HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-20-21 Public Comment - S. Krezminski - Buffalo Run App. 21076From:Steve Krezminski
To:Agenda
Cc:Cyndy Andrus; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn
Subject:Opposition to Buffalo Run - Zone Map Amendment App #21076
Date:Tuesday, April 20, 2021 2:14:58 PM
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Dear City Commissioners,
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My family and I live on Parkway Ave right off
of Kurk and have major concerns with the proposed R4 zoning of the Buffalo Run subdivision.
I am a member of the Meadow Creek HOA board, so I have been involved throughout the
entire Buffalo Run process and what seems to be quite evident is that this dense development
is getting pushed through very fast on the basis of the housing crisis in Bozeman. To the point
that the zoning commission is actually going against the city’s own growth plan.
There seems to be two common statements around this housing crisis that were brought up
by the zoning commission and I would argue that zoning this land R4 will not solve either. The
first statement is that high priced housing limits diversity and accessibility to housing for all,
which is true. At the end of the meeting Nicole Olmsted of the zoning commission stated: “I
also liked the idea of injecting some diversity into existing single-family neighborhoods. To me,
that points to this idea of resiliency that helps us create places where it's not more of the
same. Where we're going to be able to have hopefully people from different incomes and
different lifestyles as far as what they're looking for in housing types, live in different parts of
town.” Buffalo Run will NOT solve this. The developer is not planning on doing affordable
housing, they have not once said they were. This is going to create more high-priced housing
that is far away from job centers and resources. Therefore, even if it were developed into
affordable housing it will be too far away from the central infrastructure and many of the jobs
that are available here in Bozeman.
The other point that was made seems to center around that young professionals are all
renters and struggling to find housing. It was troubling to hear this narrative presented by
Mark Genito of the zoning commission. He said “There's a lot of voices that aren't here
tonight that aren't being represented. My entire peer group is a bunch of 30 something year
old professionals that are struggling to try to carve out their place in this community to try to
be successful.” This statement is a complete misrepresentation. My wife and I are both 30
something year old young professional who moved across the country and bought a house
here. I know for a fact that there are lots of young professionals right here in this
neighborhood. Now I am not saying that there are not young professionals here in Bozeman
that are suffering from this housing crisis, but I do not believe that this land being zoned R4
will help solve any of that. Once again this is going to be more high-priced housing that is
landlocked and nowhere near jobs, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops or any essential
infrastructure. Which goes against the city's growth policy and plan when considering this
dense of zoning.
This rush to develop housing is causing poor judgement and bind sidedness to good growth
and development practices. This development island being created causes a major traffic
push to go through a neighborhood that is simply not built for it. There are claims that Fowler
road will be developed to try and mitigate this, but it appears in the staff report states
“if more than 1,100 vehicles per day are traveling down Kurk, a secondary paved road may
need to be constructed.” Well, that goes against everything that has been pitched. To add
1,100 vehicles per day down Kurk is simply not feasible and more importantly just
irresponsible. There are lots of kids that ride their bikes on that street and people who simply
enjoy walking around the neighborhood there. With that much more traffic the road will
simply be unsafe. Also, this last winter that road was plowed maybe once. How many
accidents will occur with that much traffic on icy roads?
To put R4 zoning on a 20-acre parcel that is surrounded by rural properties and residential
housing that is R2 zoning at most is not what the growth plan calls for or what anyone living
around here or most of Bozeman wants. I hope the city commission can see that zoning this
land as R4 does NOT solve any of the housing problems in Bozeman and will simply create new
problems. As elected officials it is your responsibility to make sure the housing crisis and
abundance of development is done correctly, so that the quality of Bozeman is not lost in the
process. I am afraid that the creation of this “island” parcel is going to do just that. If this
zoning is approved, it will simply be to the benefit of one landowner at the cost to the greater
majority.
In summary my wife and I oppose the proposed R4 zoning amendment for Buffalo Run and we
ask that you do as well.
Thank you,
Steven and Natalie Krezminski