HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-19 Public Comment - K. Filipovich - Bozeman Medical Arts Zone Map AmendmentFrom:Karen Filipovich
To:Agenda
Subject:Comment on Project 19258
Date:Friday, September 13, 2019 10:38:35 AM
Attachments:Proposal19258CommentLetter.pdf
Dear Mr. Saunders:
The attached letter is a comment letter on the proposed zoning change listed under
application 19258.
I appreciate the opportunity to comment and its entry into the public record.
Sincerely,
Karen Filipovich
426 N Grand Ave
September 13, 2019
Bozeman City Clerk
Attn: Chris Saunders, Director of City Development
Mayor Cindy Andrus, Deputy Mayor Chris Mehl, Commissioner Terry Cunningham,
Commissioner Jeff Krauss, Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy
121 N Rouse Ave.
City Hall, Suite 2020
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59715
Dear Honorable Commissioners and Director Saunders:
I am writing in opposition to proposal 19-258 (corner of Villard and N Willson) to change the zoning from
R-4 to B-3.
In the Zoning Commission meeting, the only policy referenced was the 2009 Community Plan, adopted
during the depths of the Great Recession. Since that time, several other significant policy actions that
affect the neighborhood and this decision have been adopted or are in the works. These are:
• Strategic Plan: Adopted 2018
• Community Plan Update: The update is due out to the community next month with a final in
2020. In it, both neighborhoods and the business districts are considered important.
• Neighborhood Community Overlay District. The policy recommendations adopted in June 2019
included development of design standards.
• Downtown Improvement Plan: Adopted May 2019 and shows the site in question as outside
downtown boundaries on the map on page 10 where it defined the downtown area. (See map
on next page)
In addition, the designated Northeast Neighborhood covers the entire area around the site.
All these policies and actions by the City of Bozeman do not add up to changing this parcel to B-3.
Several of these policies have a map or recommendations that appear opposed to changing this site to
B-3.
There are negative impacts to the residential neighborhood need further consideration. Others have
presented more comprehensive comments, but factors include:
• Impacts to neighborhood character. B-3 zoning allows uses that have far more intensity and
mass than is appropriate right next to small, charming houses that are feet away from the
parcel. It is expected that new development in R-4 will be much greater in height and intensity
than existing houses and further development within the existing residential zone will be
transition enough for this neighborhood.
• Light considerations: B-3 can build to 70’. Even with the building step-up discussed at the 9/3/19
zoning commission meeting, the parcel can be built with a substantial 70’ tower that will shade
neighboring residents to the north, west and east, especially during the coldest, darkest part of
the year.
• Street safety: Bringing in a higher intensity of traffic this far to the north of Main will reduce
safety because the sightlines for crossing in the grid in this area is minimal on both the B-3 and R
sides of the immediate area. Several intersections are already problematic for pedestrians at
peak times. Widening any of the streets in this historic section of town would have significant
negative impacts on the neighborhood and safety for pedestrians, bikers and drivers.
No compelling reason for changing the zoning exists. The applicant stated that this activity is a
housekeeping exercise and that they had no plans to build on the current parking lot before 2025. The
most recently adopted policy map shows this site as outside of downtown.
As City Commissioners, I ask you to keep this area as R-4. The 2019 map that defines downtown in the
Downtown Improvement Plan and the negative impacts to the greater residential area both strongly
point to keeping the zoning as it is. I also hope that you will consider directing a process to clarify policy
ambiguities in this very complex older area of Bozeman.
Sincerely,
Karen Filipovich
Map: Downtown Improvement Plan, Adopted May 2019. Pg. 10 in section entitled
“Where is downtown?”
Site of
proposed
zoning change
Red dotted
line is
downtown
boundary