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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-18 Public Comment - E. Graf - WinCo Appeal November 26, 2018 Mayor Cindy Andrus Bozeman City Commission City of Bozeman P.O. Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 Dear Bozeman City Commission, Re. Winco Foods I stand in opposition to Appeal of the administrative Project Decision for the Winco Foods Site Plan Application 17585. The approval of the site plan was a lengthy process that included many public awareness and comment periods. I took it upon myself to read all the comments on the Bozeman Daily Chronical Facebook publishing of the notice of appeal. This is not scientific and to be used as showing community support for this project. Of the 76 comments 88%of the comments were positive and the remainder 12 %were not apposed to the project as much as they wish the affordable grocery store options would look to be built in four Corners. The comments show that there is support for another employee owned business that will employ many local citizens from the area. I ask that you uphold the administrative decision that your staff worked tirelessly to conclude. Although the process to get to this point has been long we have been able to keep a good running communication with your staff and are glad we are able to add this investment within the City of Bozeman Respectfully, �A� V Eugene Graf IV ^8D Bozeman Daily Chronicle November 10 at 8:35 AM A group of local food and retail union members have appealed the city's decision to approve site plans for WinCo Foods, requiring review by the Bozeman City Commission before the grocery retailer can move forward with plans. `r + _ r _ r BOZEMANDAILYCHRONICLE.COM Group appeals city's approval of WinCo grocery store A group of local food and retail union members have appealed the city'... 116 76 Comments 20 Shares Like Comment Share i Write a comment... All Comments Eugene Graf Being the developer and working with this company for over two years we are very excited to see this project finally receive approval through the city process. It's unfortunate that we have one more hurdle before we can go vertical however this buildin... Say Like • Reply . 2w Mo Holt Eugene Graf we will try to be there, But, you note that they put this on the agenda after the long Thanksgiving weekend?!? I think the city council is in bed with those filing the appeal. Like • Reply • 2w - Edited cugene vrai fvlO NOR Me group Is a worKers union ouL of Butte. The city has been good through this appeal Process with us and we are confident the project will Proceed but support is helpful. Thank you Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Eugene Graf Good to know, because I know the City is not easy to we work with new businesses. Like - Reply - 2w Patricia Monaghan Kamrath Eugene Graf thank you for your sensible reasoning! Good luck on this last hurdle and full steam ahead! Like - Reply • 2w Darcy Anne When you say write the city, do you mean the city council members? Like • Reply - 2w ft ,-" Stacy Ranard Foreman Darcy Anne city commissioners Like - Reply - 2w ` r Write a reply... Eugene Graf Tomorrow the city has its FINAL hearing to allow winco to join our community. They will employ 100+ local citizens with the opportunity to have ownership while providing affordable food options to the community Like - Reply - 15h Brandon Ostermiller Afraid of competition? Like • Reply - 2w Jason Alan Noon Why not in Belgrade oh yeah the kick backs... Like - Reply - 2w Klinnlc r riferinlc 1 nm frnm Rnico whoro Winr'n is hnccrl ni it of and I know this company well. 1) WinCo will not negatively impact employment. In Boise, WinCo employees are some of the best paid of the grocery industry. They also own shares of the business and have excell... See More Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Nicole Drysdale I totally agree with you. Like • Reply • 2w QDonald Butts the grocers in this town are afraid they will lose their employees to Winco because they pay better wages. Like • Reply • 2w Chris Sehy Donald Butts I'm guessing a big no on afraid of