Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-16-17 Public Comment - C. Lange - Black OliveFrom: Connie Lange To: Martin Matsen; Mayana Rice; Agenda Subject: Black Olive review Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017 3:18:11 PM Dear commissioners and members of the design review board, I am writing to express my continued and strong opposition to any development on the corner of Black and Olive that is five stories high. It is simply too big. When mentioning parking, in addition to what has already been established - that there is not enough of it - there has been no mention of allowable spaces for employees and patrons of the retail businesses that are planned. The increased traffic will also make it more hazardous for bike traffic, especially for parents pulling child carriers, of which there is a growing number. In the lean 1980's and 90s city planners and the DBA put in effort to attract people and businesses to downtown. The small-town downtown appeal was preserved and spruced up with planters, yellow brick crossings at intersections and the removal of parking meters. A five- or four-story apartment will destroy that which so successfully attracted people to Bozeman these past twenty years. We will lose so much and gain so little (except for the developer) with the development as it is currently proposed. I do not believe his contention that a smaller building would not pencil out. I'm not that naive, nor should you be. I find the concepts outlined on the Missing Middle Housing website very interesting. http://missingmiddlehousing.com/. If you are not already familiar with these alternatives, please visit the site. It is a direction city planners would do well to consider. Rather than a stark and abrupt transition between downtown and residential areas, mid-sized, multi- family housing would provide a gradual transition that addresses all concerns: increased housing, neighborhood character preservation and privacy, acceptable parking and traffic increases, walkability and bikeability, etc. A large, four- or five-story development is a lose/win proposition with just the developer being the winner. Losers will be the rest of us who have for generations invested in Bozeman through our taxes, community involvement and commitment to maintain the best of Bozeman. Andy Holloran's destruction of the Missoula Mercantile has embittered that city's residents. Do we really want that here? Last, but by for not least. Where is the affordable housing? I took you at your word that this was a priority and that it would be achieved. I feel that part of Bozeman's character has been the proximity and intermingling of the haves and have nots. Continuing to push the lower economic sector away from the core of Bozeman (and out of town) will create social isolation that fosters distrust, resentment, and crime among other urban maladies. Although these are intangibles, they are very worth considering. Respectfully, -- Connie Lange connielange712@gmail.com