HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-17 Public Comment - B. Wall - Black Olive IIFrom:Bob Wall
To:Agenda
Subject:Black-Olive decision
Date:Monday, October 09, 2017 3:28:15 PM
I certainly don’t begrudge the City Commission the task of reviewing and deciding on the Black-Olive proposal.
This is a complex issue that is surrounded by an immense amount of misinformation and hype, as far as I can tell.
One thing that is probably not absolute hyperbole is the idea that this might serve to establish direction in the way
the City handles coming growth.
I would encourage you to approve the project. While I can’t discount the statement that “infill will not eliminate
sprawl”, I also think it is very uninformed to think that infill will not help in some measure. I am frequently
dismayed by the NIMBYism that is apparent when project protesters turn around and loudly proclaim that this
development should be built along N. 7th Ave; apparently the homes to the east and west of that street are somehow
lacking in the intrinsic “Bozemanness” that demands protection.
While I understand some of the concerns and the fear about the impact that growth will have on our city, I
personally am more concerned about what is happening to the rest of the Gallatin Valley. The fact that downtown
might be a little taller and spread out to the north and south a few more blocks troubles me much less than the fact
that all the little ranches and farms that existed to the west of Bozeman when I was in college are being gobbled up
by homes. I also believe that Montana badly needs some new economic drivers to replace the agriculture, mining,
and logging that are shrinking irretrievably. Bozeman could be an economic hub that could help keep the entire state
solvent, but that is going to require that we allow growth and try to direct it in ways that will attract companies that
can participate in the economic growth.
One of the key exceptions people have stated with the project is that it isn’t creating affordable housing. I think it
is absolutely ludicrous to expect that any affordable housing would be created on what is likely some of the most
expensive property in the Gallatin Valley. I also think it is very short sighted to ignore the fact that if the people that
can afford those very expensive condominiums are not able to buy them, they will use that money to buy other
property, and that property will most likely be homes elsewhere in Bozeman. They will probably pay too much for
them, further displacing people that might buy there, who will in turn provide upward price pressure on other
properties that might be closer to affordable.
I think that some of the parking concerns that residents have raised merit some consideration, but I do believe that
the parking and driving needs and habits of City residents will evolve in the near future, to the point where less
parking will be required. It would be a shame to pave a big chunk of downtown 10 years before we discover that
there is much less demand for parking.
Sorry this is a bit disjointed, but I did want to express some of the reasons why I think that a plan for the growth of
Bozeman that includes significant infill is the right direction. I think a vote for this project is a strong move in that
direction, and I hope it is a step that the Commission is willing to take.
Kind regards,
Bob Wall
222 Westridge Dr.
Bozeman