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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-18 Public Comment - Z. Osman - NCOD ReviewFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Friday, August 10, 2018 11:17:55 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:08/10/2018 11:17 AM Response #:133 Submitter ID:10241 IP address:172.24.96.111 Time to complete:8 min. , 44 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 Zehra Last Name Osman Email Address zosman534@gmail.com Phone Number 4066401088 Comments Dear Mayor Andrus, Commissioners, and NCOD Consultants, I live in the sprawling sea of houses on the west side of town. I’m tired of hearing that “smart growth” means we must increase housing density downtown. On the contrary, when a new high-density condo complex that few can afford displaces low-and-medium-income housing downtown (and drives up surrounding costs), they’re pushing us all out into the sprawl. Many of these expensive infill apartments benefit only the absentee owners and developer. How is that good for our community? We need a commitment from the city to instead focus on creating self-contained Midtown/West/Northwest villages that are not only walkable, but have places we want to walk to; workplaces, small grocers, shops, restaurants, cafes, and spots for weekly Farmer’s Markets. Build up the density here; this is where the radical, hip, contemporary architecture should happen, as part of walkable, self-contained villages—not in the NCOD. Then, we west-siders wouldn’t have to spend so much time in traffic. Currently, west-side commercial strip developments are only accessible via hot, windy, exposed, and inhospitable sidewalks along congested, too-wide, multi-lane roads. By making the downtown infill a priority, you're choosing to make us west-siders wait until the pockets of the developers are first filled. The downtown Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District already has a sense of place worth preserving; its guidelines exist to protect our historic districts and preserve the character of Bozeman, and should not be changed. Furthermore, the consultant’s NCOD windshield survey was superficial and didn’t assess historic significance through historical research. Before changing the NCOD boundary, fund a proper historic building survey to assess areas that have become historic since the NCOD was established. Finally, I request the Bozeman City Mayor and Commissioners slow the planning down so we residents can participate. Multiple consultants are conducting multiple fast-paced planning efforts concurrently; how can we keep up with one, let alone several? Instead, begin with the umbrella Community Plan, then proceed to other plans sequentially. Sincerely, Zehra Osman 312 Sanders Ave. Bozeman MT 59718 Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply directly to this email.