HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-02-19 Public Comment - J. Lundeen - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Jason Lunden, DPT, SCS
To:Agenda
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Please Deny SUP for 3025 Westridge Dr.
Date:Saturday, November 02, 2019 9:00:15 PM
Attachments:Deny Special Use Permit for 3025 Westridge.pdf
Hi, please see the attached PDF.
Thank you,
Jason
Jason Lunden, PT, DPT, SCS
Board Cert. Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy
Excel Physical Therapy
406.556.0562 Bozeman
406.556.0965 fax406.284.4262 Manhattan406.284.4203 faxwww.excelptmt.com
Dear City Leaders, Sarah Rosenburg, and Martin Matsen,
This letter is in response to the HRDC’s Special Use Permit to change the zoning of the home of
3025 Westridge Dr. to allow for a homeless shelter. I am urging you to deny the Special Use
Permit. While there is a need and duty to provide a warming shelter for the homeless, the
proposed location is an inadequate site due to its distance from public transportation and other
services, proximity to an elementary school, and negative impact on a single-family
neighborhood.
The proposed warming center, is to provide services for the homeless and underserved. These
members of our community often have to rely on other services besides just housing including
transportation and food. The house off of Westridge Dr, is a mile from the nearest Streamline
bus station, and far away from the food bank, mobile soup kitchen (Walmart parking lot), Fork
& Spoon Café, and HRDC’s main warming shelter. The HRDC already acknowledges the house
at the house at 3025 Westridge Drive is not an ideal location for a homeless shelter. The
distance of the house from these services has the HRDC proposing to run a shuttle for those
who would be using the shelter. This seems like an unnecessary expense and a significant
barrier for those who would need to use the shelter and its ultimate success.
Second, the proposed location for the warming center is less than 300 feet from Morningstar
Elementary School, and less than 20 feet from a crosswalk that is one of the main routes for
children commuting to school. The warming shelter is a low barrier shelter and does not (nor
is it realistic for them to) perform background checks/screens on those that utilize their
services. Therefore, the HRDC cannot deny sexual offenders (who cannot legally be within 300
feet of a school) or criminals. Allowing for the shelter to be in such close proximity to both an
elementary school and middle school, both of which have a high percentage of students
commuting on foot in front of or adjacent to the house, seems to be an unwarranted risk to
those students. Comments from those who currently live and work near the current warming
shelter are not encouraging that the shelter would not affect the safety of the students. Stories
from multiple sources include drug paraphernalia being found or near the property, indecent
exposure, and public defecation & urination. This certainly does not seem to e a good
environment for children, coupled with the potential of sex offenders to be staying at the
warming center, should make it a no-brainer that the location is not proper and the permit
should be denied.
Lastly, the proposed site is within a single-family neighborhood that is all zoned R-1. In order to
have a shelter the HRDC is applying for a Special Use Permit to change the zoning of the house
at 3025 Westridge Dr, to allow for 36 people to utilize the house as a homeless shelter.
According to the City of Bozeman zoning guidelines, any change to current zoning should not
impact the quality or character of the neighborhood. As you can see from the points made in
the above paragraph, putting a homeless shelter would certainly change the character of the
Figgins Neighborhood. Furthermore, the current shelter receives on average 2 police calls per
week and over 80 calls per year. Nine years ago, my wife and I chose to purchase our home in
the Figgins neighborhood due to the close proximity of schools and because it is a quiet single-
family neighborhood. And in the past nine years, the neighborhood has been exactly that, a
quiet safe place to raise our two children. Changing the designation of the house at 3025
Westridge Dr from R-1, to accommodate the warming shelter would certainly change that.
In closing, I strongly urge you to deny the Special Use Permit HRDC is requesting to allow for a
homeless shelter at 3025 Westridge Dr. It simply is not an appropriate site given its distance
from services, safety issues for the elementary & middle school students, and its impact on the
single-family neighborhoods near it. A warming center is certainly needed and should be
supported, but it should be in a location that makes sense and not just on what is available.
Finally, I am also disturbed that this does not go before the city commission for a vote or public
meeting. As a Bozeman city resident who pays taxes, votes, and contributes to the community,
it does not seem right that a proposal that impacts so many people is subject to just a review
and not a formal public hearing and vote by the city commission.
Sincerely,
Jason Lunden
517 W Arnold St.
Bozeman, MT 59715