Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-19 Public Comment - A. Breuer - Van Winkle Stadium and Light PollutionFrom:Chris Mehl To:Agenda Subject:Fwd: Van Winkle Stadium and unresolved light pollution issues at BHS (for 9/9/19 exemption hearing- project 19302) Date:Sunday, September 08, 2019 1:52:01 PM Attachments:Parking lot lights 3_Nov 2016.docx ATT00001.htm Stadium lights_1_Nov 2016.docx ATT00002.htm Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "abigailbreuer@gmail.com" <abigailbreuer@gmail.com>To: "Jeff Krauss" <Jkrauss@BOZEMAN.NET>, "Chris Mehl" <CMehl@BOZEMAN.NET>, "Cyndy Andrus" <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>,"I-Ho Pomeroy" <IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>, "Terry Cunningham" <TCunningham@BOZEMAN.NET>Cc: "Tanya Andreasen" <TAndreasen@BOZEMAN.NET>, "Courtney Johnson" <CEJohnson@BOZEMAN.NET>Subject: Van Winkle Stadium and unresolved light pollution issues at BHS (for 9/9/19 exemption hearing- project 19302) Dear Commissioners: As an individual who has sought relief from light pollution from the BHS campus for 7 years—and encountered a School District largely disinterested in pursing civil dialogue, much less any solution—I cannot consider the current exemption request for live video feedback associated with Van Winkle Stadium as reasonable. A. Headlight Pollution from Unscreened Parking Lots The District has steadfastly ignored neighborhood requests to screen either of the North 11th parking lots added to the campus in 2010 and 2012, both built without standard public notice and, in the case of the later, not shown on documents on the District’s website nor described by District officials at outreach meetings. This experience of non-disclosure has been repeated in other campus changes--most recently by neighbors striving to follow the ongoing bond additions to the BHS campus. The Bozeman School District opted to pursue the relocation of Van Winkle Stadium at the first School Board meeting where the concept was shown to the public, following an extended pre-bond campaign in which the stadium was described as “rebuilt in place,” in videos on the District’s website, articles in the Chronicle, and over 70 outreach meetings. In 2012, I learned of the expansion of the Services Building’s parking lot, from which headlights have ever since entered my home (see photo, Parking lot lights), when my then-2-year-old looked out the window, and said, “Look, mommy, trees!” noting the backhoe beginning its work. Because this parking lot and the principal North 11th parking lot were included in the parking counts for the relocated Van Winkle Stadium, at which time the District again exempted itself from their proper screening, the request for another exemption that will again negatively affect my neighborhood is unreasonable.   B. Soccer Stadium Light Pollution I have also sought relief from interference in my home from the existing soccer stadium lights since 2015. Attached, please find a photo (entitled Stadium lights) taken from my dining room, which I handed to every member of the School District’s Administration in late 2016, out of desperation, as prior (and subsequent) written and verbal requests have failed to lead to any course of action. Prior to 2015, the tennis courts along North 11th had deflected the impact of the stadium lights, and served as a partial-screen. Now, I am directly affected by every game and practice. This past spring a School Board member suggested that I should plant trees in response—the same suggestion made 2 years prior—both times failing to note that my home is dwarfed by 5 large trees in front, including 3 evergreens. As in its other incursions into my R-1 neighborhood, the District seems to believe it is my responsibility to remediate its cumulative, “piecemeal” impacts that degrade my daily experience and property value, and continues to add more insult to injury, rather than accept the responsibility of impact mitigation in accordance with standard development practices and Bozeman’s Unified Development Ordinance. Thank you, Abigail Breuer View of car headlights entering a North 11th Avenue home from an unscreened parking lot on the BHS campus. The addition of the North 11th entrance (absent a student pick up and drop off area), unscreened parking lots, dumpsters, truck traffic/deliveries and more—without the usual mitigation measures used throughout Bozeman—mean North 11th homes have regular impact from and have become part of the ‘service alley’ of the BHS campus. Impact of field lighting inside a North 11th Avenue home (following tennis court removal)