HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-02-18 Public Comment - A. Breuer - BHS Stadium Relocation and MidtownFrom: Abigail Breuer
To: Agenda
Subject: BHS Stadium Relocation and Midtown
Date: Tuesday, January 02, 2018 6:17:55 PM
Attachments: flyer_Neighbors.pdf
Stadium Relocation and Auditorium_Parking Impact Analysis.pdf
Dear City Commissioners,
I wish to continue to keep you informed of Midtown neighborhood concerns regarding the BHS
Stadium Relocation proposal, as the School District is holding an open house this Thursday, Jan 4th
,
in advance of an anticipated vote on Monday, Jan 8th
.
While the District has stated there will be no change in impact from the stadium relocation, a
Parking Impact Analysis commissioned by area neighbors shows the plan will put 30% of stadium
parking onto neighborhood streets from 15th
-17th
, and the Hastings Shopping Center (see map,
attached flyer). Under the same analysis, only 13% of parking is off-site under present conditions or
under the pre-bond plan to rebuild the stadium in place. Further, the District has no plans to
accommodate the parking impacts of an anticipated 750-seat auditorium, which are expected to be
borne solely by my North 11th neighborhood.
These parking issues point to the real problem with the BHS campus, which is the absence of a
Master Plan that examines site circulation, safe pick up and drop off, parking and other impacts, and
that ensures that campus activities are substantially absorbed and mitigated within the campus. I
should not find myself cringing somewhat regularly at near-miss accidents due to the lack of a pick
up and drop off area at the North 11th
Avenue entrance, the only entrance built at a Bozeman school
without one in over 25 years, as I take my own children to the bus.
I appreciate the substantive work of the City and the District to develop the second high school site
to high performance standards. My sincere hope is that the stadium discussion can be a starting
point for the development of a similarly thorough, rational, and public master plan for the BHS
campus. I would like to gain confidence that the development impacts of the BHS campus—both
those thrust upon North 11th
Avenue beginning with the 2010 renovation and future—will be
accounted for on District property. I have relayed this hope to City planning staff with whom the
Parking Impact Analysis (attached) was shared in late December.
Unfortunately, the District’s stadium proposal suggests it is very willing to continue to push its
impacts onto neighboring property, whether residential or commercial. In fact, the stadium
proposal is eerily reminiscent of the 2010 change of the BHS main entrance from Main Street to
North 11th
Avenue without accounting for vastly changed impacts. The result was the “undoing” of
my formerly quiet, residential neighborhood, to borrow a neighbor’s phrase. No neighbor wishes to
witness the repeat of this process along North 15th
Avenue.
The BHS campus remains one of the largest in the state. With good planning, it can ameliorate its
substantial short-comings and also accommodate an auditorium, stadium, 2-story classroom, and
student commons/entry. Yet, if the District continues to play roulette with building and entry
placement, fails to examine the core functionality of the campus, and does not properly identify and
mitigate its impacts, the geographic center of our town will continue to be degraded through
readily-avoidable actions.
I appreciate your attention and am glad to share this perspective. Happy New Year to you all!
Thank you,
Abigail Breuer
502 N 11th
Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-522-5363
Virus-free. www.avast.com
North 9th - North 11th and North 15th - North 17th Neighbors:
Do you know how the BHS Stadium Relocation
and Auditorium will affect you?
Come to the Jan 4th Open House (6pm, Wilson School, 404 W Main, Upstairs/Rm 217A)
and School Board Decision Meeting, Jan 8th (6pm, Wilson School, 404 W Main, Rm 122)
RED SHADED AREAS
INDICATE likely
parking scenarios from
the New Stadium and
Auditorium.
Neighborhood Parking Impacts from New Stadium
and Auditorium on the BHS Campus
Source: 2017 BHS Stadium Relocation Parking Impact Analysis, Genesis Engineering
Not your house yet?
These locations can shift.
Protect your neighborhood.
Changes to the BHS campus under the voter-approved $125 Million Bond (April 2017):
750-seat auditorium
a student entry/commons
2-story classroom building
Football stadium, rebuilt in place, to be shared by both schools
On December 14th, 2017, the School Board voted to move Van Winkle Stadium
north of Ruth Thibeault Way, with entry facing North 15th Avenue, to
accommodate Football, Soccer & Lacrosse (future). Both High Schools will use this
stadium, meaning twice as many games. The ‘old’ track will remain in place.