losing employees to WinCo. The UFCW goal is to increase the number of dues paying members. My experience is that they don't do much for those members other than collect those dues. The union is fightin... See More Like • Reply • 2w j Donald Butts Chris Sehy well I guess sad sappy story for them. I suppose reduced hours won't be enough for Winco to poach some of them? Like • Reply • 1w Write a reply... Andrew Williamson Give me a break. WinCo can't get here fast enough. This would be an excellent addition to North 19th. Like Reply • 2w Andrew Williamson I might just attend the November 26 meeting to express some support. Like • Reply • 2w Fred Vinson I for one welcome them with open arms..l would much rather shop at an employee owned store than at one that can't get enough help because they don't pay decent wages and treat their employees as expendables.. We've shopped at WINCO in WA state and plan to drive to Helena to shop at the new store that is opening soon.. Like - Reply • 2w ft Chris Sehy Target and Wal-Mart stores in Reno had different prices at different stores around town based on +ho �nmr.o+i+inn noorhi cn thic might holn fnr r+rnrnry 11— --,"V -u I.—, i - vy .w in.� ivaJ. n wN ivy yi v.,wy pricing at other stores. Like Reply - 2w r Write a reply... Nichole Harrison 1 can't wait to shop at Winco! Yet another hurdle to deal with we want good companies like Winco to want to come here with Bozeman's growth! Like • Reply • 2w Williams King Don I disagree with the location not one coming to town 19th is already a joke with traffic anytime of the day Need more stuff in 4 corners, we have to traffic flow as well. I think Winco would be amazing but cramming it into north 19th with the other 3 gr... See More Like - Reply • 2w qp West Arnold Really anywhere west of 19th would be good. Like . Reply - 2w '> r Write a reply... Shannon Kylee Sanderson Can we get something in four corners either in addition or instead of! Please! Like . Reply • 2w Lacey Hopper Totally agree! Four Corners needs a real grocery store!! Like - Reply - 2w Julie Baker Titchbourne oh but hey!! We can buy groceries at Town Pump! Like- Reply - 2w IV Shannon Kylee Sanderson Milk. I'll buy milk at Town Punk in a pinch... and maybe hot dog buns haha. Like - Reply - 2w OJulie Baker Titchbourne I've had to get coffee there when I was desperate... then they stopped carrying the pods.. one stop shopping at it's finest...not! Like • Reply - 2w TP Lacey Hopper I've bought a bottle of wine there before too, but don't tell! Like • Reply - 2w Julie Baker Titchbourne Lacey Hopper they actually have a decent selection! Guilty as charged on the wine! Like - Reply • 2w Shannon Kylee Sanderson Oh if we're talking beer and wine that's a whole different conversation! Like - Reply - 2w Michelle Koehler Harley Groceries at the Town Pump for 3X the normal price.....but convenient! Like - Reply - 2w Sean Thompson Shannon Kylee Sanderson Town & Country has owned a chunk of land in Four Corners for years. They have since seized on the opportunities in Livingston and Belgrade instead. Like • Reply • 1w Shannon Kylee Sanderson Well that is pretty sucky! I would love a T&C in four corners! Like - Reply • 1w 41 Write a reply... Mo Holt With the growth of the City, and Belgrade, consumers need more grocery options especially on the North and west side of Bozeman. It will actually improve traffic issues. I live on the North and Eastside of Bozeman and if I don't have to go all the wa... See More Like - Reply - 2w - Edited Mo Holt By the way, I worked for the Teamsters in the past. Unions are out of date and only worried about themselves and their money, not their workers or members. Winco is an employee own store and takes good care of their employees! Like - Reply • 2w - Edited Lacey Hopper 100% agree! I went to U of I in Moscow, ID and only shopped at WinCo. Huge selection, especially meats/bulk foods, and very affordable. Also, it never affected the small town feel at all. Like • Reply - 2w January Heicher Exactly I live near Valley Center and Love it would be great to not have to drive down 19th for groceries. I think their traffic