HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-01-19 Public Comment - L. Semonese - NCOD ReviewFrom: Linda Semones
To: Agenda; Linda Semones
Subject: NCOD Review
Date: Friday, March 01, 2019 5:03:35 PM
I attended the Historical Preservation Committee and the Planning/Zoning Committee
meetings this week. I stayed for both meetings, for a total of around 5 hours of listening to
the presentations and discussions. After listening to many opinions on the NCOD review, I
would like to support the review and aplaud their consultations with as many of the public as
possible. During the Planning/Zoning Committee meeting, there were 2 discussions that
caught my attention. First, that the sample of public opinions presented by the consultants
only represented 1% of the population of the area, and that led the committee member to
question their validity. It was also implied that the sampling only represented people over 65.
I myself am over 65, but when making comments at the meetings I was also carrying in the
opinions of my adult children, as were others. The meetings were held at times that were
very difficult for working young professionals to attend, and those of us who did attend were
carrying the opinions of others. Stereotyping members of the public for their age, and
assuming that older people have all the same conservative voice is wrong. One particular
board member even blamed people over 65 for the increasingly unaffordable home prices in
Bozeman. We all know that there are many factors that play into the increasing home prices.
It is complicated. Publicly blaming one segment of the population for this is simply simplistic
and deceptive. I have heard this idea touted about in more than one debate, usually from the
Build Bozeman group. But to hear it at a public meeting of city representatives was
disheartening. Those who attended the public forums should be thanked, not berated, for
their service.
Also, at the same meeting, there was discussion of the viability of private citizen boards
and their quality. While discussing whether the Historic Preservation Board should have
judicial input on designs, or just be able to recommend on designs, it was mentioned that the
citizen boards were full of volunteers, who often didn't have any qualifications to be on them.
There was discussion around limiting the number of citizens on the board without professional
training or degrees, as well as providing training for the volunteers. Obviously there is a need
for communication between the Historical Preservation Board and the Planning/Zoning
Committee. The relationship between these three entities is crucial in the COD review plan.
Yet, these two boards have never met face to face. The Planning/Zoning Committee is
unaware that there are very qualified and professional members on the Historical
Preservation Committee. I would highly recommend some kind of meet and greet between
the two boards, a social and professional mixer, before the City Commission meets on April 8
to listen to the NCOD Review presentation. I would also suggest that the members of the City
Commission attend the mixer as well, since these 4 entities will be working to flesh out the
work plan, and will need to know each other and each other's areas of expertise. I personally
found it offensive that a member of a city committee would question the validity of volunteer
citizen involvement.
As a citizen of Bozeman, I support the NCOD review and it's suggestions. I would like to see
a stronger Historical Preservation Board, more than just an advisory board. What that would
look like is to be decided in the next few months. I do not believe a person buying a home in a
historic district expects to be able to do whatever they want to the home. They are buying the
home because they like the idea of participating in the history of the area, and generally
would appreciate positive guidance in renovation and detailing. That does not mean they
want a million little details regulated, and it is up to the city to make sure that positive
guidance does not become control of every feature. But the COD review suggestions are a
good basis for a solid start in preserving homes, businesses and schools that make Bozeman a
desirable place to live. The reason people want to live in the downtown area is not large 5
story apartment buildings. It is the atmosphere created by homes with green space and
history. Shall we have a historical downtown Bozeman surrounded by blocky apartment
buildings? That would toss our desirable atmosphere of community out the window.
I have several more comments. I attended a visioning meeting for this process in the
upstairs event center downtown. At this point I can't remember whether the meeting was for
the Downtown Plan or the NCOD review. Either way, my comment is pertinent. In that
discussion, several members of the group mentioned that the idea for the downtown was to
have people live, work and play in the downtown area. If that is the goal, it should be obvious
that only rich people will live, work and play downtown. The housing going up will be
unaffordable for teachers and service workers. My own children work in the public school
system, and would like to live close to their jobs where they could walk or ride a bike to work.
My daughter works at Whittier, and my son-in-law works at the high school. At this point,
they are living in my basement, hoping for a housing miracle. The housing going up will be
affordable for couples pulling in a 6 figure income or better, but not for everyone who works
downtown. If the city is serious about affordable housing, downtown would be a good place
to start.
Also, there seems to be a consensus that in the future, everyone will live in 10 story
buildings because they are more sustainable. What is sustainable about a 10 story box
building? Do the box buildings planned for downtown Bozeman have any green spaces?
Rooftop gardens? Solar panels? Or are we just calling them sustainable because they house
lots of people efficiently ? It seems to me that we would be adding to the global warming
problems by allowing these heat creating boxes to be built alongside asphalt streets without
green setbacks. There is more to solving the environmental problems we face than dealing
with a population increase by boxing up as many humans as possible. What we plan as a
community, what we dream as a community, is what we will get. We should plan and dream
the very best possible for our growing community, not the defaults that other less desirable
places have settled for.
Sincerely,
Linda Semones 404 S. Church lindasemones@hotmail.com