HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-17 Public Comment - J. Klockman - Black Olive IIThe Year of the Black Olive
To: Mayor Carson Taylor, Deputy Mayor Cindy Andrus, Commissioners Chris Mehl, I-
hoe Pomeroy and Jeff Krauss
From: Jane Davidson Klockman, 713 S. Willson Ave.
August, 13, 2017
For the past year, the community has addressed the Black Olive apartment project. This
was made possible by the 4B regulation added to the zoning code in 2015, which was
originally intended by the Commission to promote beneficial growth. Now that the
details of the building and zoning have become fully evident, many from both the
immediate vicinity and out-lying Gallatin Valley believe this project is not beneficial. I county myself among them.
“4B or Not 4B,”that is the question before you. That question also was put to those
gathered for First Friday in May and then June. In attendance were principal architects,
City planners, Home Base, representatives from Downtown Business Partners, Save Bozeman and the City Commission. The two First Fridays were moderated by Bozeman
Preservation Advocacy Group, BPAG, of which I am a member. Conversation was
lively, if contentious at times. The public is included in all First Fridays and usually
attended by 30 to 50 people.
The June event ended with the recommendation of an architect and that a charrette be
convened. That recommendation was supported by those who heard it. Since First
Friday is time-limited from noon to 1pm, a longer time for a charrette might be
considered now. Could it be requested by the Commission, perhaps recommended by
Judge Brown?
For weeks, I have considered the Black Olive using my own Cost/ Benefit analysis and
have arrived at some questions and concerns that I believe require further exploration.
Economically and personally, tallying the columns, these issues are indicative of a
potential relationship between the costs of the project’s undertaking set against its potential benefits.
I am concerned about the following costs:
• To HomeBase and its investors: Costs of further delays, the current added costs of architectural fees, loss of rental time, a narrowing of risk versus
reward?
• To Home owners: Loss of home values, cost of selling and buying a new home, moving, time on the job, transportation increases, relocating
schools, parking, safety, privacy, neighbors, neighborhood cohesiveness,
trust in city government, and legal fees?
• To the City at Large: Potential for decreased tax income from decline in
home values, exacerbated parking issues, ability to provide adequate fire and police coverage, hindered travel to downtown business and events due to parking, obstructed city and mountain sightline views, crime
proliferation, little if any increase in low income housing opportunity,
infrastructure and maintenance cost increases, and potential for
incalculable loss of citizens’ trust in city planning? I have considered, however, the potential benefits:
• To Home Base: Meet investors’ goals, encourages future investments in Bozeman, provides rental income for years to come?
• To Home owners: Diversify the demographic of downtown
inhabitants, a possibility that home values will increase rather than decrease?
• To City at Large: Increase foot traffic to downtown business
district and continue the “walkable Bozeman” initiative, accessibility of downtown rental housing, tax income from a large property owner, availability of housing for young professionals,
and attract new commerce to downtown?
Please consider these cost/benefit factors in your decision on 4B at the Monday, August 14th Commission meeting. A modification of the current 4B requirements is sought by
many of us for inclusion in the rewrite of the UDC. I am apart of a broad, diverse and
close knit community of friends in Bozeman and believe your thorough consideration on
the matter will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for the time and the devotion you give to our city.
Best regards,
Jane Davidson Klockman
713 S. Willson Ave.
406- 223- 8531