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Home My WebLink About02-09-21 Public Comment - L. Jay - Buffalo RunFrom: Lorre Jay To: Agenda Subject: Application 20112- Buffalo Run Proposal Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 11:05:16 AM Attachments: Comment Letter #2.pdf Dear Chris, Please see attached letter. Regards, Lorre Jay Lorre Jay 2964 Meah Lane Bozeman, MT 59718 lorrejay@gmail.com Feb. 9, 2021 City of Bozeman Department of Community Development Attention: Chris Saunders P.O. Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 agenda@bozeman.net Comments on Proposed Buffalo Run Development, Application 20112 Dear City of Bozeman Department of Community Development: This letter supplements my previous letter dated Jan 10, 2021. As a property owner in Meadow Creek, I am still extremely concerned with the proposed Buffalo Run Development, application 20112 annexation and rezoning request (the “Proposal”) due to its non-compliance with the Bozeman Municipal Code and nonconformance with the Current Bozeman Growth Plan. The Proposal for R-5 zoning as recently amended does not alleviate material concerns over increased traffic by at least 1000%1 over 2-3 roads which are not arterial or feeder roads. This will result in more accidents and runoff pollution burdening the existing neighborhoods and changing their character and use. In addition, the R-5 zoning, established as a means of reducing traffic, would materially increase it due to the lack of availability of public transportation, jobs, stores or schools within a few blocks walking distance. The Proposal devalues currently successful neighborhoods while increasing the Developer’s return on investment and reducing mandatory park minimums and Bozeman’s affordable housing objectives. The Developers suggestion that covenants would restrict the complex R-5 use puts the actual and soft dollar expense to enforce such complexity on the Homeowner’s of Meadow Creek without fair compensation in return (other than trying to preserve neighborhood quality and use from further degradation). 1 150 units * 7 trips per day (rule-of thumb usage for condominium based on engineering studies) funneled into one or two routes (Kurk to 27th or Meah to 27th). This doesn’t factor in the construction vehicles, heavy equipment, landscapers, delivery trucks, school buses, snow removal equipment, trash removal, recycling, composting, repair trucks, etc. which could make that figure double which would add even more burden on streets not meant for this amount of traffic. City of Bozeman Department of Community Development February 9, 2021 2 No Walkable Services From my home, the “walking distance” to the nearest grocery story is 2.6 miles (Town & Country Foods on 11th) and 3.3 miles (Safeway on Main and 19th). The “walking distance” to the nearest school is 3.6 miles (Bozeman High School), 2.7 miles (Sacagawea Middle School). The “walking distance” to the nearest business park is 1.3 miles (Oracle, who’s business park is currently for sale as they have moved elsewhere). The “walking distance” to the nearest bus stop is 3.1 miles (MSU the Strand Union) and no public transportation is available nearby. This guarantees a dramatic increase in traffic through Meadow Creek as a result of the placement of this R-5 zone in a farm field next to an R-1 (as developed neighborhood). R-5 Proposal is not Next to an Arterial Road or Services All other Bozeman R-5 developments have easy access to an arterial road and do not force traffic to snake through a quiet, less-trafficked neighborhood. As indicated above, there are no services walkable from this proposed zone increasing the need for vehicular transportation. Because Fowler and Stucky are not developed to code to handle increased traffic (Fowler is gravel), all traffic from this Proposed Development will be funneled through streets that are not arterial roads or even feeder roads. This has no precedence in Bozeman and for good reason as it will destroy the ability for families to enjoy Ainsworth Park and the neighborhood. It is a joy to look out my window at the park and see neighbors cross-country skiing, walking their dogs, jogging, teaching their kids how to ride bikes, snow-plowing each other’s walkways (Thanks, Terry!), older children playing on the swings. With the materially increased traffic and construction comes more danger, supervision and ultimately less use of the Park and the neighborhood streets affected. This will materially change the character and use (and frankly, value) of Meadow Creek and Southbridge neighborhoods. Neighborhood is in the Edge of City Services Last year, our streets were plowed by the City of Bozeman once during the winter. So far, the City has plowed our streets once. There is no public transportation within 3 miles. The City has no plans to upgrade surrounding designated arterial roads (Fowler and Stucky). Adding population density without infrastructure works against the city’s goals of walkable neighborhoods with functional mixed use. On a personal note, I moved from the County to Meadow Creek after evaluating over 100 homes looking for the right mix of quiet neighborhood, a yard, nice views of the mountains, mature trees and unique homes. It is hard to believe that these simple objectives are impossible to find in Bozeman at an affordable price. Bozeman property taxes on ¼ acre are more than property taxes on 40 acres in Gallatin County without much increase in services. Well thought-out growth is City of Bozeman Department of Community Development February 9, 2021 3 important to the City, but it seems counter-productive to the City’s goals to grow at the expense of successful neighborhoods that Bozeman has worked hard to create. I respectfully ask you to vote no to the R-5 zoning for Buffalo Run. Kind regards, Meadow Creek Homeowner Lorre F. Jay 2964 Meah Lane Bozeman MT 59718