HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-28-19 Public Comment - E. and S. Culver - HRDC Warming Center Site In objection to the application for the special permit of a Warming Center at 3025 Westridge, File
Number 19-438, we have some critical questions. What demographic study has been done to show any
need in South Bozeman at that site which is over a mile from public transportation and services? Has
anyone studied the current traffic congestion at that busy school intersection and the impact on the
students walking and biking along a major corridor between Morning Star Elementary and Sacajawea
Middle School? This single family home has two parking spaces in the small driveway. HRDC plan states
that there are three spaces and one in the street. Who will ensure the additional vehicles and shuttles
will park without blocking the sidewalk used by students and neighbors or not impede the already
congested traffic flow, especially for school busses?
The proposed Warming Center is within 50 feet of the Graf school crossing and 287 feet from
Morning Star School property. HRDC does not deny housing for people with a criminal history,
including sexual offences. Doesn’t Montana State law restrict sexual offenders from being in close
proximity to schools and children? HRDC has prioritized this shelter for women and children but
potentially will allow men to stay. What is the safety impact when people start lining up early hoping
to get in the shelter at 7:00pm? HRDC states that people can check in the shelter until 11:00pm. Where
do they go if the shelter is full or its past 11:00? How does that impact the safety and welfare of the
neighborhood? HRDC stated they discouraged people from leaving at night but can’t stop them from
doing so. Do they call the police if they leave? They also encourage them to leave on the 7:00am
shuttle but can’t force them. Has HRDC conducted any surveys to determine the impact on the health,
safety and welfare of this F-1 neighborhood, the students who are assigned the school bus stop directly
across the street and young students who walk this corridor between the elementary and middle school
all day long, before school and after school hours for special school activities? The potential
endangerment of the students is significant!
Has this single family home passed all fire code and safety issues for 36 people plus staff and
volunteers in an established F-1 neighborhood? HRDC stated there would be a schedule for smoking
outside in a designated area. Has HRDC considered the health, safety and noise impact of groups of
people smoking at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm and 1am in close proximity to homes spaced closely together in
this F-1 neighborhood? HRDC stated they will check all weapons at the door. How do they determine
that all weapons have been turned over to the two volunteers and/or staff that supervise up to 36
people per night?
Have other locations been considered that are closer to the current Warming Center at 2104
Industrial Drive? What is the impact of transporting up to 36 people per night over 4 miles to an
established single family neighborhood between two schools? There are no services, stores or
sheltered public transit stops closer than over a mile away. This would require HRDC residents to walk
through Figgins neighborhood, crossing multiple school crosswalks if they didn’t arrive or leave on the
shuttles. Again, HRDC states they can’t force the residents to arrive or leave on the shuttles.
We listened with great interest to the KBZK interview aired on October 23, 2019 with Shari Eslinger,
Housing Department Director at HRDC. Ms. Eslinger stated in the interview, “We know it’s not an ideal
location. We are still looking. We don’t want it there.” If HRDC doesn’t want it there, then why don’t
they withdraw the application?
We object to the proposed homeless shelter urge HRDC to reconsider this location so far from the
actual community need. We live on Graf just one mile from the proposed site. Our young grandchildren
live on Westridge Drive just houses away from the proposed Warming Center. They use the sidewalk
and crosswalk that would be impacted by this proposal. Their health, safety and welfare would be
endangered as they walk to school, play on the school playground, walk to the community Jared Park
just one block away and walk to neighboring homes to play with friends. Ms. Eslinger stated that
residents were concerned with “worst case scenarios”. Our community and schools strive to be
prepared for the “worst case scenario” every day. Parents prepare and educate their children for the
“worst case scenario” to keep them safe.
Our priority is to continue to protect the health, safety and welfare of our children. HRDC has
proposed a site for a Warming Center that will directly endanger the health, safety and welfare of an
established single family neighborhood, two schools and many surrounding neighborhoods.
Eric and Sharon Culver, Sundance Springs Subdivision
sculver2003@yahoo.com