HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-28-19 Public Comment - A. May - Growth Policy Update1
Lacie Kloosterhof
From:Allen May <allencmay@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, April 28, 2019 2:55 PM
To:Lacie Kloosterhof
Subject:Comments on City Growth Policy
Dear City Planning Board,
My name is Allen May and I live at 419 Fieldstone Drive in Bozeman. I am writing today in support of growth
polices that would ensure our city's future is one that is clean, fair, and prosperous. Our growth policy must
include goals that optimize open space protection while advancing transit oriented development concepts
including walkable residential and commercial nodes connected to other urban nodes via a city wide multi
modal transit system. Obviously our transit system must be fully developed to support this but as we grow we
must recognize that our neighborhoods, schools, and commercial districts must be planned for holistically with
a goal of limiting vehicle miles travelled. If we are going to reduce the largest greenhouse gas pollution source
in our city fossil fuel based transportation must be minimized via growth and associated transportation
planning.
Additionally, as we seek to maintain the clean air, clean water and open space values that set this city apart we
must ensure that growth policies focus on infill, density and an urban growth boundary that allows for
connected open spaces within and on the perimeter of our city boundary. These values are attracting businesses
and creative small business entrepreneurs from around the country and world and we must ensure that our
amenity based economic advantages are maintained.
Smart growth strategies that focus on infill density and multi modal transportation offer the possibility of
significantly increasing the supply of housing, decreasing the cost of development while reducing the cost of
vehicle ownership. A growth policy that recognizes a need for housing supply at various financial points of
entry could have a significant impact on affordability for a labor market that is increasingly forced away from
our city to live resulting in unfettered sprawl and excessive commuter miles travelled. Both are costly
financially and environmentally.
Fortunately it has been proven over and again that smart growth policies are also the most fiscally
responsible growth strategies for taxpayers. Optimizing our current infrastructure is much less costly than
expanding and servicing unfettered suburban development. Furthermore, the public revenue return from dense
commercial development on a square foot basis far outstrips that of vehicle dependent ex-urban commercial
development.
Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments in support of smart growth polices that will ensure our city's
future is clean, fair, and prosperous.
Sincerely,
Allen C. May
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