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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-17 Public Comment -J. Walseth & E. Darrow - SoBo Loft1 February 7, 2017 To: Mayana Rice, Dept. of Community Development Design Review Board Bozeman City Commissioners From: Jim Walseth & Elizabeth Darrow 603 West Babcock Street Bozeman 59715 elizabeth.darrow@gmail.com Subject: SoBo/Pizza Hut Site Plan Application Dear Design Review Board, We write to you in regard to the proposed development of an apartment block on West Babcock at the location of the defunct Pizza Hut. The forlorn plastic-adorned structure now empty and derelict at that location is proof that people with good intentions, or a misguided vision of Bozeman that did not come to pass-- following the letter of the law, can allow something truly ugly and regrettable to take up valuable space in our beautiful town. But time has passed since that error, and we have learned that the rustic small-town qualities--residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets--what most people now recognize as a wonderful human scale of living--perhaps many formerly took for granted here in the Rocky Mountains- can be swept away in a veritable blink of an eye. So we created entities like the Design Review Board (‘the Board’), to ensure that we proceed wisely, advising the elected--bringing wisdom and judgment --looking to the long term-- preserving the things that distinguish Bozeman from any one of a thousand ruined places. To that Board we have two very distinct points to make: 1) The Design Review Board is currently fully engaged with the great difficulties presented by the Olive & Black development. This project strains against every limit provided by law and as such has drawn the community into a confrontation. The actions of the Design Review Board we hope will largely determine the outcome of events there, and establish precedent for every future project. The effort is, and should be, all-consuming. It seems unconscionable to ask the Board to also consider other large, neighborhood-altering developments like the hasty confusing SOBO ala Pizza Hut. And until they have the ‘bandwidth’ to do so, there should be a moratorium on any other such proposals. Furthermore, the cultural and legal precedents that will be established 2 at Olive and Black will inform the rights and hopes of others like us on Babcock Street-- not just some arterial for funneling people downtown--but OUR street--.cherished houses, trees, neighbors, dogs, children etc- Based on all this, we ask that you ‘put a hold’ in the ‘Pizza Hut’ SOBO project until further notice. We don’t know what we as a city are doing yet — what beloved values the city is willing to stand up for, which forces we are willing to rally against. Not yet. and when, in the future, and Olive and Black is behind you, 2) We respectfully ask that you consider our sensible, straightforward method of evaluating the architectural fitness--of the proposed structure at ‘Pizza Hut’. The proposed development is incompatible with our neighborhood in scale-- in design and in impact. It does not reflect the design objectives of the NCOD which is intended to maintain the integrity and livability of the built environment with buffers and transitions to protect residential and neighborhood character. Babcock Street can be a busy street, but it still retains many of the desirable qualities of small town life in Bozeman—and this large apartment building will end that quiet enjoyment and quality of life. It will also negatively affect the property values of all who have preserved their homes in this historic residential neighborhood. Walk through the neighborhood. (Our neighborhood—not just a zoning map) You are walking past a variety of humble, historic homes, schools, apartments no more than 2 stories tall, in scale and neighborhood character-- some small businesses. think of Fred Willson and the Blackmore Apartments at the other end of town, an architectural gem with the most modern design elements of its time--in scale for living--for individuals-- not masses. When you get to 7th and Babcock --look up--there should not be a four-story steel and glass dormitory with 60 parked cars. Jim Walseth Elizabeth Darrow 603 West Babcock Street Bozeman, MT 59715