HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-19-21 Public Comment - D. Owen - Buffalo Run App. 21076From:David Owen
To:Agenda; Cyndy Andrus; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn
Cc:Winter Owen
Subject:Buffalo Run R - 4 Application: Request to Deny Application
Date:Monday, April 19, 2021 7:40:19 AM
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Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing as a homeowner in the Meadow Creek subdivision in regards to the
Buffalo Run R-4 application. I urge each of you to consider the limited merits of this
project against the best interests of our community and ask you to vote to deny the R-
4 zoning application.
My family has a rich history in SW Montana, dating back to 1930. Additionally, my
wife, daughter and I moved to Bozeman in 2020 as the result of the pandemic to getcloser to family and help care for them. We moved to the Meadow Creek
neighborhood to 30th Avenue and will be one of the families that has the most visible
impact from this project. The situational context for our family gives us a unique
perspective that we believe is important in this conversation.
Let me start by saying we moved to this neighborhood with intent. Like others coming
to our town, we highly value the charm of Bozeman. Good zoning is part of thatcharm - continuity from rural to family neighborhoods to commercial areas is part of
what makes a great town. We appreciate the transitions from downtown to university
to dense housing to our R1 developed neighborhood to the rural lands beyond. With
this in mind - this zoning application does not respect reasoned transitions that wesee work in town. This is not Gran Cielo to our north which we find attractive and a
positive contribution to the area. The Buffalo Run proposal would result in R4 zoning
directly adjacent to an R1 developed neighborhood and rural homes. There is no
transition like we see to our north and north east with roads or meaningful openspace. As I look out my window at the location of the proposal, we have a small park
that would give way to very dense housing. This would create a development island
and is in no way what we expected when we moved in only seven months ago.
When we moved in we did expect future development. As we considered other
neighborhoods like Flanders Mill - we expected a reasoned transition from our
neighborhood to the next. This is application does not match anything that I thinkcould be considered a reasoned expectation as neighbors. We think this point is very
important in your considerations. As Bozeman develops, current and future residents
will be watching how the fabric of the town stitches together. We want a cohesive mix
of development that puts neighbors in sync with each other. We believe Bozeman canbecome more accommodating to all Bozemanites – and believe this proposal does
not meet that standard. It will put future Buffalo Run residents on an island, and will
negatively impact the neighbors around them, creating conflict for residents.
After following closely the application process and attending the zoning commission
meeting we wanted to comment on a few concerning parts of that meeting:
The argument that this is an R4 next to R3 zoned space is disingenuous. West
Meadow Creek is developed at R1.
The argument that this looks like other R4s in the city is also disingenuous.
Those developments have transitions - either by continuity in development
steps from R3 development to R4 and/or by way of significant roadways.
The comment by the developer during the meeting that acknowledged their
failure to convince our neighbors that this is an appropriate proposal is telling.
Listen to their words: they did not reach constructive consensus with us.
The comment by the developer during the meeting that they wished they were
receiving R5 approval frames their interests: they intend to maximize return on
their investment by maximizing the number of units and maximize sales prices.
I found their presentation clearly articulated that their concerns are primarily for
profit over the interests of our community.
The concerns regarding traffic by our neighbors is well reasoned based on
current infrastructure. We came to this quiet neighborhood because it is a quiet
neighborhood -- and the roadways here fit our current needs. They do not fit the
expansion for 200+ units. We are concerned that the extra traffic will be
dangerous for our daughter riding her bike on our streets.
The comments by members of the zoning commission that our arguments
included concerns about views were off-putting. We are not arguing that here,
and I have heard no public comments where views were part of the argument.
Our views will change as much as anyone with this project. We expect them to
change.
We support development that takes our neighbors and community into consideration.
The outpouring of commentary regarding this project reflects that this project does not
do that. We are afraid that the pressure to bring in more development now will
outweigh the need to plan for a long-run cohesive community. Both immediate andfuture needs are important -- this development fails both. It does not address
immediate affordable housing needs and it does not meet long run planning
objectives. To compound these - it has near uniform opposition by its most impacted
neighbors - something your roles as elected officials ask you to consider. All ofBozeman should be watching the precedent you set with this decision. We hope you
turn down the R4 application and send a message that you are looking out for current
and future residents, and that you support development that matches good
community planning principles.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very best,David Owen and Family
3478 S. 30th Ave