HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-31-17 Public Comment - R. Peters & K. Bryan - Black OliveFrom:rpeters@bresnan.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Black Olive Proposed Development
Date:Friday, March 31, 2017 1:38:16 PM
Dear Commissioners,
Say “NO” to Black-Olive and Unresponsive Developer
Thousands of hours and tax dollars created the collective body of codes, plans and designguidelines which govern Bozeman development. While meeting zoning codes is part of the
process, they are not the only consideration when reviewing proposed developments such asBlack-Olive (BO). The city’s current plans, neighborhood conservation overlay district
(NCOD) and design guidelines all emphasize the preservation of Bozeman’s character,historic areas and neighborhoods. A neighborhood adjacent to downtown is under assault
from an insensitive BO developer who cherry-picks codes to maximize building height, scale(& profits) without consideration of context, character, compatibility and transition with
adjacent structures and neighborhoods.
The Design Review Board (DRB) twice unanimously rejected the BO design and expresseddissatisfaction with the developer’s disregard for previous DRB input regarding height, mass,
scale and neighborhood incompatibility. Despite DRB comments and extensive citizenobjections, the BO developer flagrantly seeks to anchor a giant 5 story cruise-ship-like,
balcony-laden monster lacking parking next to one and two-story homes at the edge of ahistoric neighborhood.
Under pressure by the Downtown Business Partnership in 2015, the City rushed a “temporary”
amendment to the NCOD code (Subchapter 4B) which loosened B-3 zone restrictions topromote infill. This was done without sufficient community input, until the BO 2016 proposal
spurred citizens to organize and resist. Meanwhile, final updates to the UDC (includingNCOD and temporary Subchapter 4B) remain unfinished.
We are not anti-growth or infill. A broad-base of concerned citizens has spoken out against the
Black-Olive development. A less intrusive, scaled-back, appropriately designed building couldbe compatible with the neighborhood. On Monday, April 3rd, we urge the City
Commissioners to consider the collective intent of the city plans, codes and design guidelineswhich provide the legal authority to reject the current Black-Olive proposal.
Thank You,
Randy Peters
Kate Bryan