HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-2020 Public Comment - B. Getz Jr - Armory Hotel Project Application 19410From: bert getz jr
To: Agenda
Cc: Brian Krueger
Subject: Armory Hotel Modification - Application 19410
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 1:27:51 PM
Please deliver to Brian Krueger
Dear Mr. Krueger,
My name is Bert Getz, Jr and I own unit 307 located at 5 West Mendenhall Lane. I purchased
the condominium from the developer in August 2017. Recently I received a public notice from
the City of Bozeman Community Development Department regarding the proposed significant
modifications to the Armory Hotel Project. I am writing to voice my strong opposition to
the Site Plan Modification being put forth by the developer of the Armory Hotel Project,
also known as the Etha Hotel Project.
I watched the Design Review Board hearing in disbelief as the developer and his design team
tried to place the blame on his “bait and switch” scheme on the City. As a real estate
professional, it is required that the developer/owner/design team take all necessary steps to
legally obtain City approvals for a project, including public input. If changes need to be made,
it is also a requirement that the proposed changes be legally approved, also with public input.
The fact is that the developer of this project failed to legally obtain all necessary approvals,
and failed to alert the public of the proposed changes until they were caught. The “shoot first,
ask questions later” mentality is wrong, illegal, unethical and above all else unprofessional.
They have broken the law and must be held accountable so as not to allow this type of
precedence to take place which would only create problems for the city and its elected
officials in the future. That is the tough reality of this developer’s predicament, but the
circumstances are entirely of their doing.
What I saw at the DRB Hearing is completely unacceptable. I would not have purchased my
home across the street had I known the project would look like the one now being proposed.
While adding an additional floor, changing the entire exterior finish material and substituting
the windows on the Armory building with inexpensive simulated divided light windows is bad
enough: the fact the developer is proposing to replace the pool/amenity deck on top of the
Armory building with large mechanical equipment (this is purely a VE directive according to
the architect!) is egregious and offensive. Those were not the plans presented by the
developer nor the plans approved by the city. The proposed changes are awful and a negative
on so many fronts not the least of which will be to negatively impact the real estate value of
my property and those surrounding this project.
The developer and his design team are 100% responsible for failing to properly build what
they represented and what was approved. They are not above the law. The City has no choice
but to hold the developer and his design team accountable and reject the request for the
modification.
Bert Getz Jr
bgetzjr@mac.com