HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-17 Public Comment - D. Behrent- Black Olive Black Olive Comments
City Commission Meeting
4/3/2017
Parking and Traffic
Developer commissioned a self-serving traffic study during the summer months. The study was
performed when the population of Bozeman is at a minimum, due to the university being
closed for summer break, streets are not reduced to one lane and the number of available
parking spaces reduced almost fifty percent due to snow removal. This would be like designing
a roof for an August snow load with the expectation that it would support the snow load of
December.
It appears that,to pick up the solid waste it will be necessary for the waste truck to be
positioned in such a manner that traffic on Olive Street would be blocked from both directions.
During the winter this could create some hazardous driving conditions.
The "ride share" proposal has some merit. However, to expect that almost 40%of the building
occupants would going without car ownership is extremely optimistic. I would seriously doubt
that 40% of university students are without automobiles and are committed to walking,
bicycling and bus transportation. Another comparison would be how many occupants of the
Blackmore Apartments are without car ownership. The zoning code specifically states that
"ride share" programs "may be" used reduce the required number of parking space with an
agreement acceptable to the city. There is no program provided with the current application so
the application should be denied. Any program proposed by the developer should be backed
by a financial guarantee that if the program does not reduce the auto ownership by the number
within a specific time frame the developer will pay the cost of structured parking for reduction
in required parking spaces. !
Public Safety
The balconies on the north and west side of the proposed buildings are directly above public
sidewalks. Is accumulated snow on the balconies, going to be pushed over the edge of the
balcony onto unsuspecting pedestrians below with possibility of sustaining physical injury.
Will icicles that form on the edge of balconies be allowed to fall and cause physical injury to
pedestrians below or through the windshield of automobiles entering the parking garage?
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Darrel Behrent, P.E.
208 Lindley Place
Bozeman, MT
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