HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-19 Public Comment - M. Brown - Westland on Gallatin Green Follow-upFrom:Marilee Brown
To:Agenda; John Vandelinder; Shawn Kohtz
Subject:foot in mouth - Westland on Gallatin Green - followup
Date:Tuesday, August 06, 2019 12:20:03 AM
City Commissioners and Staff,
I wanted to apologize. I misspoke earlier tonight. John Van Delinder never told me that
Baxter Meadows was a failed experiement (although other City officials did). What I meant to say was that he acknowledged that it was very difficult plowing Gallatin Green without
damaging the vehicles parked along it. I ran out of time to explain. I’m sorry John!
It is worrisome that the City may incur losses due to damages in the very tight spaces during plowing.
As far as what Shawn Kohtz said - I agree, the street is 31 feet across from the outer curb lines
and 29 feet from the inner curb. However, the 7 feet for parking assumes that a large vehicle (7.5 or 8 feet) will have it’s wheels tight to the curb which is impossible half the year with
snow. And then even if it is tight to the curb, (which drivers in drivers ed are advised against), there is only 8 feet per vehicle passing in the center. That leaves inches for passing which is
ridiculous unless there are driveways to pull into to allow others to pass. There are none within 100 feet which is a third of a football field with many parked vehicles blocking your view as
to what is coming.
I have witnessed on a similar street (Kimberwicke) vehicles blocked head to head and then having to back up into pedestrian zones to allow the flow of traffic - or trapped head to head
for 20 minutes with no driveway to escape into to allow vehicles to pass. To make the children safe, parking spaces finally had to be removed.
I suggest that the City look into studying this issue so that they can find acceptable parameters
in the future.
Traffic calming is great as long as you are not worried about scratching your vehicle which can distract you from looking for bikes and other hazards. And a stretch of 100 feet or more
where there is no where to pull over to allow others to pass is quite simply dangerous and causes drivers to be reckless.
Thank you for your consideration and your detailed questions to staff tonight. I know you
have a tough job and have to follow the rules. But perhaps the rules need to be updated. Come and visit us periodically during evening rush hour to see how it is working out.
Most sincerely and appreciatively for your hard work and wise questions,
Marilee Brown
Safer Bozeman406-579-5447
P.S. I also tried to warn you that if you approved the variance for the landscape deviation and
pathway separation on the east side of building A, (which you did), there will probably be conflicts with vehicles using the sidewalk and coming dangerously close to planters, glass
walls, and pedestrians in order to turn into the tight parking spaces. Same will occur with delivery vehicles which have no space to pull over on the street. I pray that no one is hurt.