HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-19 Public Comment - L. Barnard (2) - Bozeman Medical Arts Zone Map AmendmentMy name is Larry Barnard. I am living at 439 North Grand and have for 17 years. I have been inBozeman and the Gallatin Valley since 1969I am against the zoning change proposed in project 19-258, City of Bozeman PlanningDepartment, because it is out of compliance with the zoning guideline 1b of the Montana codecriteria, stating that zoning should secure safety from fire and other dangers. Rezoning this lot willnot secure safety from fires and other dangers because it will lead to an over dense populationof the city block. B-3 zoning on this corner lot will make it difficult for emergency vehicles to passthrough on the already narrow streets. Indeed, the additional impacts of the allowable density ifthe proposal finds favor will include more people requiring those emergency services. Residentsof any developed building, plus the current Medical Arts tenants, will need to use street parkingonce the lot is developed. And, it would be foolish to not consider the parking challengescreated because of the nearby 101 Lofts building, including the already displaced parkingbecause of that project. This will further congest Willson Ave, Grand Ave, Villard and LammeStreets. The need for parking will certainly overflow into the nearby neighborhoods.For Northeast Bozeman to remain a "walk able" node, as described in the Bozeman CommunityPlan, there must be both sufficient parking and a walk able distance from neighborhoods to thedowntown Main Street. The presence of all the additional traffic on already narrow streets willtake away what is now walk able and bike able in our neighborhood.Our neighborhood directly to the North of the proposed project was laid out and plattedbeginning in 1891 and there was, at that time, no consideration for street design beyond theresidential uses we have even today. Even the impacts of R-4 zoning currently in force for theproposed project will strain the capacity of all the roadways in the area. I know, we know, we arethe people living here and witnessing the challenges for first responders and ambulances toperform their duties. Particularly during snow months. We walk and bike this neighborhood dailyand our safety in continuing to do so will be threatened by a zoning change as proposed.