HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-21 Public Comment - D. McSweeney - Canyon Gate Development ProposalFrom:Dean McSweeney
To:Ross Knapper; Agenda; Planning
Subject:Fwd: #21-337 -- Zoning for HomeBase Canyon Gate proposed development at Bridger and Story Mill roads
Date:Tuesday, September 21, 2021 5:04:25 PM
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Subject:#21-337 -- Zoning for HomeBase Canyon Gate proposed developmentat Bridger and Story Mill roadsDate:Tue, 21 Sep 2021From:Dean McSweeney To:RKnapper@bozeman.net, agenda@bozeman.net,planning@bozeman.netCC:
I live at 1917 Boylan Road, Bozeman 59715 in The Legends neighborhood --
just blocks from the 23-acre parcel that HomeBase is proposing to annex intothe City and zone as B2M, R3 and R5. I urge you to reject this zoning request
as too extreme:
The City has designated this land on the Future Land Use Map to be
"Residential Mixed Use" and "Community Commercial Mixed Use", bothof which allow for a range of zoning designations with varying degrees of
density. The existing neighborhood is primarily R1 with a small bit of R3-- so developing all 23 acres as R3 and B1 would significantly increase
the density in the area. But HomeBase is requesting B2M commercialzoning, which would allow 5-story hotels, 60' high apartment buildings,
massive 40,000 sq ft retail stores, etc. He is also requesting R5 zoning,which would allow large 4+ story apartment buildings. It is extreme,
urban density -- in a sensitive wildlife corridor that currently links thehabitat along Bridger Creek with the Story Hills and East Gallatin River.
HomeBase is proposing that three of the four access points into hismassive development be through our sleepy R1 neighborhood where
currently kids play on quiet neighborhood streets. HomeBase is proposing only two acres of trail, which he shows tying into
the 37 acres of trails and open space that the neighboring HOA's own andpay to maintain -- as though we neighbors should provide the recreation
for his development at our expense. It's more than a little offensive. Andto cap it off, he is showing his trail as "parkland", which means the City
would have to pay to maintain it, rather than him or his HOA. Again, it'smore than a little offensive.
HomeBase has made no accommodations for the wildlife in the area. That parcel is used by wildlife to move from the Story Hills to the water
in Bridger Creek. My house backs up to the Bridger Creek open space,so I can personally attest to the animals that use the area -- black bears,
moose, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and numerous other species frequent
the area. We should keep a safe travel corridor for them to transitionfrom Bridger Creek to the Story Hills and to the nature preserve in the
Story Mill Community Park. And any development should be mindful oftheir presence in the area, and thus be more light to moderate density --
certainly not extreme urban density. We already have life-and-safety concerns due to the number of trains that
stop, completely blocking access into town via Rouse and L St. Attachedare photos of the traffic back-up last week as I was attempting to travel
south on Rouse into town -- a train was at a complete standstill, blockingboth the L St and Rouse crossings for 25 minutes. With Griffin closed,
there is no other route into town. (And even when Griffin is open again,some of the trains are long enough that they block all three access points
simultaneously.) This cuts off access to emergency services, which areall located on the south side of the tracks -- so in event of a fire or
medical emergency, responders cannot reach us. Adding extreme urbandensity north of the train tracks, without providing for unimpededemergency access would be negligent and irresponsible.
Yes, Bozeman is growing and we all want to limit sprawl. We also want to
have housing that is affordable for residents. To date, all of theHalloran/HomeBase projects around Bozeman have been luxury projects:
A basement-level studio apartment in their Block M townhousedevelopment is currently asking $1,500/mo rent.
A 1-bedroom unit in 5 West, Black Olive or One 11 Lofts will run you$2,200 - $2,750/mo -- plus another $95-125/mo to park in the Black
Olive garage. If you need two bedrooms, that will cost you $3,450/month at One 11
Lofts.
The City keeps saying we need more affordable housing -- but then keeps
green-lighting luxury projects that cater to affluent, part-time, out-of-staters. HomeBase already has another three luxury projects underway downtown:
Block 4, North Central and One 11 Lofts 2.0. Meanwhile, Bozeman locals andfamilies are pushed out of the city into the county (or beyond), sprawling into
the less-regulated county areas.
Bottom line: Halloran's type of development doesn't solve our housing
problems -- it exacerbates them. And it costs locals dearly in terms of ourquality of life. Please do not continue down this path of allowing him to
continue to exploit Bozeman, at our expense. The best way to do this is to limitthe density allowed on this parcel through the proper zoning designation, for all
the reasons enumerated above.
Thank you,
Dean McSweeney
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Dean McSweeney206.999.0150deanmcsweeney8@gmail.com