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