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Home My WebLink About04-25-18 Public Comment - A. Willett (Bozeman Public Schools) - Response to J. & M. Landon Regarding Second High School Site Exemptions Andy Willett,Chair Heide Arneson,Vice Chair Douglas Fischer Gary Lusin Greg Neil Tanya Reinhardt Wendy Tage Board of Trustees Sandra Wilson Bozeman Public Schools 404 West Main,P.O.Box 520 trustees@bsd7.org Bozeman,Montana 59771-0520 r f l April 25, 2018 ll l I.Ips D PRAM' Q 1201 John and Marcine Landon DENAf �!)E kn�r i '�� i 1087 Cottonwood Road COMVrL()i MEN-f Bozeman, MT 59718 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Landon On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Bozeman School District, I thank you for your letter and comments regarding the planning and design of the new high school. I want you to know that the Board of Trustees is committed to creating a landscape plan for the new high school that is both functional and beautiful. In the process of creating our design,the administration realized that there were a few elements of our plan that were contrary to some of the local zoning rules. We discussed these elements at our February Board meeting and recommended to submit notice to the City of Bozeman. The City is planning a public hearing on these zone exemptions on May 7. Our Administration has prepared a document that explains the various parking and zoning exemptions, along with rationale for each. I have attached that document to this letter. Should you have questions or concerns regarding our landscape plan, I would encourage you to speak with our School District Superintendent, Rob Watson. Thanks again for your letter. Sincerely, Andy Willett Board Chair Bozeman School District#7 cc: Rob Watson, Superintendent Courtney Johnson, City of Bozeman Bozeman School District, High School #2 City of Bozeman, Agency Exemption Hearing, May 7, 2018 Background: In design of the High School #2 (HS2) property, located at 4455 Annie Street, the Bozeman School District has notified the City of Bozeman of anticipated zoning and parking exemptions. The HS2 design and site plan have some elements that are contrary to local zoning regulations, which requires notification and public hearing (Montana law- MCA 76-2-402). MCA 76-2-402 Local zoning regulations -- application to agencies. Whenever an agency proposes to use public land contrary to local zoning regulations, a public hearing, as defined below, shall be held. (1) The local board of adjustments, as provided in this chapter, shall hold a hearing within 30 days of the date the agency gives notice to the board of its intent to develop land contrary to local zoning regulations. (2) The board shall have no power to deny the proposed use but shall act only to allow a public forum for comment on the proposed use. BSD7 Board of Trustees: At the February 12 public meeting, the BSD7 Board of Trustees received an update regarding the design of the HS2 Property. In addition, the Board discussed the zone exemptions that would be forwarded to the City of Bozeman. The BSD7 Administration recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the HS2 design update and the indicated zoning and parking exemptions. After discussion and public comment, the Board voted to approve HS2 design update as well as the list of zoning exemptions. Here is a web link to our Board of Trustees Agendas: hftl2://www.bsd7.org/our district/board of trustees/board meeting agendas/ Site Plan &Agency Exemptions: Below is a preliminary landscape design drawing and a list of exemptions presented to the Board on February 12, as well as District rationale for the exemption: Flanders Mill Road is on the top of the diagram and Cottonwood Road is on the bottom. Annie street runs through the middle of the property. The proposed high school sits at the left and Meadowlark School property to the right. Bozeman School District, High School #2 City of Bozeman, Agency Exemption Hearing, May 7, 2018 Rationale: The primary rationale for this exemption is to maintain clear lines of site to enhance school safety. The intent is to provide better visual access and a higher level of safety for the students within the parking lots. The District follows best practices to enhance student safety and security when designing our parking lots. This practice has been endorsed by the Bozeman Police Department. In addition, this type of design is considered best practice by national research (CPTED) regarding school safety. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design, CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts by affecting the built, social and administrative environment. CPTED tries to decrease the conditions perceived as unsafe and increase the conditions perceived as safe. The CPTED school program uses six basic strategies—natural surveillance, access management, territoriality, physical maintenance, order maintenance and activity support. Natural surveillance This is design and placement of physical features in such a way as to maximize visibility. These features include windows, walkways, assembly areas, corridors, stairways, doors and lighting. The objective is to provide an environment in which you can see and be seen, to eliminate hiding or hard-to-see places, and thereby increase the perception of a human presence. For instance, in choosing landscaping material, schools should make sure that the material provides benefit without blocking views. Parking Lot Screening Sec. 38.26.050.C.2.a.(l) of the COB/UDC requires parking lot screening when adjacent to residential areas with 4'-6' high fence or shrub. Rationale: The parking lots at the new High School will be more than 50' from the public way and screened with 3' high berms and tree groupings. The height of the berms on the site are restricted to 3' due to security concerns. As stated in the previous rationale, maintaining lines of site are a recommended practice from national experts who have studied school safety. The CPTED, Natural Surveillance strategy encourages placement of physical features in such a way as to maximize visibility. Trees provided in public right-of-way Sec. 38.26.050.E.3 of the COB/UDC requires street trees be provided in the public right-of-way. Rationale: The proposed trees have been placed outside of the public right-of-way to allow the tree roots to grow without damaging to the asphalt paths. In total, the landscape plan calls for more than 200 trees. The landscape plan calls for those trees to Bozeman School District, High School #2 City of Bozeman, Agency Exemption Hearing, May 7, 2018 Rationale: The following points are anticipated to be earned: a. The installation of drought tolerant species for 75% or greater of the number of trees and shrubs. b. Provide of one percent increments of lot area covered by publicly accessible pedestrian facilities and features such as plazas, courtyards, seating areas and outdoor recreation facilities. As per MCA 76-2-402, the District and its design consultants from CTA will participate in the City of Bozeman, Agency Exemption Hearing to be held on May 7, 2018 at the City Commission Meeting. If you have questions or comments on this proposed list of exemptions and rationale, please don't hesitate to contact: Rob Watson Superintendent Bozeman Public Schools 406-522-6001 The City invites the public to comment in writing. Written comments may be directed to ATTN: City of Bozeman, Department of Community Development, PO Box 1230, Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 End of Document Bozeman Public Schools U.S.POSTAGE Rob Watson, Superintendent ; B - 404 West Main St., P.O. Box 520 ZIP 59715 Bozeman,Montana 59771-0520 t 02 ary QQQ0351235 Courtney Johnson City of Bozeman 121 N. Rouse Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 3 BMERNMP .59715