HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-17 Public Comment - T. & M. Keck - Black OliveDear Mayor Taylor and City Commissioners,
In providing testimony on the current Black Olive Site Plan and Certificate of Appropriateness, I
will discuss four topic areas: Policy, Fairness, Safety, and Parking. My wife Mary and I strongly
oppose this development as currently proposed as do the vast majority of neighbors in our north
side neighborhood.
Policy: While we completely understand and support the overall policy of having high density
development in Bozeman, all that development cannot occur solely in the downtown area where
there is limited space, limited parking, and limited options. In the last public meeting for the
Bozeman Area Transportation Plan, the point was made that road and safety improvement
options along Main Street in the downtown area were limited due to restricted space and the fact
that the road is a Federal Highway. The statement was made that "Bozeman has the least amount
of available right-of-way along Main Street in the downtown area than any other city in
Montana. Many surrounding neighborhoods have the same basic problem of narrow roads and
limited available space to adequately accommodate both parking and safety.
We need to expand this policy of high density housing to at least three areas in Bozeman with
two of them located in parts of town where available space exists to support high density housing
and complete streets. North 7th, currently identified as an economically underdeveloped part of
town, would appear to of them an obvious choice. The other area should be on the west side of
town where most of the current population growth is occurring. Let's start thinking about how we
can promote, appropriate high density housing and associated commercial development in these
areas. Downtown Bozeman has essentially been built out at this time unless major, extremely
costly, capital improvements will be made to the road system. There is simply not enough space
to sustain the high density development solely in the downtown area.
Fairness: While I have seen various numbers thrown around, the most recent used for the
proposed development at Black and Olive are 62 units, 72 bedrooms and just 37 onsite parking
sites. That translates to approximately 0.5 onsite parking spots per bedroom. Our modest house
on the north side of the downtown commercial district, with two of us living there is required to
have a minimum of 3 parking spots; 2 of them onsite. The available parking restrictions exist for
residential housing outside the commercial district exist for multiple reasons such as sight lines
at intersections, safety, and quality of life considerations. Those same considerations (although
not specific limits) should also apply to residential developments within the downtown district.
Thinking that somehow an untested "drive share" program in Bozeman will somehow fix
concerns regarding traffic, parking, congestion, and safety in the downtown area is naive at best
and could be considered as "downright deceitful". Parking restrictions in residential areas exist
for valid reasons and need to be adequately maintained in all parts of the city.
Safety: Safety is an issue that cuts close to our hearts. The dramatic increase in traffic,
congestion, and competition for parking spaces in the downtown area, especially over the last 2
or 3 years, has greatly increased the hazards faced by bicyclists and pedestrians in the downtown
area. Structural problems associated with the limited space available for safe infrastructure
improvements, limited available parking, a 35 mph speed limit on Main Street have not been
improved while the overall level of congestion has become much worse. The one way, two lane
streets of Babcock and Mendenthal that bracket Main Street, are death traps to any unwary
pedestrian who attempts to cross the street when the traffic in the first lane stops yet a vehicle in
the second lane blasts right through. Yet the city does not have the resources to install traffic
lights or safety islands in these hazardous areas. The increase traffic and dense parking along
roadways has resulted in extremely poor sight lines at many intersections in the downtown area.
Sight lines are so bad in places that in a car or on a bicycle you almost have to move partway out
into the traffic lane before you can see if it is safe to cross. Non-parking clearances in these areas
need to be increased. Finally, the current mass transit system in Bozeman is woefully inadequate
if we expect very many drivers to willingly leave there cars and use mass transit. We need the
kind of development in the downtown area that will help provide solutions to these safety issues
in the downtown area not just add to the problem.
Parking: Parking has been largely addressed above under several topics headings. I will add just
a couple more issues. The first is impacts on small businesses downtown. If you make it difficult
to park somewhere reasonably close to a local business, I and many others may take our business
elsewhere. This becomes especially true if the level of congestion and traffic makes downtown
less than an ideal place to shop. Thus, the parking issue also relates to the viability of local, small
retail businesses on Main Street. These businesses appear to be getting squeezed out in the
current pro mega-development climate. Finally, handicap access (as well as safety) is also related
to the issue of parking. At this time, if I pay attention to safety concerns, I can walk anywhere
downtown. A year and a half ago, I had hip surgery. For two years leading up to surgery,
walking was not such an easy thing to do yet if I drove, I would often end up parking at least 4
blocks away from work at the Federal Building. Fortunately, neither before surgery or now am I
in the category of being truly handicapped but it does make me question just how the proposed
development at Black and Olive will enhance handicapped access into and out of the downtown
area.
Thank you for considering the above ideas as you wrestle with decisions regarding the proposed
development at Black and Olive. I have profound respect for each and every one of you and
know you will take your deliberations regarding the proposed development at Black and Olive
very seriously. Unfortunately, it will not be easy to find middle ground where all parties are
satisfied. I would urge you, however, to keep the future quality of life in Bozeman and the
concerns of local citizens at the forefront in your deliberations and not be swayed by false
promises of yet to be tested solutions to difficult issues.
Respectfully yours,
Thomas J. and Mary R. Keck
Tom and Mary Keck
411 N. Third Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715