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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-21 Public Comment - R. Zimmer -Nelson MeadowsFrom: Ralph Zimmer To: Cyndy Andrus; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Michael Wallner; Jennifer Madgic Cc: Jeff Mihelich; Anna Rosenberry; Mitch Reister; Shawn Kohtz; Taylor Lonsdale; John Vandelinder; Martin Matsen; Chris Saunders; Tom Rogers; Josh Waldo; Mike Maas; Jesse DiTommaso Subject: Nelson Meadows Issues Before the Commission Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 12:21:30 PM Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, and Commissioners Pomeroy, Wallner, and Madgic, I want to share some personal comments with you on the issue involving the Nelson Meadows Subdivision that you will be discussing at tonight's Commission meeting. I strongly suspect my comments would be shared by the Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee but I am not speaking for it. Do remember I am a professional traffic engineer and transportation planner by education, training, and work experience albeit I am now retired. The City's insistence that Nelson Meadows build the paved, separated,and shared-use path along its entire south border and provide for a connection from the subdivision's internal street network to the intersection of Valley Center Spur and the Frontage Road is not only defensible, it is commendable. I congratulate the Staff and the Commission for having that foresight. Let me cite one example of the wisdom and the necessity of directly connecting Prince Lane to the Spur/Frontage Road intersection. Fire Chief Josh Waldo told me that if there were an "incident" in the Nelson Meadows Subdivision, there was a good chance their response would come up Valley Center Spur. If instead of going straight ahead onto Prince Lane they were forced to go to Nelson Road their response would be significantly longer. It is unfortunate the Valley Center Spur/Frontage Road intersection has been characterized by the developer as unsafe and that accusation has to date led MDT and MRL to deny construction of that connection. While previously there were safety problems at that intersection, most of those have already been corrected and others are being pursued. Although this is not particularly relevant to your deliberations tonight, I urge both the Staff and the Commission to continue working aggressively towards the future completion of that connection from Prince Lane. It's "just" a matter of resolve, time, and effort. Thanks for what has already been accomplished and hold the course! Ralph Ralph W. Zimmer 1201 Highland Boulevard Bozeman MT 59715 cc: Jeff Mihelic Anna Rosenberry Mitch Reister Shawn Kohtz Taylor Lonsdale John Van Delinder Marty Matsen Chris Saunders Tom Rogers Josh Waldo Mike Maas Jesse Ditommaso