argument is very weak. LWe - Reply • zw r Write a reply... Becky Bruce Bozeman is not a small town anymore. Perhaps it's time to accept that and move on with our lives? Like • Reply • 2w Kim Chater Please just build a Trader Joe's and be done with it. Like - Reply - 2w Hide 15 Replies Mo Holt Kim Chater I love Trader Joe's but I would like to stop the Californification of Bozeman. Like • Reply - 2w Kim Chater Mo Holt agreed. Like • Reply - 2w ,�4; Chris Harris Californication, you people crack me up. Read the tags on your clothes before you drive in your car, which if American, has component parts made all over the world, on your way to the store to buy produce grown in Mexico. News flash, we live in a globa...See More Like - Reply - 2w - Edited 4 Kim Chater Chris Harris As is your ego, Mr know -it-all! Like - Reply - 2w o4. Chris Harris Kim Chater facts are the facts, you mean to tell me that you don't know where your clothes are made, your food is grown, and the details of your own goddamn car, and you're attempting to throw it back at me, the entertainment is priceless, again!!! Like - Reply - 2w - Edited Kim Chater Chris Harris reactive, aren't you? I just said let's build s Trader Joe's. Get over yourself. Like • Reply • 2w O,f Chris Harris Sigh . . . .Sigh. . . .no amount of effort will hide the fact that you are woefully under resourced Kim, Best Wishes Like • Reply - 2w Joppru Shirley Kim Chater there are no Trader Joe's in L A.._- __ ..-annnn IVIVl lldl Id yCL.-f Like • Reply - 2w Lynda Dorazio Chris Harris iglobal world. Yep. But to be honest. I support union gtocers Like • Reply • 2w y Lynda Dorazio Mo Holt calif ornification of Bozeman? Like • Reply • 2w Kim Chater Joppru Shirley nope Like • Reply • 2w y Kate Hofer Kim Chater I heard the city keeps shooting Trader Joe's down. As someone with dietary restrictions, they offer a few safe items in their "Trader Joe Brand" that I cant get anywhere else. As Chris Harris mentioned, it'd definitely be supplemental to my normal grocery run. Like • Reply • 2w 09 Patrick Linn Kate Hofer Does TJ's have a website that you can order dietary needs? Like • Reply • 1w Brie Schaeffer Thompson Kate Hofer all of traders joes products are just private labeled. Look closely at any grocery store and you will eventually find the exact same thing with another brand name on the label Like • Reply • 1w 40 Kate Hofer Patrick Linn Honestly, I've never looked it up! Plus it makes going to Atlanta, Spokane, etc... more fun to visit the TJ's Like • Reply • 1w Write a reply... Lesley Jensen This is an employee owned store!M I've been in several and love them!!!! They have a phenomenal bulk food section!!!! This will bring jobs and another option!!!!!! Like • Reply • 2w Lacey Hopper WinCo fed me while I was in college, great and affordable store!! Like • Reply • 2w �ALu \Alri+o ronhi ��� _ eri ., a ia.�✓y... .,+ Lacey Hopper Bozeman needs more affordable grocery options! Please do NOT hold this up any longer. Like • Reply • 2w ` Alice Flynn I am in the midtown N 7th neighborhood. Van's IGA closing was a big loss for us. We need a neighborhood grocery in the space where Kmart was located like a Town & Country or IGA. I refuse to shop at chain stores like Walmart. Like • Reply • 2w Billie Rhodes The only "grocery" option is Costco. Ante up and buy the property or let this happen. There are plenty of people on the north end of town that are welcoming the idea of a grocery store closer to their home. When was the last time any of them tried to stop at Smiths or T&C between 4 and 7 on a weekday? Traffic, empty shelves, frustration..... Like • Reply • 2w • Edited Ellen Gemperlein Exactly! Like • Reply • 2w j Sandy Schmidt Pepos I love WinCo foods. Wish we would get one here in GF. Shopped at the one in Boise. It is a great place. Like • Reply • 2w January Heicher Yes! I was just in Smith's and I had to shop from many alternatives from my list. The produce was lacking in quantity and quality. Like • Reply • 2w Chris Sehy Won't this store be just as crowded from 4-7 on a weekday? To be fair Smith's was better stocked before the remodel a few years back. Like • Reply • 2w r Write a reply... Nate Harris Free enterprise, competition is good. Like • Reply - 2w Anne Porter I'd like to see one more west of town. Agree 19th is "- Preety saturated Like . Reply • 2w Skye Temple Right store, wrong location. Huffine, near Four Corners would be better. Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Skye Temple it's the right location, but your right, there needs to be another grocery store in 4 corners. Like • Reply • 2w Skye Temple Traffic in and around the 19th area is brutal. Easy access would help their business. Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Skye Temple coming the back way off Vally Center is easier. Like • Reply • 2w Skye Temple I know. We use the back streets also, coming in from Baxter Meadows. But it's getting crowded, new construction, new assisted living facility, etc...all lumped together. Odd how in a state with so much open land, we are so crowded here in BZN. Like • Reply • 2w p Write a reply... 0 Stan Piatz winco all the way im tired of the high priced groceries in this most high priced town in montana we live in. Like • Reply • 2w Jennah Lebrecht We are far from small town! If you wanted to keep the small town feel you should have stopped building 15 years ago! Like • Reply • 2w Cindy Visser Eccleston I shop at win-co and love them. Good prices good meat good produce Like • Reply • 2w ' , " Don Hincks It's not grocery competitors filing the appeal, it's food and retail UNION members. The union paid the $1550.00 appeal fee. I assume that WinCo is a non union operation. Give me a break! Like • Reply • 2w 16 Fred Vinson Why would an employee owned business want to mess with a union? Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt I bet the attorney that represents the appeal was nirea ay ine union. isn•i mai a connect or inreresue Like • Reply - 2w !r Write a reply... 43 Greg Rast They tried this B.S. in Moses Lake. Winco won and has been a good addition to our small town. Like • Reply - 2w Rhonda Wicks Richardson Bozeman is no longer a "little" town, it is anywhere America, so that point is mute...19th would be a good site, Bring on WinCo! Like Reply . 2w JV Lindsey Wilson We really liked WinCo in WA. From what I hear they are one of the best grocery stores to work for. I think their slogan was "employee owned & operated" because employees got stock in the company. I'm assuming they got decent benefits too. Like • Reply - 2w Seth Heller Rhonda Wicks Richardson I think you mean "moot" Like • Reply - 2w Rhonda Wicks Richardson thank you Seth...(lol) not enough coffee yet. Like - Reply - 2w Rhonda Wicks Richardson Lindsey Wilson Reading these we the people want it! This town already looks a lot like Seattle... Like - Reply . 2w Mo Holt Rhonda Wicks Richardson Not even close... Like - Reply - 2w 1410 Write a reply... 1.. . i: Julie Kiedrowski This can't get here fast enough! Our stores are so stretched thin. Half the time the shelves are empty and we end up going to multiple stores just to have one meal! And I'm sorry but the "small town feel" is disappearing fast with the rapid amount of growth in this town! Like • Reply - 2w Lindsay Minnick We NEED a grocery store on the north side of town! This will be an amazing addition to the area! The UPPUJILIUI I IJ UIZA R%I1 1C11111 . VVC dlC I Cdlly IUUMII Iq. ILA VVdIU lU this! Like • Reply • 2w Dave Wingate I don't live in Bozeman anymore, but I used to live near Seattle and Winco was my local grocery store there. It was a great place to shop and had better prices than anyone else in town. I hope you guys get this store built up there. Like • Reply • 2w l Carol Barnett Ritts Painter Dave Wingate Same in Vancouver Washington when I lived there. Like • Reply • 2w i+ Write a reply... Rich Hog I like that there will be a grocery store on north 19th. Like Reply • 2w Betty Visser Ackerman just maybe the traffic problem is a planning problem of the city not the business think the city only thought of the time not the future when they did the streets and overpass it is time it gets fixed with thought of how it will be used and by how many one should not punish a business for something that is not theres Like • Reply • 2w Erik Henyon This is so true. No foresight. Like • Reply • 2w !r Write a reply... Mark Faure Having lived in Boise for some years my wife and I look forward to them coming to Bozeman. This reeks of the same BS that Kenyon Noble pulled when Lowes wanted to build years ago. Competition is good for all involved. Like • Reply • 2w 0 Alisha Downs I love WinCo, I am really looking forward to having them here Like • Reply • 2w Alk we Gina Bausch WinCo PLEASE come asap! Yesterday I paid almost $8 for raisins at the Co-op! Like • Reply . 