Yet, no Master Plan exists for the BHS campus—and the 4 expected additions—
to ensure safe student access, pick up and drop off on-campus, and parking.
Under the School District’s current scenario, 30% of stadium parking and nearly
all auditorium parking will be shifted onto neighborhood streets (see map).
The second high school has a Master Plan. BHS students and Midtown deserve
this same standard of care. Don’t relocate the stadium until a thorough, rational
and public Master Plan is developed for the BHS campus with all stakeholders.
Need More Information?
Visit Facebook: BHS Safe Drop Off (or email BHSSafeDropOff@gmail.com)
View the Van Winkle Stadium Schematic Design Report & Auditorium Concept:
Stadium- http://www.bsd7.org/our_district/facilities/bozeman_high_school/
Auditorium- http://www.bsd7.org/our_district/facilities/potential_projects/
Let the School Board know your thoughts in person or by email
on or before the January 4th Open House (6pm, Wilson School, Rm 217A)
and Scheduled Vote on January 8th (6pm, Wilson School, Rm 122)
Email the School District Administration and School Board (facilities@bsd7.org and trustees@bsd7.org).
Copy the City Planning office and City Commission (CEJohnson@bozeman.net and agenda@bozeman.net).
Prefer to call? Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Bozeman School District: 406-522-6042
ENGINEERING
CONSULTING
PLANNING
DESIGN
204 N. 11th Ave. BOZEMAN, MT 59715 406‐581‐3319 www.g‐e‐i.net
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 1 of 9
2017 BHS Stadium Relocation
Parking Impact Analysis
Prepared by
Genesis Engineering, Inc.
&
Abelin Traffic Services
For
North 11th Avenue Neighborhood
c/o Abigail Breuer
December 2017
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 2 of 9
PURPOSE
Genesis Engineering, Inc. has been asked by the residents of North 11th Neighborhood to evaluate the
existing stadium location and proposed stadium location parking impacts that are typical of a home football
game at the Bozeman High School (BHS) Van Winkle Stadium. In order to accomplish this task, we first
identify the parking demands and then model its spatial placement through convenience/shortest path
methodology. The findings will show where the likely parking areas are located and how many spaces will be
needed during the given home game event. It is our professional intent to provide our processes and
findings in a transparent and quantifiable manner that can be readily used as a tool in layout and design
scenarios, and ultimately, in decisions by the Bozeman School Board.
BACKGROUND
Genesis Engineering and Abelin Traffic Services have served as engineering consultants for the last 30 years
in southwest and central Montana. Genesis specializes in development and Abelin specializes in traffic
services. We are glad to apply our joint expertise and skills to this useful endeavor. The first step in a
parking impact analysis is to identify the subject area, the gateway or attraction focus, and the parking
demand associated with that attraction. Typically the demand is derived from the number of people that
are likely to attend such an event, the number of auditorium seats proposed, or, in this case, the number of
stadium seats anticipated.
METHODOLOGY
Demand – Based on our observations, we estimated the number of seats available at a typical home
game event to be approximately 2100‐2300 seats. According to industry standards based upon multiple
stadium design guides, and Bozeman Municipal Ordinance 38.25.040‐3, 1 parking space is needed for every
3 stadium seats available. Therefore, our parking demand (2100‐2300 seats / 3) equates to 700‐770 parking
spaces.
Gateway ‐ Next, we identified the portal, gateway, ticket box office, or entrance that all attendees must
pass through in order to get into the event. From that physical location on the ground, a pedestrian walking
path is plotted back to where the attendees have likely parked based on their convenience or the shortest
distance of travel between the event and the parking space. As a general rule, drivers will try and minimize
their walking distance from available parking areas and will choose the closest parking spot available. This
pedestrian path can be shaped by local parking regulations, channeling structures such as medians and
fences, and of course, parking lot location. There are often many potential pedestrian paths leading back to
available parking and all paths must be approximated and explored to determine the anticipated impacts.
In our model, the different pedestrian paths for a parking area that is being accessed have the same length
of travel or walking distance for each iteration. If more parking stalls are needed to satisfy the parking
demand, then all pedestrian path lengths are increased by the same amount to access additional parking
spaces. The model uses an iterative process but after 4 or 5 iterations an empirical relationship and graph
can be developed to show how the number of parking spaces increases or decreases with respect to the
pedestrian path length. This concept is illustrated in Figure 1 below.
