HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-19 Public Comment - S. Hepburn - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Suzanne Hepburn
To:Sarah Rosenberg; Agenda
Subject:HRDC Warming Center at 3025 Westridge Drive
Date:Friday, October 25, 2019 12:15:43 PM
I would like to share some of my concerns regarding the proposed special use permit for the
HRDC overflow warming center at 3025 Westridge Drive. I do not live in the Figginsneighborhood but have lived in Bozeman for over 25 years and have observed the rapid
growth of the town and the ensuing problems that growth of this type usually engenders,particularly the issues surrounding the supply of affordable housing for all income levels.
Homelessness is one of the worst crises a person can face as it affects all levels of an
individual's life; personal security, health, ability to hold down a job, self worth. The HRDCis doing the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to addressing Bozeman's homeless
needs and should be commended for their compassion and dedication.
However I believe their current plan to use the property at 3025 Westridge Drive was not wellthought out. Not only is the property located in the middle of an R-1 neighborhood that has a
high number of families with young children, it is also located right between an elementaryand middle school and sits adjacent to a busy crosswalk, which are all problematic issues in
terms of the safety of young children. The HRDC has acknowledged that they will not bedoing background checks of any sort on the potential occupants of the warming center. Given
the high volume of client traffic/turnover these types of warming centers experience thiswould increase the probability of individuals with drug and alcohol issues and potential sex
offenders using the facilities and adding young children to this mix is not a situation most ofus would deem a responsible proposition. The safety of all our residents must be kept in
balance, particularly the youngest members of our community.
I have other concerns such as the logic of shuttling the individuals from the existing warmingcenter on Industrial Drive which will just add to the costs of running the warming center and
the safety concerns related to having up to 36 individuals sleeping in a house (are there no firecode regulations for these types of facilities?). As a residential neighborhood surrounded by
other residential neighborhoods Figgins does not offer any convenient opportunities for thewarming center clients such as the ability to walk to jobs and grocery stores. A location off of
North 19th might provide more of these opportunities?
I'm hoping that you will give this special use permit the careful deliberation it deserves andweigh all the pros and cons for all involved.
Thank you, Suzanne Hepburn