HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-18 Protest - L. and M. Gilkerson - Mountain Vista Zone Map AmendmentFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Glean Haven Zoning Proposal 2928 Babcock
Date:Tuesday, December 11, 2018 10:05:04 AM
Chris Mehl
Bozeman Deputy Mayor
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: laura lu [lauralu354@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2018 9:29 AM
To: Chris Mehl
Subject: Glean Haven Zoning Proposal 2928 Babcock
12/11/2018
Dear Chris,
I am writing to express to protest the proposed R4 rezoning of the lot behind my home at 115 Virginia Way in
Bozeman. My property is directly behind this area 2928 W. Babcock. Changing the original R2 zoning to R4, will
create irreparable damage to this unique neighborhood and it’s home owners including the elementary school near
by. This neighborhood fought for this little area to be left as a single family housing and won in 2001. I was
saddened and shocked when I received this proposal to change that agreement to R4 which would completely
change the neighborhood to high density, to an already very small area. Although the current land owners of the
proposed area, wanted high density in 2001, it was denied due to theses same concerns.
R-2 zoning is more characteristic of the existing neighborhood as it has maintained duplexes, triplexes and single
household units. This will better maintain the compatibility and character of the surrounding area in overall land
uses and zoning. R-4 zoning will cause overcrowding of the land due to the size of the building and amount of
occupants. Due to the already small area, high density housing would transform this beautifully diverse area from a
quiet neighborhood to a crowded and higher traffic area with higher traffic and higher risk of crime.
This zoning will not promote health and general welfare for the school within walking distance. There was no
elementary school in 2001 but because one sits right around the corner from this land, now traffic and proximity will
be an big issue for small children crossing the already busy W.Babcock.
I understand the need for affordable housing in Bozeman and I ask the city planners and city commissioners to
continue to maintain that balance between high density housing and maintaining safe and not overly crowded
neighborhoods. By allowing a change in zoning from R2 to R4 in this neighborhood, this balance would dip into
the side of over population and safety risks. This is why we all fought so hard for it in 2001 and ultimately R-4 high
density, was denied.
I write because rarely are we given the opportunity to do anything about the problems and the changes that we see in
the world today and I care very much for this little neighborhood. Our home here has been our own refuge from the
craziness of life, as we managed to hold on to it through the economic recession and my husband’s deployments. By
developing apartments in this lot and changing the zoning, we would essentially loose the heart of our family and
community that we have lovingly built for over twenty years.
Respectfully,
Laura and Michael Gilkerson