HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-17 Public Comment - S. Neubauer - Black Olive IIFrom:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Thursday, October 12, 2017 1:48:04 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:10/12/2017 1:48 PM
Response #:43
Submitter ID:2404
IP address:71.15.210.203
Time to complete:1 min. , 58 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Attn: City Commission
City Clerk's Office
City Hall, Suite 202
121 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT
First Name Susan
Last Name Neubauer
Email Address sullivansusan@yahoo.com
Phone Number 406-570-5784
Comments
I am writing in support of the Black Olive development for the following reasons:
As a small, but rapidly growing city, we have a responsibility to approach growth in a progressive and
forward thinking way. Infill is a fundamental part of that forward movement. Infill is better for the
environment. Cities that encourage infill encourage a more walk-able and bike-able city. Infill also
encourages people to patronize local businesses (since it’s longer and harder to get to 19th Ave).
Infill brings more affordable housing to the area, simply because when there is more supply, there is less
demand (real estate prices will eventually reflect this). Black Olive provides housing opportunities that are
currently in short supply in the downtown core. As a business owner, I would like to see more housing
available to my staff. Many of my employees live on the outskirts of town or Belgrade. If they want to buy a
house, it is almost inevitably in Belgrade. Developments like Black Olive would increase the choice and
affordability of living downtown, giving my employees the option of walking, rather than driving into
downtown for work.
I also believe that we need to equalize our society in a time when the economic divide is getting worse and
the top 30% of our nation are less downwardly mobile than ever before. This type of development opens
opportunities for more people to live in an area that is considered affluent. That in turn, opens access to
the best public schools, the opportunity for kids to live in a neighborhood where they can walk or bike to
the library, the only city pool and numerous parks. Additionally, it allows their parents the opportunity to
live within walking distance to work.
It encourages diversity within the neighborhood. When planning becomes too restrictive, we create
vacuums where only the affluent can afford to live, and inadvertently stifle diversity.
I have thought long and hard about this opinion (as well as read and researched the topic). I have been
discouraged to see neighbors and friends pitting themselves against each other. I wish that the discussion
had been more open and people had been more willing to listen and learn from each other. I live two
blocks from the proposed development on Olive. I respect and in some cases agree with the criticisms. I’ve
had reservations about some aspects, as well but in the end, the pros seem to outweigh the cons. I applaud
the Commission for listening to all the sides of this with much patience and perseverance. Ultimately, I
cannot overlook the fact that exclusionary zoning is simply wrong for our city, and society at large. We need
to continue to be as progressive and forward thinking as Bozeman has been for 50 years. I believe it is part
of our success. Our country needs to embrace diversity and move towards a more equal society more than
ever. Here is a way that we can be at the forefront of this movement to a better country, one small city at a
time.
Thank you, for your consideration,
Susan Neubauer
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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