HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-19 Public Comment - L. Kirk - Downtown Bozeman Improvement PlanFrom: Chris Mehl
To: Agenda
Subject: FW: Comments on DBIP
Date: Friday, January 18, 2019 5:14:32 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Save Bozeman.docx
Chris Mehl
Bozeman Deputy Mayor
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: lisakirk@enviromininc.com [lisakirk@enviromininc.com]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2019 5:00 PM
To: bozeman@agencylp.com; Chris Mehl; Martin Matsen
Cc: info@savebozeman.org
Subject: Comments on DBIP
HI Chris, others-
Out of time to do more with this under this deadline. Would you please share with the rest of the commission?
Lisa
Lisa Bithell Kirk, Ph.D., P.Geo.
Principal – Biogeochemistry
lisakirk@enviromininc.com<mailto:lisakirk@enviromininc.com>
[Enviromin-Logo-2015]
524 Professional Drive
Bozeman MT 59718
Lab +1-406-581-8261
Cell +1-406-224-5154
www.enviromininc.com<http://www.enviromininc.com/>
Save Bozeman
524 Professional Drive
Bozeman MT 59718
18 January 2019
To: The Authors of the DBIP
Bozeman City Commission
The annotated Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan (DBIP) plan recently posted on the city website
does little to address neighborhood concerns or historic preservation, though it claims to “enhance
residential neighborhoods through context sensitive development.” It also does little to align with the
draft results put forward by the NCOD consultants, as is suggested in the plan coordination section. It
focuses on commerce, events and festivals, and sustaining a destination restaurant and entertainment
scene. Rather than focusing on a true sense of community, with all that implies it focuses on
spontaneity and play. It absurdly asserts that the DBIP serves as a neighborhood plan for the entire
city….and suggests that it should be used to shape code, guidelines and policies.
Though this presentation it cites the value of a strong connection to sense of place, the proposals
outlined in this document will forever alter our sense of this place. The “wall around the city” is being
advanced, although this plan illustrates that growth in a figure which appears to deliberately downplay
its height and intensity. Its map showing projected development is misleading in scale and format –
with dark green showing actual height of buildings and pale pink showing potential locations but not
probable height for some 20 projects. City zoning should clearly delineate which areas will be taken by
downtown expansion.
Results from the NCOD consultant and our collective feedback to the city suggest that the NCOD will
continue on, but this document suggests that single household detached residual uses are not
anticipated downtown. This document does not address the conflict between proposed growth and
development and the historic single family neighborhoods. It seems clear that the place needing the
most work is revision of zone edges vs. transition zones as they affect property immediately adjacent to
the B3; this plan skirts this issue entirely. We have the distinctly uncomfortable feeling that, despite
clear public feedback via NCOD consultants, that the DBP is continuing to have its way with our
community. Neighborhood character and historic preservation are not being appropriately addressed.
The parking plan fails to address protecting on street parking for residents living in proximity to the
downtown. These folks often share a driveway and have little off street parking. Parking is valuable –
and the cost for creating those resources should lie with those gaining from growth.
The 9-day timeline provided for review of this document, due Jan 18, was very short. We request a full
30 day review period. We recognize that there will be future opportunities to comment, but also
recognize based on painful past experience that these recommendations are likely to evolve significantly
from this point forward – such that no one will listen when we comment later.