HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-17 Public Comment - J. Eisel - Black Olive IIFrom:Justin Eisel
To:Agenda
Subject:Black Olive
Date:Monday, August 07, 2017 6:13:37 AM
Dear Commissioners,
I need to work during the time of the commission meeting this evening, but thank you again for the opportunity to express my opposition to theproposed Black Olive project. I find it unfortunate that again time needs to go toward a project that is not suitable for the location. That notion hasoverwhelmingly been expressed by the public, the Design Review Board and yourselves.
This newest proposal is still unsuitable for the neighborhood. The sheer scope and scale is inappropriate. Not only does this building engulf theneighboring homes, it towers over the two nearest commercial buildings (the Blackmore apartments and Stiff Building). There is no tapering ortransition into the adjacent homes or community. Despite multiple defeats for the Black Olive, the developer returns with a larger footprint.
Parking has been a major area of concern. Although appreciation should to be shown for not allowing this project to be an experiment for car-sharing,the parking problem still exists. What a coincidence this meeting takes place after Sweet Pea. We got a perfect example of how excess vehicles andtraffic inundate Bozeman Avenue, and it is reduced to a single lane. In reality, however, there is daily parking on the nearby streets by residents,shoppers and employees of downtown. At times, the regular usage is difficult, but this is where people park for any event in or around downtown. Thelack or parking is not only a problem for the people who live, work and consume here, as there city-wide effect for a place that states “Life isDowntown.” It is quite transparent that the newest offering by the developer again does not address parking adequately. Fewer apartments withessentially the same number of beds does not decrease demand or solve anything.
I hope you do not find yourself voting in favor of such a structure merely because it meets code. If it were simple enough to govern simply by laws andordinances, we would have no need for courts or city commissions. There are many reasons this project has come before the commission, and it isthose same provisions that allow you to take a stand and deny this application. And please do not make the DRB obsolete, on top of having almost nopower. We cannot expect the best and brightest to participate in something that is not respected. Although I may approach dramatics, the mere thoughtthat a topic does not require some sort of consideration is almost sickening and detrimental to the position of commissioner. You were put in this role toask and answer the tough questions. Other things that have met code: Japanese interment camps, counting a slave as 3/5 of a person, denyingconsenting adults the right to marry.
What has come to light and been found to be very disappointing was that the way zoning changes were implemented without appropriate notification orinvolvement of the community of those affected. It is suspicious that a project like the Black Olive was used by a group of developers and relatedpositions to push through these changes. It is doubtful that their obvious motivations should be what determines the direction of Bozeman.
I again implore you to deny the Black Olive and similar projects with the grossly negative impacts they has upon the city. Developers are flocking tothe area, and closely watching decisions like this. Do you know why people are moving to a place like Bozeman? Well, we certainly know it is not forprojects like this. These are merely exploitations, with people taking advantage of what is going on, but with no actual investment in the future of thecommunity as a whole. If things like this are continued to be allowed, Bozeman will not be the same place. In big decisions with no chance for a reset,time and common sense are our allies.
Sincerely,
Justin Eisel220 South Bozeman Avenue587-4046