2w Mike Harris Gina Bausch "$8 raisins at the Co-op..". LIKe • ►tepiy • Lw Wade Sickler Could be a band name. Like • Rep►y . 2w Sharon Kessler Richards Coop is the most expensive store !!! Like • Reply • 2w i Kate Hofer ......Were they organic?? Why did you buy them at the co-op? Like • Reply • 2w ` ►o Write a reply... NW Bobbi Robinson Wished luckys would have made it! They are excellent for fair priced organic and quality foods. Missoula got one and my sister in-law (non organic) says she gets cheaper organic there over conventional. It would be great to give the co-op and husks competition. Trader Joe's seems ok but their prices are not as good as luckys! Like . Reply • 2w 3� James Swingle They say they don't want to ruin the small town feel. LOL small town they don't know there head from a hole in the ground if they think this is a small town. No big box stores but let's go ahead and build buildings have huge over head rent and keep th... See More Like • Reply • 2w Lindsay Hash James Swingle we got our WinCo in Helena! I'm so excited!!! Like • Reply • 2w t Write a reply... Chloe Katsilas Why on earth would anyone appeal this? Like • Reply • 2w iy David Armstrong They are trying to protect their turf. Let them in. Competition is always good fir us. Like • Reply • 2w Kristen Mccabe If you dont like the town and the shopping the way it is. Yall can just move on to places like Billings or Denver. Then you can have all the amenities, convenience, traffic, crime, and craziness your little hearts desire. Like - Reply • 2w Gregg Barth let em in, there building one in Billings. Like • Reply • 2w Gregg Barth besides that, since when can 6 people from competing stores decides who builds and who doesn't? Like • Reply • 2w ti Write a reply... Kate Hofer Unless your standing on Main Street and Bozeman Avenue, Bozeman does not have a small town feel anymore. More people = More food consumption = more grocery store needed. Why are we turning away a business that WANTS to come to our city and will pay what I can only imagine will be a fortune in impact fees. Like • Reply • 2w Ian Guillen Who are these local business owners filing this appeal? Like Reply • 2w Andrew Williamson has to be Town and Country. Only common denominator to both towns besides Albertson's Like • Reply • 2w Mandy Kemp I'm going to venture to guess herbs, t&c, smiths, rosauers. Like • Reply • 2w Sheila Miller-Roberts Town and country is employee owned and they employee local people, their prices are great!! I would hate to see those people loose buisness because of a large chain. Like • Reply • 2w Ted Thayer I read it as the employee unions not the stores. Weird Like Reply • 2w Write a reply... Chris Harris Busybodies with their legal beagle wasting people's time, effort, and money. Like • Reply • 2w Constance Stevenson i nis is riaicuious. rve peen iooKing forward to this since it was announced. It will be so good for Bozeman in so many ways! These people are nuts Like - Reply - 2w Austin Smith I am all for getting a Winco in Bozeman! It's going to ad to jobs, create an affordable grocery option. And to be honest, I simply like Winco and would like to have one in Bozeman. Like - Reply - 2w Kristin Pelser Saunders Allow the grocery store. People need. affordable. Like - Reply - 2w Trina Frederickson After shopping for the first time at a Winco in Arizona, I don't see me shopping at one again. I'll stick with Smiths and Albertsons. Like - Reply - 2w Ken Mordan Wow. They are afraid. We shopped Winco in Boise. Best shopping I ever found. I