HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-04-21 Public Comment - E. Staley - T-Mobile Cell Tower - Downtwon Business Partnership BoardsFrom:Ellie Staley
To:Agenda; Cyndy Andrus; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn; Jennifer Madgic
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brandi@indikoi.com; Coco Douma (Coco Douma) (cocod@ourbank.com); elena@thenovacafe.com; Matt Beehler
- Lark/Rialto; Natalie - Treeline; Tessa Burnett
Subject:CUP Application for Osborne Building wireless facility on rooftop
Date:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 10:25:24 AM
Attachments:image003.pngCUP Osborne Bldg_5-4-21.pdf
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Dear Mayor Andrus and City Commissioners,
Please review the attached letter in regard to the CUP Application for the wireless facility on
tonight’s agenda. Thanks in advance for your consideration,
Ellie Staley
CC: Downtown Bozeman Partnership Boards (DBA, BID, URD)
Ellie Staley
Executive Director
Downtown Bozeman Partnership
222 East Main Street #302 | Bozeman MT 59715
406-586-4008 | www.downtownbozeman.org
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May 4, 2021
Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus and
Bozeman City Commissioners
RE: CUP Application for Osborne Building wireless facility on rooftop
Members of the Commission:
I am writing this letter in response to the application for the Conditional Use Permit application
to construct the large T-Mobile wireless “facility” on top of the Osborne building located at 229
East Main Street.
Upon reviewing the CUP application for the “wireless facility” at the Osborne Building, a
majority of Downtown Bozeman Partnership board members (DBA, BID and URD) were
surprised by the scale of this cell “tower” that seems to be much more of a structure than a
tower.
It is in the opinion of the majority of downtown board members that this proposed structure
negatively affects the current landscape of our downtown core. It is also of concern that
approval of this CUP, may set a precedent for additional “towers” to be erected on additional
downtown buildings located in the core B-3 district.
According to the “project description” in the application, "The applicant is proposing to
construct a small-scale wireless facility to be mounted on the roof of the Osborne Building,
located at 229 East Main Street. The proposed wireless facility will be 73’ above grade which is
3’ higher than the allowable height in the B-3 zone."
The Osborne Building is in the "core area" of the B-3 zone which has a building height limit of
55' therefore the proposed installation is in actuality an 18' encroachment above all the
surrounding (mostly historic) buildings.
UDC also states: “Maximum building height in the B-3 district must be 55 feet in the district
core area and 70 feet outside of the core area.” But, there is a provision that allows wireless
installations (which are not considered part of the building) in the B3 up to 70’ regardless of
where they are located in the district—even right in the middle of the Historic District on Main
Street, which is how this project has gotten around these height requirements.
The Downtown Bozeman Partnership Board members believe this provision should be intended
for wireless “towers”, not “facilities” or “structures” like we see in this situation.
The staff report also states: "Screening that will match the exterior finishes of the Osborne
Building will be provided which will reduce impact on abutting properties and the character of
the district."
The DBP boards disagree with this statement that the wireless structure would “reduce impact
on…the character of the district,” and feel the overall downtown character is greatly impacted
through the large-scale size of the structure and lack of architectural elements.
It is in the opinion of the DBP board members that this CUP is either denied, relocated to a
different property outside the Downtown “core” B-3 district or modified to within current UDC
building height requirements for the Downtown B-3 district.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ellie Staley
Executive Director
Downtown Bozeman Partnership
CC: Downtown Bozeman Partnership Board Members