HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-18 Public Comment - K. Wiseman - Co-Op Parking and BeautyFrom:Kelly Wiseman
To:Agenda
Cc:Martin Matsen
Subject:Co-op parking and beauty
Date:Thursday, May 03, 2018 10:44:44 AM
Dear Commissioners,
When I came in to testify for our CUP about a month ago, Commissioner Krause complained that the
Co-op didn’t have enough parking. And that we were “going to hear again” that our building is ugly.
Since these comments came after my testimony, I had no opportunity to reply. I would like to briefly
do that now.
We completely agree about the parking. To this end, we lost about four space to required
landscaping bulbs. You know, the ones that we have to install about every ten spaces, irrigate, and
plant with a random tree?
This is in the code that you passed, and is “non-negotiable”, if you ask anyone on planning staff.
Here’s the problem: these landscape bulbs and trees-every-ten-spaces are best suited to suburban
or giant box store parking lots. They do a lot of good in breaking up the sea of asphalt at WalMart.
But in an urban setting they are not the best use of land: landscaping survives better if massed along
the perimeter, uses less water, is far less expensive to install, and is easier (and cheaper) to plow for
snow.
All of these factors may play a role in the decision NOT to install these landscape bulbs when you re-
landscaped at City Hall. They also do not exist at the planning office, irony of ironies.
As we look to clean up our city-owned parking lots downtown we can save 17 spaces if we forego
the bulbs and concentrate on excellent landscaping (or xeriscaping) along the perimeter of these
very urban parking lots.
17 X $40,000/parking space = significant money. Plus, again, they are easier to plow in winter and
the trees actually survive.
So thanks, Commissioner Krause, for bringing this up. The ball is in your court to modify the code
and end this waste of private and soon-to-be public dollars.
As to the supposed ugliness of the building addition we did in 2002, you might want to check in with
the Beautification Board: they awarded us Best Commercial Expansion that year.
Thanks for your excellent service, each and every one of you.
kdw
Kelly Dean Wiseman
General Manager
Community Food Co-op
Bozeman MT
kelly@bozo.coop