HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-19 Public Comment - C. and E. Dratz - South University SubdivisionFrom:Yellowstone Montessori
To:Agenda
Subject:WRITTEN COMMENTS RE: APPLICATION 19090 SOUTH UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PHASE 3 PRELIMINARY PLAT
Date:Thursday, September 26, 2019 4:15:50 PM
Attachments:2019 South University Subdivision Memo to BZN Planning 0926.pdf
To: Brian Krueger, City of Bozeman Department of Community Development
From: Constance and Edward Dratz, Yellowstone Montessori Academy, 1705 W. Kagy Blvd.,
Bozeman, MT 59715
Attached are written comments and questions regarding Application 19090, the public hearings for
which is on the Bozeman Planning Board’s agenda for Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in the Commission
Meeting Room at Bozeman City Hall. This new subdivision will greatly impact South Bozeman. Our
comments list a variety of impacts and we’re asking questions that should be resolved BEFORE this
project is approved by the City of Bozeman.
Thank you for your consideration of these important issues regarding this new development.
Constance & Edward Dratz
Yellowstone Montessori Academy
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY PLANNING BOARD, BOZEMAN, MONTANA
FROM: CONSTANCE and EDWARD DRATZ, OWNERS
YELLOWSTONE MONTESSORI ACADEMY
RE: SOUTH UNIVERSITY DISTRICT-PHASE 3 PRELIMINARY PLAT
APPLICATION 19090
DATE: September 25, 2019
FACTS:
1) We own two properties on the north side of West Kagy Blvd. One of them is in the City. A
licensed daycare and private preschool is located on the premises. Every day at least 34 cars
enter and leave the parking lot of the pre-school from Kagy Blvd. twice a day. This does not
not count the mail carrier, garbage collectors, lawn care, janitors, snow removal, or delivery
trucks.
2) Because of the Montana State University student and staff traffic, Kagy Blvd. must be the
most travelled two-lane road in Gallatin County. Whereas several intersections at Baxter
and Love Lane and Baxter and Davis among others, are receiving millions of dollars of up-
grades, Kagy Blvd. has not received such attention. When the Kagy improvement projects
were reviewed in 2016, they were deemed by the City to be too expensive to complete at
the time. Now they will be more expensive and more critical because of the increasing
amount of traffic.
3) Kagy is the primary conduit for ambulances and fire trucks from the west side of Bozeman to
Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Main Street is the only other direct passageway, but has too
much traffic and too many stoplights. Thus every day several ambulances and fire trucks
with lights and sirens on roar pass the entrance to our day care going to and from the
hospital and fire stations.
4) Every year several bad accidents happen in front of our school. These are sometimes due to
parents stopping to turn left or right into our parking lot. Many of the car accidents involve
students from Hawkes Ridge condos. There are no left or right turn lanes on Kagy between
11th Avenue and 19th Avenue. In the winter with snow piled on the side of the roadway and
a ditch on one side, there is no way to pass by an automobile waiting to turn into the school
and other properties that line Kagy or to Hawkes Ridge condos. Kagy needs turning lanes
and wider streets to accommodate snow. Few people walk or bike along Kagy because it’s
so unsafe. There are no sidewalks or bike lanes.
Constance Dratz, Head of School
1705 West Kagy Blvd.
Bozeman, Montana 59715
Phone: 406-587-5667
E-mail: YellowstoneMontessori@hotmail.com www.yellowstonemontessori.com
5) The South University Subdivision, Phase 3 will add a significant number of people and cars to
traffic on Kagy Blvd.
6) The first twenty years we lived in Bozeman, the city planning department often reiterated a
philosophy/policy of not housing students in “student ghettos.” It was understood that
concentrations of students lead to large parties and excessive police and 911 calls. A mixed-
age neighborhood population curbs misbehavior in the young.
7) It is very difficult to find sites that meet city, county and state regulations for daycare center
licensing. We have one of the most beautiful facilities in the county for small children. It is
conveniently located for parents and the lawns and trees are a delight for the children.
8) Behind us is Hawks Ridge condos, which, for many years, has been the only “student ghetto”
in Bozeman. The police have repeatedly told us that up until recently it received by far the
most “calls” and visits in the city. Trying to change the character of the place, the condo
association has more recently encouraged condo owners to live in their properties rather
than rent them. It is well known that a mixed-age distribution helps to control student
behavior.
9) Nevertheless, we continually pick up beer bottles, and garbage of all kinds in the parking lot
and on the playground. Our doors have been pried unsuccessfully, classroom windows
shattered, a van window shot out and fences bent or torn open.
10) Students use our signed, private school parking lot as a place to store vehicles. There is not
adequate parking for visitors in the condo parking lots.
11) The City has repeatedly stated that bringing the “donut” properties still in the County into
the City is a primary goal of the planning departments. Properties along the north side of
West Kagy between 11th and 18th are in the “donut”. They cannot become part of the city
because there is no access to city water and sewer services along Kagy. Last year a water
main was put down Willow from Lincoln to West Kagy. Since the underground water flows
west from 11th down to 19th, the water must be brought from Willow west to 19th. The
mains were installed on Lincoln last year.
12) We have been discussing these issues with the city and County since 2007 when we opened
our facility.
QUESTIONS:
1) How many total building units with what rate of occupancy are planned for this site?
2) How many acres will have living units?
3) How many living units per acre?
4) Will any of the living space be residential R-2 or Single Family housing?
5) Will units housed mixed-aged residents?
6) Are there plans to widen Kagy for cars from 19th to Willson to cope with the additional
traffic on Kagy?
7) How many lanes will be going east and west? Will there be dedicated right and left turning
lanes?
8) Are foot and/or bicycle traffic lanes planned for one or both sides of Kagy?
9) Will water and sewer lines be brought down Kagy Blvd.? Often the city has developers build
infra-structure as part of the development process. Is that being required of the developers
of the South University District subdivision?
10) Will there be adequate parking for residents and visitors?
11) Where will the entrances to the subdivision be located?
12) What will be done to develop Kagy to make it safe for parents of small children and at the
same time facilitate fire trucks and ambulances speeding quickly to save lives?
Thank you for your consideration of these issues.
Sincerely yours,
Constance B. Dratz Edward A. Dratz