HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-21 Public Comment - L. Semones - New development_ADU at 1206 S WillsonFrom:Linda Semones
To:Agenda; Chris Saunders; Christopher Coburn; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; Cyndy Andrus; LindaSemones
Subject:New development/ADU at 1206 S Willson
Date:Wednesday, August 4, 2021 11:11:04 AM
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Dear City Commissioners and City Staff,
I am writing to comment generally on the development at 1206 S Willson. My comments
are not to criticize the actual construction, rather to suggest that we need to add a
requirement to our UDC codes to protect our urban forest. The urban forest is slowly
diminishing in our city of trees, and I notice that on the plans 2 more trees are going to be cut
down. Obviously, if it is necessary for the new construction this must happen. But many cities
in the US have tree replacement requirement, and to bolster our Climate Plan we should have
this requirement as well. As you know, the advantages of planting trees are many, including
creating an urban environment for birds, bees and other animals, lowering the in town
temperatures by up to 10 degrees, creating a corridor of foliage for bird and butterfly
migration, and adding to the liveable surrounding. Lincoln City, Oregon, Bellevue
Washington, Lauderdale Lakes Florida, Delaware, Ohio, Rosemount Minnesota, and Marysville
Michigan all have tree replacement requirement. The opening paragraph from Rosemount,
Minnesota reads as follows,
Findings and purpose statement. The city council finds it is in the best interest of the city to
protect, preserve, and enhance the natural environment of the community and to encourage
a resourceful and prudent approach to the development and alteration of wooded areas. In
the interest of achieving these objectives, the city has established the comprehensive tree
preservation regulations herein to promote the furtherance of the following: a. Protection and
preservation of the environment and natural beauty of the city; b. Assurance of orderly
development within wooded areas to minimize tree and habitat loss; c. Evaluation of the
impacts to trees and wooded areas resulting from development; d. Establishment of minimal
standards for tree preservation and the mitigation of environmental impacts resulting from
tree removal; e. Provision of incentives for creative land use and environmentally compatible
site design which preserves trees and minimizes tree removal and clearcutting during
development; and f. Enforcement of tree preservation standards to promote and protect the
public health, safety and welfare of the community.
I believe that in addition to our landscaping requirements for businesses and homes we
should also include tree preservation and replacement requirements. Often the new
landscaping at new construction sites includes only bushes, grasses and native plants. We
should also add preservation of the urban forest to our climate goals if it is not specifically
addressed.
I am certainly not opposed to any of the plans for 1206 S Willson, and support the
construction of ADU's in our town. But many trees have been destroyed and we should make
sure they are replaced.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Sincerely,
Your perpetual squeaky wheel,
Linda Semones 404 S Church Ave. Bozeman Mt 59715