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 3 of 9
0
200
400
600
800
1000
900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
Number of Parking Spaces
Ped Path Length (ft)
Parking Vs Path Length
Proposed On Property
On Street
Total
Figure 1‐ A typical relationship between parking spaces and path length.
Existing Conditions ‐ When our model is implemented using the existing BHS stadium in its current
location and orientation, the following parking impact map depicting Existing Conditions is generated.
Figure 2‐ Existing Conditions ‐ BHS Parking Impact Map shaded in green.
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 4 of 9
The light green shaded area shows the supply of parking spaces needed for a football home game event.
The yellow shaded areas along the south side of Main Street and west of North 15th are areas of overflow
parking on private property. These likely need an agreement to properly serve as a legal parking option for
home games. The length of the pedestrian path needed to access 760 parking spaces is approximately 1,600
feet. The numerical data show that 87% of the needed parking is provided on school property with 13%
supplied by Main Street, 15th Street, and the private parking lots such as the ones across main, and at the
north east corner of Main and 15th across from McDonald’s. The location of the gateway of the stadium, the
stadium’s orientation, channeling structures such as fencing, and parking lot locations all work together in
concert to produce these findings. These results are in line with the School’s 2017 Traffic Access Study
purpose of trying to relocate school related parking from the streets and into the internal site. Under
Existing Conditions, the vast majority of the parking impact is accounted for on the BHS site.
Proposed Stadium Location ‐ Next, we analyzed the parking impacts associated with the proposed
stadium relocation described at the December 14th meeting of the Bozeman School Board. The number of
stadium seats was fixed at 2100‐2300 seats to provide consistency with the prior analysis. As proposed, the
gateway of the stadium is located on its west side, facing N. 15th Avenue. After completing many iterations
our model indicates a new Parking vs Pedestrian Path length relationship specific to the new stadium
location. A pedestrian path length of 1180 feet is needed to access approximately 762 parking spaces. The
Parking Impact Map generated during this impact analysis differs significantly from before relocation.
Figure 3‐ Proposed Stadium Relocation ‐ BHS Parking Impact Map
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 5 of 9
Under the Proposed Stadium Relocation, the parking impact is significantly different from that shown under
Existing Conditions. Approximately 30% of the parking impact has shifted from BHS property into the
N.15th– N.17th neighborhood and the Hastings Shopping Center parking lot. The parking impact has
increased from as few as 5 cars within the N.15th– N.17th neighborhood under Existing Conditions to as many
as 164 cars under the Proposed Stadium Relocation option. These results illustrate the significance of
factors including entrance placement, orientation, and channeling structures like fences and pedestrian
paths in the evaluation of parking impacts. It is easy to mistakenly assume the proposed stadium relocation
produces essentially the “same impact” as before since the number of people attending the game is similar.
However, the findings as shown in Figure 3 are significantly different, especially as observed from the
perspective of private and commercial properties adjacent to BHS.
We believe that any responsible re‐development requires a quantitative study to understand the potential
for disruption to well‐established neighborhoods. Fortunately, in many cases, simple design changes upfront
using basic planning knowledge can redirect parking impacts back to BHS property, where they belong.
In order to maintain the parking impacts of a typical home game on the BHS campus, we analyzed building
the new stadium using the location and orientation of the existing stadium. The results shows a parking
impact that is essentially the same as the Existing Conditions Impact Map, as depicted in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4‐ New Stadium in existing location with the majority of parking impacts on school property.
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 6 of 9
The length of the pedestrian path needed to access 760 parking spaces is again approximately 1,600 feet.
The numerical data show that 87% of the needed parking is provided on school property with 13% supplied
elsewhere. If parking beyond 760 spaces is needed, it can be expected to spill into the staff and west parking
lots efficiently as a small increase in walking distance nets a significant number of additional parking spaces.
This finding makes sense as few factors are really changing. However, the similarity of other site factors and
infrastructure is also critical to maintain this stasis. If existing channeling structures such as fences,
pedestrian paths or ticket gates are removed, then a new analysis would be necessary to show the
anticipated changes in parking impact.
