HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-17 Public Comment - A. Kirk- Black OliveAllan Kirk
227 East Olive Street
Bozeman MT 59715
4 April 2017
The Honorable Mayor Taylor
Members of the Bozeman City Commission
Our Bogert Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA) has just begun an apparently overdue
consensus-based assessment of OUR vision for infill growth. We are rather late in this effort,
not having been apprised of the magnitude of the changes that are threatening our homes.
Suffice it to say that the BO project has been a clarion call, rousing us from our small town, late
summer slumber.
On March 30, 2017, a group of 24 voting members of BPNA brainstormed to identify unique and
valuable attributes of our neighborhood that we believe are essential to protect and preserve
as infill growth proceeds. Each individual added one word or phrase to the following list. We
then voted, using sticky dots, to rank the top 5 attributes which were deemed the most
important for inclusion. The number of votes received by each is shown in parentheses at right;
items listed which did not receive a vote are listed as receiving a single vote. The attributes
receiving the most votes are bolded below:
i. Sense of neighborhood pride (9)
ii. Open space (6)
iii. Safety (5)
iv. Dark nights (5)
v. Quiet (5)
vi. Bogert Park (5)
vii. Accessibility to trails (5)
viii. Historic character (4)
ix. Friendly; Mountain Views (3)
x. Kid friendly, walkability, bike ability, cleanliness, not crowded (2 each)
xi. Civic engagement, Privacy, Front porches, Trust, Parking, Trees, Swimming,
Schools, (1 each)
We then brainstormed on potential impacts to our neighborhood that believe must be avoided
or managed as infill growth proceeds. Each party added one word or phrase to the following
list. We then voted as described above, identifying the most important problems to be
managed:
xii. Loss of historical architectural character and context through construction of
large, impersonal, cold, industrial and/or homogenous buildings (20)
xiii. Lack of adequate resident parking (7)
xiv. Unengaged neighbors who do not care to be responsible, personable or
respectful (9)
xv. Non-resident, investor ownership (7)
xvi. Increased noise (4)
xvii. Increased traffic (specially semi-trucks) and traffic speed (4)
xviii. Loss of view shed, including sky and sunshine (4)
xix. Overtaxed (existing, e.g., sewers) and inadequate (needed, but not existing
infrastructure, e.g. cross walks, improved parks) (3)
xx. Increased crime, trash and pollution (3)
xxi. Increased people, congestion, foot traffic (3)
xxii. Deterioration, lack of maintenance of buildings and landscapes (3)
xxiii. Short term rentals; increased light at night; Loss of front porches; Tall fences,
driven by increased need for privacy; (1 each)
Based on these lists, the following DRAFT Statement of Vision for Growth in BPNA is under review, to be
approved at our next bi-annual meeting at the end of the year:
The BPNA seeks strong governance and effective, well-defined policies to manage proposed
high-density residential infill growth in our historic, downtown neighborhood. Specifically, we
believe that City policies and decisions must promote community pride and public safety in our
quiet neighborhood, by maintaining open spaces, limiting light pollution, and protecting Bogert
Park and trail access. We ask that our elected representatives make decisions and develop
policies which will prevent the loss of our neighborhood historical, architectural character,
particularly due to construction of large, impersonal, industrial buildings; maintain access to
parking for residents; and not invite the arrival of large numbers of unengaged neighbors who
do not care to be responsible, personable, or respectful. We are particularly concerned about
non-resident investor ownership, increased noise and traffic volume, elevated traffic speed, and
loss of view shed (including sky and sunshine). We are also concerned about overtaxed and
inadequate infrastructure, increased crime, congestion, and deterioration of property. We
request that our representatives involve us directly in any initiatives or public policy changes
which affect our vision for growth in the BPNA.
We urge the City Commission to enact a moratorium on residential developments above 3 stories within
the B3 commercial zone, particularly where they are adjacent to existing, historical residences,
regardless of current zoning. This is especially important where said development can only proceed as a
result of the recent questionable recent changes in the B3 UDC and NCOD codes. We urge you to
consider the relative merit of creating housing for up to 150 people per massive high rise project, in
context of a predicted population growth of more than 75,000 in coming years. Are the relative small
number of spaces gained worth the impact to our downtown? We believe a more comprehensive
strategic plan is needed, and that any approval of high rise housing should wait until it is available.
Allan Kirk, President of BPNA