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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-30-19 Public Comment - C. Dunham (with Petra Academy) - Cottonwood Road Construction PlanFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Friday, August 30, 2019 4:16:38 PM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:08/30/2019 4:16 PM Response #:248 Submitter ID:20266 IP address:69.144.80.178 Time to complete:17 min. , 40 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 In-person delivery to: Attn: City Commission City Clerk's Office City Hall, Suite 202 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT First Name Craig Last Name Dunham Email Address craig@petraacademy.com Phone Number 406-582-8165 Comments Thank you for the opportunity to present this concern on behalf of multiple families and organizations. Attachments (optional) City Commissioners (Cottonwood Road).pdf Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply directly to this email. PETRA ACADEMY | 4720 CLASSICAL WAY | BOZEMAN, MT | 59718 petraacademy.com | (406) 582-8165 | Petra Academy is a 501(c)(3) organization Friday, August 30, 2019 City of Bozeman Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 Bozeman City Commissioners, On behalf of the 130 Gallatin Valley families involved at Petra Academy on 4720 Classical Way, we write to ask for reconsideration and adjustment to the proposed construction plans for Cottonwood Road. We have included an alternative plan for the good of the community and would ask for your review and approval. Currently, the plan as explained to us by city planners Bob Murray and Shawn Koth calls for there to be no left turn into or out of Classical Way. We understand the right turn only out of Classical Way due to proximity to the intersection at Durston; however, prohibiting a left turn onto the one street that provides access to both Petra as well as Bronken Field would seem very problematic. Mr. Murray and Mr. Koth explained that the primary reason for no left turn into Classical Way has to do with federally mandated taper ratios and, because a left turn is planned for Waters Street further south on Cottonwood, the needed distance for both intersections would overlap. However, as one of many entrances and exits into the Valley West neighborhood, Waters Street is not as heavily used on a daily basis compared to Classical Way. In addition to our Pre-K through 12th grade weekday school traffic and evening/weekend gym rental by Big Sky Volleyball, Gallatin Valley Homeschool at Petra, there are multiple and larger groups (Bozeman Blitzz, Bozeman Lacrosse, and Bozeman Ultimate Frisbee to name just a few) who utilize Bronken Fields after school and on weekends. Without a left turn into Petra, families from Petra as well as any of the aforementioned groups coming from the south will be forced to go north on Gooch Hill, east on Durston, and then right onto Cottonwood to turn onto Classical Way, which will add time and inconvenience to busy family commutes. To compensate, these families would likely come north on Cottonwood and attempt a U-turn in the Durston intersection (neither of which would be safe, particularly for young high school drivers, nor for the future foot traffic from the new high school), or loop through Valley West in a variety of permutations (none of which would be appreciated by Valley West residents). The safety of many children (at Petra, as well as those who live in Valley West) could be compromised as drivers seek alternate approaches to dealing with no left turn. School busses (picking up students or transporting visiting teams to Petra or to Bronken) would have no way to turn left safely from PETRA ACADEMY | 4720 CLASSICAL WAY | BOZEMAN, MT | 59718 petraacademy.com | (406) 582-8165 | Petra Academy is a 501(c)(3) organization Cottonwood into the school or fields. Fast forward a year from now when the new high school opens with hundreds more high school drivers using the intersection, and a left turn onto Classical Way is more than merited. Our suggestion to Mr. Murray and Mr. Koth was to prohibit left turns into Waters Street (again, because of its lesser use), thereby allowing the needed distance for the proper taper required for a left turn onto Classical Way. Both men agreed to work up a cost analysis and the idea, which we appreciated. We ask you, as city commissioners, to review their work and approve this change to the plan for Cottonwood. Finally, as such an adjustment would transfer the already-budgeted cost of a left turn lane from Waters to Classical Way, we request there be no additional expense imposed on Petra, as Classical Way serves more Bozeman residents than just those at our particular school (in addition to Bronken Fields, the wetland hiking trails to our west enjoys much public use). We have asked our school families, along with the leadership of the aforementioned groups, to contact you to share their perspectives and support concerning the alternative plan. Thank you for taking our (and their) concerns seriously, as well as for acting in a timely manner so as not to hamper or delay ongoing construction. Sincerely, Craig Dunham Sarah Storebo Headmaster Board Chair craig@petraacademy.com boardchair@petraacademy.com PS: Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 582-8165. We would also be glad to be available as requested for any further hearings or meetings concerning Cottonwood Road. Thank you.