Alternate Stadium Concept‐ Given the results of our modeling of the Proposed Stadium Location, we applied
our methodology to help design an Alternate Stadium Concept that could be a viable solution for both the
Bozeman School District and adjacent neighborhoods. We explored design elements that could be
implemented to produce a Parking Impact Map that closely resembles the Existing Conditions Map shown in
Figure 1. It is noted that this effort is in keeping with the stated purpose of the 2017 Traffic Access Study
and statements made by members of the Bozeman School District at the December 14, 2017 public meeting
regarding their expectation that the new stadium would have largely similar impacts when compared to the
existing stadium. In the Alternate Stadium Concept, the stadium is rotated so that its gateway and entrance
face east toward the nucleus of campus, with some channeling structures such as fences and paths included
to limit the possible “short circuiting” of the pedestrian plan. Following the first iteration of the analysis, it
became clear that some parking capacity would need to be located closer to the event gateway to maintain
parking impacts onsite. In order to do so, we modeled the addition of a new lot on the east side of the
stadium. It is important to note that, as the stadium moves away from the BHS south parking lot that fronts
on Main Street, the south lot becomes increasingly less significant for stadium parking and likely other
school activities. With the addition of the new parking lot to the east of the stadium, the pedestrian path
length is one of the shortest we examined (at 875 feet), has access to 760 parking spaces, and keeps
approximately 99% of the stadium’s parking impacts on school property and out of the adjacent
neighborhoods. See Figure 5 below.
*** This area left intentionally blank ***
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 7 of 9
Figure 5‐ Alternate Stadium Concept, entrance facing east and a new 250 space parking lot.
The new 250 space parking lot solution has many positive aspects that reach beyond the needs of the
stadium alone. First, it could provide student or teacher parking closer to where their classes are located.
Second, a parking lot of this scale could also be incorporated into the standard parent drop‐off infrastructure
that is currently missing from the new BHS entrance on 11th, and that is anticipated as part of the proposed
stadium relocation. Third, this solution would also provide some of the parking spaces that will be ultimately
needed for the future 800‐1000 seat auditorium. At present this auditorium is depicted as facing N. 11th
Avenue in conceptual renderings. For an internal BHS lot to serve the auditorium, our model suggests the
auditorium entry would likely need to be internal to the campus as well. This finding is in keeping with the
modeled change of the stadium entry in the Alternate Stadium Concept internal to campus. The parking
impact model shows a potential 250 space parking lot could keep significant parking impacts out of the
neighborhoods that surround BHS and put them on school property. As in other planning that follows best
practices, efficient and cost‐saving solutions can be found to facilitate thoughtful renovation that can
achieve multiple goals.
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 8 of 9
Discussion and Recommendations ‐ The final element of the Alternate Stadium Concept illustrates the
importance of master planning school campus development or re‐development. The BHS tennis courts were
moved to their present location in 2015, prior to the development of a Master Plan for the campus as would
be in keeping with standard practice. This location now conflicts with the parking solution illustrated in the
Alternate Stadium Concept. In response to their first‐hand familiarity with the impacts of improperly‐
planned development, neighbors along North 11th Avenue have asked that a Master Plan be prepared for the
BHS campus since 2013. This request was reiterated both in writing and in person with School District
representatives prior to the 2015 tennis court relocation.
Based on our personal observations of BHS campus development and our professional knowledge, we
strongly recommend that the Bozeman School District require the completion of Master Plan for the existing
BHS campus with periodic updates being completed every 2 to 4 years. A Master Plan that includes up‐to‐
date pedestrian and parking impact assessments for intended structures will help guide the re‐development
of the BHS campus in an efficient, cost‐effective fashion compatible with the District’s long‐term goals.
Figure 6‐ Stadium & Auditorium Public Parking Impacts shifted to private property.
204 N. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 Cell: (406) 581-3319 www.g-e-i.net Page 9 of 9
If re‐development practices continue at BHS without the benefit of master planning, we anticipate the
pedestrian and parking impacts of the campus upon adjacent neighborhoods to greatly increase, shifting
hundreds of parking impacts from school property onto private property. We applied our same
methodology to determine the anticipated parking impacts of the auditorium concept shown for the BHS
campus. Figure 6 above shows the anticipated parking impact of both the Proposed Stadium Location and
the conceptual Auditorium rendering based upon the same model.
Thank you for the opportunity of sharing this engineer’s design report. We believe some valuable tools have
been discussed that can provide the Bozeman School District and others with additional information to assist
in informed decision‐making.
We hope we have also demonstrated that the goals of multiple stakeholders can be achievable if we seek to
understand the impact of our re‐development actions. If you have any questions or need any additional
information, please feel free to contact me at 581‐3319.
Sincerely,
_________________________
Chris Wasia, P.E.
Genesis Engineering, Inc.
www.g‐e‐i.net
Enclosures
cc:
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