am a grocer and meat cutter's son. I know stores. I can't wait for ours in Helena to open. Soon I think. Like - Reply - 2w Mikeal Beland Lucky's Market or Earth Fare are so much better. Like - Reply - 2w Angel Marie Williams WinCo pays extremely well and treat their employees like they matter. They also have great prices. Not sure what the issue is?? Like - Reply - 2w Fran Fortune McLaughlin Bozeman lost it's small town feel years ago. Like - Reply - 2w Will Gardner WinCo is good for employees and the community. Like - Reply - 2w rl i Anne Porter Bozeman is growing enough for another grocery store.... Like - Reply - 2w Lauren Bierschenk When will we have a grocery store on the north side of town...? Like - Reply - 2w Nate Harris Lauren Bierschenk I think that is where WinCo wants to build. Like • Reply • 2w Lauren Bierschenk I know but if they keep getting shut down they're not going to keep fighting us to build here! Just seems silly Like • Reply • 2w ft Kate Hofer Lauren Bierschenk go to the city commission meeting and show your support of this. Sounds like it'll be the Monday after thanksgiving. Like • Reply • 2w Write a reply... Garret Anglin There is an obvious question here that is largely being overlooked or ignored. It is a thorny one but let's try...shall we? UFCW, a union, is concerned about Bozeman's small town feel, environmental sustainability, traffic on 19th street (joking, right... See More Like Reply • 2w lib Fred Vinson It's employee owned.. why would they be union? Like • Reply • 2w Garret Anglin Fred Vinson ... I realize WinCo being employee owned would not be unionized. This is an economic issue for UFCW...masked by community and environmental concerns laid out in this article. Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Also, I bet the attorney they hired to file this appeal is hired by the Union or her firm. Which is a conflict of interest. Like • Reply • 2w del Write a reply... Stacy Ranard Foreman The competition will put them out of business?! Like • Reply • 2w Randal Halvorson Are all the grocery stores union ? Like • Reply • 2w Mo Holt Randal Halvorson Quite a few are unions, Safeway, Albertsons are. It's the same in the hotel industry. That's when I was a Teamsters member. i was forced to be. And I only worked PT and had to pay fulltime Union dues and received no benefits. That's why I would never work a Union job again. Unions today are really corrupt. Like - Reply - 2w • Edited Randal Halvorson Mo Holt Agree Like - Reply - 2w r Write a reply... 9PJenni Keller Put it in 4 corners!! Like . Reply - 2w Nate Harris I like WinCo, and Aldi. Like - Reply - 2w Kylie Jo Lehrer What, why? Bozeman needs more variety. Like - Reply . 2w 0 Mike Parsons Competition! Like - Reply - 2w Janet Whybark-Fulcher Preach it sister Like - Reply - 2w Jean Jaques Schurman Why Like - Reply - 2w ee John Jaramus Small Town Feel??????s In Bozeman??? WTF people, have you looked around? There has not been a small town feel in Bozeman for many many years! Besides what happened to the old saying competition is good for business? Like - Reply - 2w Darcy Anne Shall we the people start our own petition to the city to allow WinCo and not allow competition businesses have control over who else comes here? Like - Reply - 2w John Betancourt I'm dying for a Trader Joe's Like - Reply - 2w Jim Dyson Bozeman is pretentious enough. Like - Reply - 2w `4r Write a reply... Vee Yang Meng Yang Like • Reply • 2w Zach Favor Ashley Harold Like • Reply • 2w Jimmy Brown Let's hope WinCo is better than this rendering Trevor Like • Reply • 2w 1 Reply Cara Swanson Brandon Swanson Like . Reply • 2w COBrandon Swanson Fingers crossed! Like - Reply • 2w Er Write a reply... ® Michelle Martin That appeal has no meat... Winco kills the small town feel of 19th avenue? That's long gone. To achieve that you'd have to get rid of Target, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, Smith's and several other "big box" stores. You'd have to get rid of just about ... See More Like • Reply • 2w • Edited Julie Baker Titchbourne BRING IT TO FOUR CORNERS...problem solved! Like • Reply • 2w Write a comment...