HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-20 Public Comment - L. Semones - for the public meeting on the Community Plan attention Chris SaundersFrom:Linda Semones
To:Agenda
Subject:for the public meeting on the Community Plan attention Chris Saunders
Date:Wednesday, September 16, 2020 10:10:14 AM
Dear Chris,
Here is a simple list of questions. It was brainstormed by 4 people, all of whom have
slightly different focuses. But we thought it time efficient to list them and send them to you.
Hopefully they will be answered in one of the hearings, if not today. Please let us know if this
is the correct way to present so many questions. Thank you for your time and extensive
work.
Linda Semones
September 16, 2020 Dear City Commissioners and Planning Board,
After having seriously considered the new Community Plan and its implications, we have the
following questions. They are presented in no particular order, but they represent concerns on issues that will affect the downtown neighborhoods, whether they are historical neighborhoods or traditional areas of mostly single family homes. We would greatly appreciate your taking the time to answer them.
1. The Bendon-Adams policy recommendations for the NCOD were officially adopted by the city. Does N1.3 (Revise zoning map to lessen areas for single family type housing, p.20 ) contradict the NCOD recommendations? We ask this because of the following. There are 24 mentions of density in the Community Plan with no mention of quality and function. The exact
language in the Community plan is on page 10 : Gathering places and open spaces, including
parks and trails, should be in convenient locations to those they serve. Quality and function is superior to quantity alone. In our opinion, the streets of the downtown neighborhoods could be considered not only an essential part of city infrastructure, but also an urban section of the trail system, with an urban forest. Why is this quality and function not
considered in the plan? Why is the urban forest allowed to be destroyed by development?
Why did this section from the 2009 plan disappear from the 2020 document: the City shall encourage the use of historic Bozeman neighborhoods, including a significantly interconnected street system, as models for the planning and design of new residential neighborhoods. (LU-4.3) It seems that the downtown residential neighborhoods are being undervalued. Their existence is
essential to the quality of life that Bozemanites expect. They contribute to the environmental quality of the city with their green spaces. This is a major theme of our questions. 2. The zoning change for the Medical Arts parking lot is the template of what we don't want to
occur again. The zone change was discussed with community members who were
overwhelmingly against it, presenting a petition with all the required signatures after an amazing effort. Is this the procedure that will be followed every time that developers put pressure on the city to change a zone in the transition area? If not, how will the future be different? Are neighborhood values and character being disregarded for density?
3. The following is a walking survey of the transition area north of the downtown area: A. Building under construction – Lamme and N Wilson St - 5 stories – occupies the entire block
Named Mountain View – parking lot with sign “Parking Reserved for Customers
To the immediate East of the construction is a single family neighborhood of 5 small houses. The one
at 22 W. Lamme, a red brick home, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
B. The whole block on Lamme from N Grand to N 3rd all houses have been removed. Will this be the site of another behemoth? On the entire west side of N 3rd is a neighborhood of single family homes
C.Building under construction – 3 stories – on Beall from N Grand to N 3rd named The Cairnes. It
appears to be 3 condos. If this will be residential, it will be more compatible with the neighborhood than the 5 story buildings mentioned previously. If it will be commercial, it will not be compatible. The East side of N Grand, is a neighborhood of all single family houses. North of the building is also a neighborhood of all single family homes on N Grand.
D.Building under construction – 5 stories – Lamme and N Bozeman. Named The Merin
Across the street, a neighborhood of single family homes.
The same kind of incompatible development has occurred on the South side of Main, exemplified by the Black Olive building, which sits next to single family homes and close to a historic district.
Why is there no gradual transition from higher buildings, with greater mass and density to the small family homes in this area? Shouldn't there be a buffer zone of buildings with less mass and density before the residential area is reached? When will there be a revisiting of the B3 zoning to allow for a
transition zone so that the multi story massive buildings can't occupy the transition zone, while other
types of less massive business and residential structures are allowed? Can B3 be revisited to provide regulations for a transition zone between B3 and residential? Can the terms gentle density and gentle infill be added to the plan to refer to the infill in the transition zone and downtown neighborhoods?
4. On page 38, there is a statement requiring a 2 times a year code revision. What analysis of
increased staff requirements has been done to implement this provision? How many additional FTE's will be required and at what cost? 5. Why are we not getting notifications for Community Development in the four quadrants of the
city when we are signed up for the city emails?
6. How long will it take to implement the policies for neighborhoods in the NCOD? The recommendations in the NCOD approved by the City Commission are outlined on p. 49, especially in section 4.1. This section refers to the actual definition of a transition zone, and
what the building requirements for this area might look like. This section gave hope and
reassurance to the residents of the transition zone, and the downtown neighborhoods, but the delay in its implementation is dangerous as non-compatible development continues. Also on p. 61 of the NCOD, it is recommended that a plan be developed to have public meetings with impacted neighbors before a plan is finally approved. When will that recommendation take effect?
7. On page 30 discussing parking, the plan acknowledges that eliminating minimum parking requirements will create parking problems. How could you endorse a community plan that purposely creates parking problems? Would it not be better to have the development plans for the downtown prevent those problems?
8. Could you please provide facts on the amount of tax abatements and other incentives the City has given in the last 10 years to the top five developers? 9. It seems that higher density is used in the plan to offset climate change. How does cutting
down the old trees and mature vegetation that characterize our historic neighborhoods offset
climate change? This relates directly with question #1. 10. It is obvious that the rent or purchase of dwellings in the new structures downtown will be out
of reach of the work force in Bozeman. However, the Community Plan clearly states: EE-1.4
Support employee retention and attraction efforts by encouraging continued development of affordable housing in close proximity to large employers. Does this apply to everywnere except the NCOD area? Why are we not providing housing for the workforce in Bozeman instead of requiring them to ride a bus to a park and ride? If we are a city of neighborhoods,
why are we preventing Bozeman's workforce from residing in a neighborhood close to their
employment? The downtown neighborhoods traditionally provided this housing, for teachers, public employees, service workers, health workers, and other essential jobs. Why are the prices of housing and the destruction of affordable housing in the downtown area being allowed to price these workers out of the market?
11. Can the City define overcrowded? (For example, can every single family dwelling have a two story ADU?} What's too much?
12. With a priority for infill and affordability, how will the City prevent affordable, compact trailer
courts from being razed for luxury development?
These are serious questions, presented in the wish to work cooperatively with the city to solve
serious problems in the Bozeman Community Plan. None of the solutions are easy, but it is time to
look very hard at what has been recommended and approved as the future of the downtown neighborhoods in the NCOD document. It is apparent to us that a majority of the current development is not following the recommendations in the NCOD plan. How will the Community Plan correct this? As written, it will not.
Sincerely, Linda Semones 404 S. Church Ave. Bozeman 406 599 3916 lindasemones@hotmail.com Jack and Jane Jelinski 433 N. Tracy Ave. Bozeman 406 587 8367 jjjelinski@msn.com
Connie Lange connielange712@gmail.com