HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-21 Public Comment - L. Semones - Canyon Gate Development ProposalFrom:Linda Semones
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comment on Planning Commission Meeting Sept 20 2021
Date:Tuesday, September 21, 2021 12:44:27 PM
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Dear Planning Commission Members,
My name is Linda Semones and I live at 404 S. Church Ave. I am a member of the Historical
Preservation Committee, however I am making these comments as a private citizen. I was hoping
for a more detailed explanation of the form based code during the discussion last night. I sat down
and read the entire introductory packet, and along with Jennifer Madgic and Kathy Costakis, I and
several other citizens are interested in exploring these ideas further. I have also read the Bendon
Adams report which deals with the NCOD, and the current Clarion report on the affordable housing
assessment. Since I live in a downtown neighborhood, I would like to point out the following. Both
the BendonAdams Report and the Clarion report recommend separating the downtown
neighborhoods from the high rise intense development of the B3 zone on their borders. The Clarion
report specifically recommends gentle density in the R areas, as well as creating a transition zone,
where the height and mass of buildings would gradually move from very high (The Armory) down to
a height expected in the neighborhoods ( one or 2 story craftsmen homes.) The Bendon Adams
Report also recommends this transition zone. Unfortunately, so far nothing has been put into code
to develop this concept and it is going on 3 years since the first recommendation, which the City
Commissioners approved and signed. As a result, we have a B3 street line that will now have 5 to 7
story buildings across the street from historical homes and neighborhood homes that are 1-2 story.
This is, in my mind, not the kind of cutting edge planning that the City of Bozeman is capable of . A
group of us would like to see how form based zoning would deal with this issue. The introductory
booklet is interesting. As much as some elements of our community would like to avoid dealing with
neighborhood character and public input from areas affected by development, the booklet is clear in
its support of both.
Furthermore, I have also been reading the materials kindly provided to the community by Mr.
Mark Egge. According to the materials on Buffalo, New York, a form based code is helpful in
designing a transportation plan that includes public transit, bicycle access, walking access, and off
street parking as required by analysis and data. I am not commenting on parking here, but I wanted
to make clear that a form based code is an umbrella code. It can affect every area of city ordinances
and development, and sees the developers and the citizens as part of a consulting team with equal
responsibility to the good of community. I find this fascinating, and am intrigued.
I understand that the board consolidation has thrown board functions into somewhat of a
disarray. That being said, the work of the city goes on. I support Jennifer Madgic and Kathy Costakis
in their request for a consultant to provide information to the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, and
the public on form based codes. We have to start somewhere soon.
Thank you for all your work.
Sincerely,
Linda Semones
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