HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-21 Public Comment - J. Cook - Buffalo Run App. 21076From:Planning Technician
To:Chris Saunders; Agenda
Subject:FW: Zone change on Fowler Lane Zone Map Amendment Application #21076,
Date:Monday, March 22, 2021 3:36:40 PM
Hello,
Planning tech just received this comment. I am sending it along just in case we are still taking them.
Have a good day everyone!
Presley ConradCommunity Development Technician IIICity of Bozeman | 20 East Olive St. | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771P: 406.582.2278 | E: pconrad@bozeman.net | W: www.bozeman.net/planning
From: Joan Cook <joancook2000@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2021 2:36 PM
To: Planning Technician <PlanningTech@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: Zone change on Fowler Lane Zone Map Amendment Application #21076,
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March 19, 2021RE: Opposition to proposed Buffalo Run Annexation and Zone Map AmendmentApplication #21076, filed 2/26/2021, which proposes R-4 high-density zoning Dear Commission Members and Staff,My family has lived on Fowler Lane for nearly 45 years. We have raised our sonshere and they have raised their sons here. They are 5th and 6th generation Montanans.We live ½ mile from the proposed R4 development proposed on land that has beenzoned one home per twenty acres for many, many years. Fowler Lane is an agriculturalarea. I have watched the city moving closer every year and know that it will come.However, I felt protected by the zoning regulations…one home per 20 acres. Taking onehome per 20 acres to an R4 development is atrocious! Fowler Lane is not the place forhigh-density zoning. At what point are you going to protect the landowners whom haveworked hard for years in a zoned area that values open land, livestock, crop production,family time outdoors, and wildlife? In addition, this proposed R4 development is lessthan ¼ mile from land where elk routinely migrate for winter-feed. We feel especiallybad for the neighbors bordering this zone change request. For years they have workedhard on their beautiful property and home, knowing that they were protected from high-density housing. They paid the high price for their land as one home per 20 acres. Please
help them by not allowing high density right next to their rural homes and animals, nomatter what!! R4 development does not fit with anything on Fowler Lane. Thedevelopers are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole! It doesn’t work and itshouldn’t be forced. Zoning is supposed to protect us… and the lifestyle that comes with that existingzoning. We buy property and build our homes where the zoning fits the lifestyle, goals,businesses and our dreams. We, in agriculture, are being pushed out. Fowler Lane has avery unique use. It is used to move cattle, horses, llamas, it is used by our tractors andbaling equipment, combines, etc. People use the lane to walk their dogs, ride bikes withtheir children, drive horse-drawn wagons, and ride horses because it is a gravel road,much less dangerous than Cottonwood Road to the west and 19th to the east. These tworoads are too narrow or dangerous to even try to move equipment or ride horses, ridebikes, or even walk along the edge. Fowler Lane is unique in its use by so many peoplefor so many things that cannot be done safely anywhere near here. I am also concerned about the gravel road. I have heard that the developers willpave from Blackwood Road to Stucky. If kept at the same width, we will have anotherdangerously narrow road similar to Cottonwood and Gooch Hill Roads. Fowler Lanemust be wider and include a shoulder and a bike/multi-use lane to keep the many bikeriders and their children safe. The many horseback riders and dog walkers could also besafe if using this multi-use path that keeps them off of the road. We also need room tomove farm equipment to the side in order for traffic to pass. The proposed developmentwill add a huge amount of traffic. The west side of Fowler Lane has the Gallatin Canal irrigation system. How willthat we handled? The east side of the road has a spring that starts up near PattersonRoad.This leaves one more concern. The mile of Fowler Lane, south of Blackwood Roadto Patterson Road, where my family lives, would be the only unpaved portion on all ofFowler Lane. We already have to pay for our own dust control. We already have clouds ofdust from vehicle traffic. Changing the zoning to the north will only exacerbate ourproblem. People will NOT travel only to Stucky Road to and from town or the mountains.They will certainly use Fowler Lane both north and south, especially to get to Hyalite. A single home subdivision similar to Lazy TH on Patterson Road would be a muchbetter fit for this area. R1 or R2 would be suitable and appropriate to existingdevelopments to the east, Meadow Creek R1, and to the south, Lazy TH on Patterson. Theother existing homes on Fowler Lane are all single-family homes with at least 20 acresand kids and livestock and gardens and trees. Meadow Creek HOA suggests placing thetallest and highest density on Fowler Lane. I suggest just the opposite. Fowler Lanecannot handle the traffic or the high-rise buildings… totally out of character for the open
agriculture land surrounding it. No one on either side of the proposed subdivisionbelieves that is should be permitted at anything higher than R1 or R2. This is a valuableagricultural area specifically chosen by all the people who already live on Fowler Lane.Please protect us from developer greed and inconsiderate use of land. The developerbought the 20 acres with one home knowing that was the zoning and knowing thathigher zoning is inappropriate for this area. Do the honest thing and deny R4 zoning inthis unique agricultural area. R4 is atrocious and does not fit anything on Fowler Lane.Help us, please. Thank you for your consideration.Joan Cook6115 Fowler LaneBozeman, MT 59718