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Home My WebLink About01-31-21 Public Comment - J. Winnie - Buffalo Run DevelopmentFrom: Janet Winnie To: Agenda Subject: Comments for City Commission Meeting Feb 9, 2021 Date: Sunday, January 31, 2021 12:32:50 PM Attachments: Buffalo Run comments City Commission meeting 9 Feb 2021.docx Thank you for considering my comments about the proposed R5 Zoning Buffalo Run. Janet Winnie 406-600-6334 1-31-2021 Attention: City of Bozeman , City Commissioners Commission Meeting agenda@bozeman.net Meeting date: Feb 9, 2021 Re: Development Application for Buffalo Run R 5 Zoning Application # 20112 Projected Annexation and Zoning as an R5 Density District. My husband, John Winnie and I live at 3311 S 28th Ave, on the corner of Kurk Drive and South 28th Ave in Meadow Creek Subdivision. We strongly urge the City Commission to reject Buffalo Run Development Proposal for R 5 zoning and proposed construction of 288 units in a 20-acre area to the west of Meadow Creek Subdivision. We believe that R5 Zoning development is inappropriate for this parcel. Best would be R 3 zoning, and preferably R1 or R2. According to the Bozeman City Municipal Code Chapter 38, article 3, 38.300.100, residential mixed-use high density district R-5 allows for development of high-density residential development through a variety of compatible housing types and residentially supportive commercial uses in a geographically compact walkable area to serve varying needs for the community’s residents. The Buffalo Run proposal meets none of the allowances for R-5 Zoning: • There is no existing easily accessible commercial business, accessible by walking to residents. Any plans for this are likely years away. • The plan is for 288 condominiums and a community meeting center only. No plans for a variety of dwelling types. • There is no public transportation to the surrounding subdivisions yet. • Precedence for R 5 zoning projects seen on the Bozeman City Zoning map are adjacent to or surround by larger already existing access roads. • No affordable housing is planned. I understand none is required if only condominiums are being built, so this project will do nothing to help people struggling to afford to live in Bozeman. The only accessible route to the proposed subdivision is on small, lower speed, quiet residential surface streets in Meadow Creek Subdivision. This is the issue of greatest concern for our neighborhood. The Traffic Study says that traffic from Buffalo Run will move along Kurk Drive to S 27th Ave to Graf. Of course, this significant increase in traffic on Kurk Drive and South 27th Ave is completely unacceptable for our neighborhood. There would absolutely need to be access built for the proposed development on Fowler to Stucky if this proposal is approved or if other projects are approved in this area. Fowler, of course would need to be widened and paved with bike lanes to connect to Stucky. Stucky is, in our experience, a dangerous, narrow road with no shoulders, barely accommodating ever increasing traffic and absolutely needs to be widened with sidewalks and bike lanes before adding more traffic. Traffic moving from Graf to Stucky passes through a now highly congested Enterprise Blvd with cars from adjacent high-density dwellings lining both sides of the street making the traffic movement difficult. Turning onto Stucky from Enterprise is dangerous due to the higher speed traffic and a large tree blocking the view of east -bound traffic. Adding more potential uses of this intersection increases risk for accidents. Problems for Meadow Creek Subdivision specifically: According to the traffic impact study for the proposed Buffalo Run study, 288 condominiums will generate a projected average 2138, plus up to 151 AM and PM, daily trips via Kruk Drive, S 27th and Graf and traffic through the existing Aisworth Park to Blackwood and Meah. There is in the proposal a plan to place a road through a significant portion of Ainsworth Park to connect to S 31st Ave. This road would not fit the regular street grid generally desired by the City. I understand that there is an Agricultural Easement between two landowners for agricultural access but there does not appear to be an historical public access right of way in the park. This projected road site is already in public use as a much-used park and playground. I argue that a road should not be placed in Ainsworth Park as it would reduce the green space allowed for the subdivision and increase safety concerns for children playing at Ainsworth Park and walking along that route. The suggestion of additional of more park area from the developer might help but does not mitigate the problem of traffic through this area. Meadow Creek has been generally unpatrolled for enforcement of traffic violations such as speeding in the subdivision. It would be expected that speeding along Kurk Drive and S 27th Ave would increase with the volume of traffic along a perceived “thoroughfare” through our quiet residential subdivision. During the construction phase, heavy use from large construction equipment and delivery vehicles will impact the road surface. Construction workers historically have been responsible for littering while driving through our neighborhood and construction waste will be blown into our subdivision for years. These are issues that would persist over the next 5 years according to the proposed project timeline all diminishing the value of our property along the route. The proposed changes would undoubtably reduce our property values along Kurk Drive and along the other proposed routes in Meadow Creek Subdivision Public safety for walkers, runners, bikers, children, and dogs along these routes would be a major concern for Meadow Creek residents and visitors from surrounding areas who regularly walk or bike with children and dogs along the perimeter of Meadow Creek. In addition, increased noise and air pollution pose health risks to residents, pedestrians, runners, children, animals, and bikers along this route. I am aware that you are aware of the problem with already low City Water pressure to this area. Adding hundreds of water users would likely further reduce the water pressure for everyone. We have been told there is nothing to do to improve the water pressure to our subdivision. In summary, I argue that Buffalo Run proposal for R -5 zoning is inappropriate because it does not meet any of the criteria for R5 zoning outlined by the City of Bozeman and for the many negative impacts the proposed R5 development would have for the residents of Meadow Creek Subdivision for years to come. We all understand that development is inevitable. We are in fact living here because of new development approved by the City over a decade ago. I am in favor of infill development, providing affordable housing, higher density use to conserve our limited resources and to reduce our water use and reduce or carbon footprints. I support our City’s plans to prioritize and preserve open spaces and wildlife habitat and to use resources more sustainably. R-5 development is an excellent idea when in the right setting ( eg: City of Bozeman R-5 zoning at 27th and Oak and Valley Commons areas) where major surface streets are in place, commercial businesses are close by and access to public transportation is in place. Please let’s think about this area of Southwest Bozeman where development is going to happen and do it with intentional forethought. It seems that Fowler and Stucky would have to be developed and a more coordinated development of a business park, public transportation, access to services by walking, all need to be a part of the plan if this is going to happen. I hope you will vote to oppose Buffalo Run’s proposal for R5 zoning and agree that it is not right for this area. The proposed setting of Buffalo Run is not right place not the right time. Thank you for considering my concerns regarding this Proposed Annexation and Buffalo Run R 5 zoning request. Janet Winnie 3311 S 28th Ave Bozeman , MT 59718 406-600-6334 janetwinnie@msn.com