Chris Saunders begins presentation of the project.
06:01:09 PM Applicant – Jesse Chase – begins presentation.
06:08:22 PM Applicant – Jesse Sobrepena – Architect begins second applicant presentation discussing
changes to the project.
06:14:14 PM Questions for Staff and the Applicant
06:14:27 PM Walter Banzinger questions the discrepancy between the 12‐14 proposed units that the
community was told and the current proposal of 19 units. Mr. Saunders responds that he’s not sure where
the 12‐14 units came from originally, but it’s not uncommon for expected densities to be proposed. He
states that the property has always been an R4 lot and that has not changed.
Mr. Banzinger confirms that the density as presented has been consistent over time.
06:15:27 PM Lessa Racow states that she had questions, but they were all answered and appreciates their
work.
06:15:38 PM Charley Franklin states that he does not have any questions.
06:15:51 PM Ms. Andrus questions where the hedge was added for privacy. Applicant indicates on the
rendering where the hedge will be and indicates that its goal is to buffer any excess light or noise pollution.
06:16:44 PM Bill Rea questions if it would be permissible to go to 4 stories along Huffine. Mr. Saunders
states that they could go to 4 stories if they tucked it into a gable. But it would be difficult to get a full story
that way.
06:17:23 PM Bill Rea questions why they selected 3 stories for the project. Applicant responds in detail
regarding height restrictions.
06:18:07 PM Bill Rea questions why they used a hedge vs. a fence. Applicant responds that it would likely be
more aesthetically pleasing, but they are open to either option. He feels a fence would be more cost
effective to a hedge per foot.
06:18:50 PM Opens the meeting for public comment.
06:19:50 PM Eli Anselni– Homeowner in Loyal Gardens – He appreciates the changes that have been made
to the project. He feels that there are still traffic concerns, but thinks that the applicant has come a long way
with the design of the project.
06:21:11 PM Bill Hookie – 4853 Vine Street – Expresses concerns with traffic where the road narrows to
allow for pedestrian crossing.
Confirmation from audience that each member of the public only gets one chance to speak. Board confirms
that yes, each member can speak once.
Bill Hookie questions where the bus stop will be
06:23:53 PM Close of Public Comment
06:24:27 PM Brought to the board for discussion.
06:24:46 PM Melvin Howe states that the proposed changes met his concerns
06:25:23 PM Charley Franklin states that they have done a nice job of responding to immediately adjacent
buildings. He thinks it’s a nice project.
06:25:52 PM Lessa Racow states that she was excited to see the redesign and thinks they have really taken
into account the requests of the community and neighborhood character. She feels the 8 plex is a nice street
front and likes the color changes. She likes that both accesses are now accessible. She expresses concerns
with the landscape island – she has concerns about it being used as a snow storage area and trees and
benches not surviving being covered. She appreciates the shrubs vs a fence near the entrance and likes that
the bus stop is being incorporated.
06:28:42 PM Walter Banzinger states he appreciates the public comment. He feels the applicant responded
very well to the board’s concerns. He states that it may not be perfect, but we may never get it perfect. He
states that perhaps the larger units along Huffine could use more architectural character/detail, but
otherwise it’s a great project.
06:30:47 PM Bill Rea questions how the bus stop on Huffine would operate. Mr. Saunders stated that it is
under the control of Montana Department of Transportation. Bill Rea questions the width of the road as
discussed by the public. Mr. Saunders states that the narrowing of the road for pedestrian crossing is to
allow a more obvious crossing section, keep cars back a distance so pedestrians are not popping out
between cars and keep them in the street for less time. The ultimate goal is fewer vehicle/pedestrian
conflicts and controlled vehicle behavior.
06:33:06 PM Mr. Rea questions the signage on the building and what is allowed and the process they have
to go through. Mr. Saunders responds.
06:33:50 PM Mr. Rea states that the project has changed considerably since the last time they’ve seen it. He
feels it has gotten substantially better – specifically the 8‐plexs along Golden Gate. He would appreciate the
same level of detail be given to the buildings along Huffine as was given to Golden Gate, but that it is still a
considerable change. He encourages the public to review the staff report and see the changes made to the
project. He feels the applicant did a great job in just a few weeks pulling together a better project. He states
that the applicant is completely within the code, and the changes they made were voluntary based on
community feedback. He states that there are concerns about the speed limit issue brought up earlier and
would like to figure out the density issue that the residents bring up of 12‐14 units, but that does not fall
under the purview of the board.
06:36:59 PM Walter Banzinger echoes Bill Rea’s comments about the project and moves to approve item
number 15531 Golden Gate Condominiums to recommend approval with consideration o staff and DRB
comments.
Second by Melvin Howe
06:37:37 PM No discussion by the board.
Board unanimously approves.
Chris Saunders requests that public please sign the sign‐in sheet prior to leaving.
E. 06:38:24 PM FYI/Discussion – no FYI/Discussion
F. 06:38:36 PM Adjournment
For more information please contact Alicia Kennedy at akennedy@bozeman.net
This board generally meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm
Committee meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability and require assistance, please
contact our ADA coordinator, Chuck Winn at 582‐2307 (TDD 582‐2301).