HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-20-21 Public Comment - D. & J. Moffet - Buffalo Run App. 21076From:Douglas Moffet
To:Agenda; Cyndy Andrus; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn
Subject:Vote "NO" on Buffalo Run Zoning
Date:Tuesday, April 20, 2021 2:06:15 PM
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Good afternoon,
We are Douglas and Jennifer Moffet, and we live at 3409 S. 27th Avenue in the Meadow Creek
subdivision and we are vehemently opposed to the Buffalo Run development under the current R4
application.
We fully understand that Bozeman is experiencing growth at an unheard-of rate, but approving an
R4 development is out of character with the adjacent Meadow Creek neighborhood and would place
pressure on the secondary roads that go through the heart of the Meadow Creek subdivision. It was
stated in the previous zoning commission meeting that an R5 would be considered “spot zoning”.
What changed?
The R5 zoning was originally denied because the proposed development does not fit our current
growth plan. How does the R4 zoning “fit” in the growth plan? “The maps included in Section 6,
Criterion H, show that the R-4 district is already present in the general area, including adjacent to
unannexed lands. Therefore, the question of whether R-4 is suitable in the area and adjacent to
unannexed property has been addressed and found acceptable with earlier applications. Staff
concludes that although the R-4 is different than the immediately adjacent zoning it is compatible
and is urban growth as called for in the growth policy.” R-4 zoning is in the “general area” and is
more than a mile away, so this would make Buffalo Run “spot zoning”.
Using Meadow Creek as the main ingress/egress for the Buffalo Run development will place more
stress on the Meadow Creek infrastructure which will result in an increase in traffic incidents and
accidents thereby placing the Meadow Creek residents in harm's way. Kurk was not designed to
handle the increase of traffic that Buffalo run will place on it. Staff reports that most of the traffic
will be funneled through Meadow Creek onto Kurk. There is a statement in the report that if more
than 1,100 vehicles per day are traveling down Kurk, a secondary paved road may need to be
constructed. (See Policy 7, starting on Page 31). In previous meetings, the developer stated that
the development of Fowler and Stucky would bear the brunt of the construction vehicles and
development traffic. That narrative changed during the Zoning Commissions R4 meeting and the
developer intends to use Kurk, 27th, and Graf as the arterial access to the Buffalo Run Development.
We do not oppose development on that tract of land. We oppose the current proposal and the
handling of the development by the City of Bozeman. The City of Bozeman engineer stated that
“there are no plans or monies allocated in the near future for Fowler to be developed” and until the
City of Bozeman commits to a plan to develop Fowler and Stucky as well as address the ongoing
water pressure issues that are caused by further development, we will oppose any development.
The report states. “Adequate capacity in water, sewer, and major transportation services are known
to exist or able to be added to support the potential intensity of the R-4 zone.” Meadow Creek has
the worst water pressure in Bozeman. It barely meets the minimum water pressure standard on the
exterior of the house, but any “conveniences” such as running a faucet and the washing machine at
the same time cause a severe drop in household pressure. Grand Cielo hasn’t even opened and the
water pressure will be further taxed as residents move in.
The developer needs to come back to the zoning commission with an R1 or R2 zoning designation,
Fowler and Stucky development that will limit traffic in our neighborhood, and a solution to mitigate
water pressure loss to the area. They also need to be more transparent to the residents of Meadow
Creek. The City of Bozeman needs to plan for this sort of large development and cease to use the “if
they build it, they will come” Field of Dreams mentality when it’s really Jerry Maguire’s “Show me
the Money”.
And lastly, it was appalling to have a member of the zoning commission, Christopher Scott, mock the
residents of Meadow Creek by saying “If you want open space, I suggest you donate your money to a
land trust” and “My friends can’t afford to live here.” He is on the commission to serve the
community, not mock and display an unprofessional self-serving attitude.
Thank you,
Douglas and Jennifer Moffe