HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-19 Public Comment - A. Cheff - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Angie Cheff
To:Sarah Rosenberg; Agenda
Subject:3025 Westridge Dr
Date:Sunday, November 03, 2019 8:56:56 PM
Dear Sarah Rosenberg,
It has come to my attention that the City of Bozeman is reviewing a special use permit application by
the HRDC to allow for a homeless shelter at 3025 Westridge Drive in the Figgins neighborhood. I
understand there is a huge need to help the homeless in Bozeman. As a homeowner in this
neighborhood and Bozeman resident of nearly 2 decades, I have concerns regarding this location for
a shelter.
I have a deep concern surrounding the safety and welfare of families and children in the nearbyhomes and schools. With a 36-bed facility there is potential to have a significant change over oftransient individuals that will have no background checks provided. With a revolving door of clients,I have no way to personally assess the risk to my family, neighbors, and property. With a propertyowner or long-term tenant, I have the ability to talk with them, get to know them, and decide if it issomeone I feel safe being around.
The requested 36-beds far exceed any maximum occupancy limits for R-1 zoning. The highest
number I could find in my research was eight residents in a group community residential facility. R-1
Zoning is meant to be low density and this is one of the reasons I purchased a home in the area. I
know other home buyers will have the same thought process and the prospect of a high-density
housing in the neighborhood may reduce the value of the home.
Last, the location for the warming center just doesn’t make sense. It is 1 mile from the nearestbusiness, 2 miles from downtown, and 4 miles to the main warming center on Industrial Drive. TheHRDC’s plan is to transport people from the main facility to the proposed location. What is the trafficimpact of transporting 36 individuals twice daily to and from a main facility? What is the risk to theindividual if they choose to leave the facility in the dead of winter when it is below zero – there areno services close by. The goal of the warming center is to help people get back on their feet, what isthe plan when a person takes a job that requires them to be at work at odd hours and their car isparked four miles away?
I urge you to please open this topic for public discussion so the residents of South Bozeman can
voice concerns and get answers to difficult questions. I would also encourage the City to bring this
important matter to the City Commissioners for a vote so they can represent the best interest of
their constituents. I look forward to coming to a resolution on this issue and hope that the City will
be responsible in distributing information and understanding the public’s concerns.
Thanks,
Angie Cheff