HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-19 Public Comment - A. Hurlburt - Parks District Mill LevyFrom:Andrew Hurlburt
To:Agenda
Subject:Parks SID
Date:Monday, December 02, 2019 5:31:56 PM
Dear Commissioners,
I am disheartened to see the city entertaining more anti-affordability policy.
When we are in a time where affordable housing is such a buzz, and has been used as political
currency, we are looking at yet one more policy that will undoubtedly increase the cost of housing
for Bozeman citizens.
Heavens forbid we let individual subdivisions determine the quality of their own parks. After all, that
is what we are talking about. The city would like to walk into the subdivisions, strip them of their
ability to govern their own area, and tell them that Bozeman has a higher standard.
Unfortunately, that higher standard has to come at a higher cost. Subdivisions currently get to
determine their own standard, based on their own willingness to pay for a certain amenity. If a
subdivision decides, democratically, that they put a higher value on affordable HOA dues than they
do on a specific tier of city mandated open space quality, they are allowed to do that.
What the city is looking at doing is stripping homeowners of the right to choose affordability, and
forcing a gold standard park down their throat in its place. All the while preaching about what the
city is doing to improve affordability out the other side of their mouth.
I would strongly encourage the city to allow the micro-communities inside our greater community to
maintain this last shred of independence, and self-govern at least a small portion of their own
housing costs.
That, or let’s just finally say what both the commission and the taxpayers tend to vote for: ‘we like
our elitist utopia, it’s going to be darn expensive to live here, to heck with affordable housing.’ At
least that way, we can stop burning the headache, heartache, taxpayer and individual citizen dollars
on studying, researching, and throwing half-baked ideas at a problem that government interference
and manipulation can only worsen.
No longer a city voter, but still paying a hefty chunk of city tax. Speaking as a private citizen.
Thank you for your consideration and thought on the parks and trails special district and hopefully
for leaving it alone.
-A
Andrew J. Hurlburt
OWNER / BROKER, GRI, ABR
CELL PHONE: 406.579.0829
www.BozemanRealEstate.group