HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-29-19 Public Comment - D. Morris - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:david morris
To:Sarah Rosenberg; Agenda
Subject:Special Use Permit Application on Westridge Dr.
Date:Tuesday, October 29, 2019 6:38:02 PM
Reference Application 19438
Hello, my name is David Morris and my family and I live at 3024 Westridge Dr. Our house sits
directly across the street from The HRDC purposed special use permit warming center. Let me
first say that I appreciate the time you are taking to review what I am sure are many emails on
this subject. I will start by saying I do not support the site of the purposed warming center.
Let me first say I believe HRDC's heart is in the right place figuratively speaking, but I don't
understand why they want to put a warming center in the middle of a family neighborhood.
There is both a middle school and elementary school in the immediate area.
As you may or may not be aware of a recent letter sent to the residents near the proposed
site by HRDC addressed many of the issue my neighbors have brought up to you in this
comment period. One of the issues they address is sexual offenders. HRDC states they will
not allow any level 3 sexual offenders in the house. The assumption is that all level 3 sexual
offenders report. Many cases people do not register as they are supposed to. My bigger fear
and issue is they do not address level two and level one sexual offenders. By reading the
letter it would seem they are okay with putting level two and level one sexual offenders in a
house full of children. But again they may not be registered anyway. I do not feel comfortable
with children in a house with any type of sexual offender, and I surely do not want them near
my children. I understand they can move into the area, but does it make sense to willing bring
them into a community. HRDC has stated they do not do background checks so I am not sure
how they would know who is and who is not a sexual offender.
Next I would like to address weapons and drugs. HRDC has stated they have a strict policy
prohibiting both, but again as I am in law enforcement I know for the most part this is on the
honor system. There are many ways for people to bring both weapons and drugs into the
house without them being found. I know we live in a safe community and we chose this area
because of that. I do not want to see cop cars out my front window every week because of
criminal activity in the house. I know the cops get called regularly to the warming center for
criminal activity. My family and I like living in a safe neighborhood and we want to keep it that
way.
I like the idea of a family warming center in Bozeman, but I do not see why it needs to be in
the middle of a neighborhood. There are numerous areas around Bozeman to have a
warming center. I would truly be worried for my families safety and the safety of other
families in the neighborhood should this permit be approved. I would like to end by saying all
the families in the area chose this location to live for a reason. We like the idea of having
single unit family housing. This would be taking that away from us in a big way.
Again thank you for taking the time to read my families concerns.
Respectfully
David Morris