HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-30-21 Public Comment - D. Dietsch - The IvesFrom:Diane Dietsch
To:Agenda
Subject:Application Number 21165
Date:Thursday, September 30, 2021 3:25:14 PM
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Opposing "The Ives"
This is an area of direct transition between business and residential areas. The plans do
not provide an adequate transition between this massive 6-story, 171,654 gross square foot (gsf) building and the adjacent neighborhood. In fact, the building is across the alley and
street from single family homes on two sides. The parking lot this is being built on was zoned residential until recently. Neighbors protested the zone change from residential to
business to no avail. · This Design Review Board staff report lists this Bozeman Community Plan policy as relevant to the project: “Goal N-1: Promote housing diversity, including
missing middle housing.” Here’s a definition of missing middle housing: “Missing Middle Housing is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units—compatible in scale and
form with detached single-family homes—located in a walkable neighborhood.” Examples include Single-family cottages, Duplexes, Townhomes, Bungalow courts, and Carriage
houses. By any definition, a 6-story, 171,654 gross square foot (gsf) mixed-use development is not “missing middle housing.” · This building goes against the Bozeman
Community Plan Goal N-4: “Continue to encourage Bozeman’s sense of place.” The majority of HomeBase buildings, including this one, look basically the same: a large mass
and scale building with no character. This does not build a sense of place. When standing on Lamme and looking at the back of the Element, 5 West, and the AC Hotel or on
Mendenhall looking at the front of these buildings, I could literally be anywhere. There is no sense of Bozeman at all. A proliferation of more of these buildings dissolves our sense of
place. · Going against the Bozeman Community Plan, this building does nothing to honor our unique history, neighborhoods, or neighborhood character. This building does nothing
to contribute to our sense of place. · This site plan goes against the Bozeman Strategic Plan for a “safe, healthy, welcoming and inclusive community.” Walking by a building that is
6 stories straight up does not assist in feeling safe or welcoming. This building will not lead to inclusiveness; rather it will lead to more unattainable housing stock for those who live
and work here. · Homebase is asking for a variance with regard to the driveway access from W. Villard Street. Code states that the driveway must be a minimum of 40-feet from
the intersection with the abutting alley per 38.400.090.1. The Villard driveway is located only 20 feet from the alley intersection. This variance should not be granted as it is a safety
issue. We shouldn’t sacrifice safety for the benefit of this developer. · Homebase is requesting cash-in-lieu of the provision of parkland for this development. As a neighbor to
this development/As a community member impacted by this development, we are totally against this parkland for cash swap. This goes against the strategic plan by decreasing our
quality of life and resulting in a community that is less safe and healthy. · The Design Review Board staff report states that “the adjacent houses to the north are bordered by
mature deciduous trees and evergreen shrubs within property and along their ROW boulevard green, providing a vegetative screen from the homes to the proposed building.”
There is no way to provide a vegetative screen for a 6-story, 171,654 gross square foot (gsf) building. The report also says that “Two Linden canopy trees would be planted along
the W. Villard frontage for additional screening.” This is not an appropriate solution. · The Design Review Board staff report states that “The Ives building would appear to tower over
the smaller one- and two-story older homes to the north and west” and that “This taller form
of several buildings in the area has been emerging over the past few years as a dynamic
mixed use and urban mass and scale for this revitalized Downtown neighborhood.”
Appear? The building will always tower over our one- and two-story homes. We disagree that this downtown neighborhood is being revitalized. It has always been vital and vibrant.
Respectfully,
Diane Dietsch
6025 Skyline Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715