HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-19-21 Public Comment - J. Blanco Boskey - Lazarewicz Annexation DD
Jule Blanco Boskey
4883 Loyal Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718
Bozeman City Clerk
121 North Rouse Avenue
P.O. Box 1230
Bozemna, MT 59715
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners:
This letter of concern is in reference to application# 20365 for city annexation and zoning for a
new development.
As a resident of Loyal Garden subdivision, I am extremely concerned with the application for
this development and annexation plan proposal. I urge you to vote against this developer's
proposal and application for approval. The negative impacts of this proposed development on
the established surrounding neighborhoods far outweigh the positive impact the development
will have on the business dealings of the developer.
Since the plot of land to be developed in this proposal is landlocked on all sides, there is no way
to access this development without directing traffic through existing neighborhoods.The
proposal takes traffic through residential streets in Loyal Gardens subdivision or through an
adjoining non-city neighborhood. There is no direct access to either Cottonwood to the east or
Huffine to the north, due to those properties already having been developed OR owned and
farmed. The developer's solution seems to be to disrupt and destroy the established
neighborhoods in order to make way for this business enterprise.
There are several obvious reasons that this proposal should not be approved. First, the safety
and security of the residents of the established neighborhoods should be taken into account.
The proposed expansion of Loyal Drive would route a road from the new neighborhood, over
the irrigation ditch, around a neighborhood park, and join the narrow residential street.This
proposal would route hundreds of cars every day past a quiet, established park.The safety
concerns should be obvious to you. Additionally, Loyal Drive is NOT a major artery like Oak,
Durston, Cottonwood, and others. It was not built to carry this traffic load, is not wide enough
for this much traffic, and was never intended to be a major arterial route. While I am not as
familiar with the proposed access route via Steffanson Road, I do not believe it was designed
for this traffic pattern, either.
While I recognize that the city of Bozeman is growing, expanding, and making an effort to
provide suitable housing for its citizens, I simply believe that this plot of land is not ready for
development. Once the farm along Huffine (to the north of the proposed development) is sold
and that land is developed, then there will be ample access to Huffine Lane. Until that happens,
the land now being discussed has no adequate outlet to any major arterial roadways. Or
possibly once Kagy makes its way out west, which IS a long-term plan of the city, then this land
will have adequate access. Frankly, this development is not going to make any sense until a
major thoroughfare abuts it. Nowhere else in the city is one residential neighborhood forced to
handle all of the daily traffic of another 150+ home development. Developments connect
directly to a major artery, and this one needs to as well. I cannot imagine the City
Commissioners will think it is a safe and healthy idea to route all that traffic right past a park full
of children.
The adjoining homeowners to the east and west of this land, especially since they are county
but not city property owners, will certainly be negatively impacted.Those property owners are
taxpayers,too, and deserve to maintain the neighborhood they invested in. While I am not one
of those property owners, I believe their concerns should be considered and weighed.The city
should make every attempt to maintain the feel of established neighborhoods when approving
expansion.
I urge you to consider the full long-term impact of the proposed development on the quality of
life, health, safety, and needs of our community. Please do not approve application #20365.
This is not the right plan at the right time. Bozeman citizens deserve better.
Sincerely,
Jule Blanco Boskey