HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-9-2020 Public Comment - S. Custer - Community Plan Growth PolicyFrom:Steve Custer
To:Planning
Subject:Comment on the Bozeman 2019 Community Plan
Date:Thursday, January 9, 2020 3:08:10 PM
I am writing to comment on the Bozeman 2019 Community Plan. This comment is my opinion and
does not reflect the official opinion of any board or committee on which I sit. I cannot help but
notice the many county enclaves within the planning area (e.g. pages 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, etc. butparticularly 35). Some of these enclaves include city-density homes on individual wells and septicsystems. Many of the septic systems were approved before modern regulations were in effect andwhen they were far from city infrastructure. Some of these systems are failing, or come underreview because of changing land uses home additions or other land-use changes. The densities ofthese homes are sometimes very near city sewer and water, but for a variety of reasons whichinclude installation cost for an individual, fear of costs of annexation, and the desire to maintain the“county way of life” are being permitted with individual septic systems. The lots are small and oftenrequire variances. Unless I have missed it, I do not see a goal in the Bozeman 2019 Community Planto search for ways to make annexation and connection to the city and the city and sewer and watersystem affordable and palatable. Such annexation would, in my opinion, best be facilitated bymaintaining the character of the neighborhood, and involve the whole neighborhood as a smallcommunity in collaboration with the city to create sewer and water connections to reduce the costof connection rather than considering connection one lot at a time. If such connections wereachieved, it is my opinion that public health and safety would be served. I believe it would be in theinterest of public health and safety to actively research legal, financial, and infrastructure strategiesthat would achieve the goal of annexing and connecting these communities to city infrastructure asa neighborhood rather than one lot at a time. I recognize that there are many legal and financialbarriers to this goal, but if strategies are not developed for the enclaves as a unit rather than a lot ata time, I believe that the new septic systems will always be less expensive than connection and thatthe public health will not ultimately be protected. Please consider a goal to search for strategies toconnect these high-density areas to the city infrastructure as a neighborhood rather than one lotat a time.
Steve Custer, 39 Swift Water Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715, 406 586 3887, sgcuster@gmail.com