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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-05-20 Public Comment - T. Steinmetz - Opposition to aspects in Draft Community PlanFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Monday, October 5, 2020 9:25:26 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:10/05/2020 9:25 AM Response #:625 Submitter ID:31082 IP address:72.174.34.190 Time to complete:1 min. , 26 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 First Name Todd Last Name Steinmetz Email Address todd_steinmetz@msn.com Phone Number 4065814082 Comments To the Bozeman City Commissioners: My name is Todd Steinmetz and I am a resident of Bozeman, MT. I am writing to express my opposition to several aspects of the Draft 2019 Community Plan. 1) I request that the current Guiding Principles of the 2009 Community Plan carry forward and be reaffirmed in the introduction to the 2019 Draft Community Plan and be reiterated, as appropriate, throughout the draft document. It is unacceptable to elevate the “needs of development” while removing the goals of “balancing competing interests,” “protecting the rights of citizens” and promoting “responsible stewardship.” The guiding principles of the current 2009 Community plan (listed on page 2-1 of that document) explicitly describe the community’s desire for balance among competing interests, protecting the rights of citizens, affirming community values expressed by citizens, engaging citizens in designing their neighborhoods, and incorporating responsible stewardship of the natural and built environments. In contrast, the Draft 2019 Update to the 2009 Community Plan changes those guiding principles. The proposed guiding principles now reference the "needs of … development," "housing needs," "natural constraints," and mentions only the "expectations of affected parties." Gone are the goals of balancing competing interests, protecting citizen's rights, and affirming community values. There is no affirmation of the need to engage citizens throughout the planning process nor affirmation of the need for stewardship of natural resources and conservation of heritage. 2) The zoning classes allowed in the “Urban Neighborhood” designation are too broad to provide adequate guidance for future land use development. I ask that REMU and RMH Zoning be removed from the “Urban Neighborhood” designation. “Residential” land use is proposed to be replaced with a land use called “Urban Neighborhood.” Recent changes to the draft plan added REMU Zoning to as a compatible zoning type included in the “Urban Neighborhood” designation. As a result, REMU Zoning will be allowable in all residential land use areas on the proposed Future Land Use Map. We, as citizens, can no longer know if undeveloped residential land is likely to contain a neighborhood of single family homes, a 4-story housing megaplex, a mobile home park, or a business center. Predesignating REMU (or residential mobile home -- "RMH") development as being appropriate for any location within the extensive “Urban Neighborhood” land use classification will limit the city’s ability to meet the goals of the Community Plan because zoning associated with the "Urban Neighborhood" type is too broad. Therefore, the predictability of types of development that can be designated in different parts of the city is drastically reduced. Removing REMU and RMH zoning from the “Urban Neighborhood” land use category will not prevent REMU or RMH development on appropriate sites. If REMU or RMH development is appropriate on a particular parcel of designated “Urban Neighborhood” land, the developer can file to amend the future land use map and make the case for the appropriateness of REMU or RMH development. 3) I ask that a proposed 120-acre "Industrial" land use parcel in South Bozeman, which is currently designated as “Residential” land use, be re-designated as "Urban Neighborhood" on the Draft 2019 Future Land Use Map. For more than 10 years, the city’s future land use map has designated the presumptive land use for most of the farmland in South Bozeman as "Residential." The proposed 2019 Draft of the Future Land Use Map will convert 120 acres of undeveloped land from “Residential” land use to “Industrial” land use. For the following reasons, the proposed "Industrial Land Use" is incompatible with both the current Community Plan and the proposed draft 2019 community plan. Incompatible with Recent Land Use Decisions: In June, the land use for 120 acres of designated Residential Land Use was changed to REMU land use and annexed with REMU Zoning. The planned REMU development was approved in part because it is intended to serve surrounding neighborhoods. Business centers envisioned in REMU development are supposed to serve residential neighborhoods. So why would we put industrial land next to a proposed REMU development? Reduces Opportunities for Walkable Neighborhoods: this proposed industrial parcel of land is just a few hundred yards from Sacajawea Middle School. If the community plan seeks walkable neighborhoods, shouldn’t we put residential land next to our schools? Breaks Neighborhood Connections: The proposed industrial parcel is in the heart of what is to be the future South Bozeman Residential Area. Do we really want the future neighborhoods of South Bozeman to be separated from one another by industrial lands? Risks Water Quality in Parks: The proposed industrial parcel is bifurcated by a stream that subsequently runs through a park and playground in the Alder Creek Subdivision and also flows through another parcel, adjacent to Sacajawea Middle School, that has been designated as park land under a private covenant put in place by the land developer. Do we really want to invite children to play in a stream that drains industrial lands? Risks Children’s Safety and Reduces Neighborhood Livability: Locating industrial land on South 11th Ave will route industrial traffic through existing residential neighborhoods, across future walking routes to Sacajawea Middle School, along the Alder Creek Park/Playground, and along the planned park behind Sacajawea Middle School. Do we really want to draw industrial traffic through the heart South Bozeman Neighborhoods and adjacent to designated playgrounds and parks? I ask that the 2019 Draft Update of the Community Plan not be approved until each of these issues are addressed. Thank you for considering my comments. Sincerely, Todd Steinmetz If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure receipt of all information. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. 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