HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-21 Public Comment - D. Spain - Bozeman CoHousingOctober 14, 2021
City of Bozeman Department of Community Development
ATTN: Susana Montana
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Re: Application 21096
Bozeman CoHousing Residential Site Plan
Public Comments
City of Bozeman:
As an adjacent property owner, this letter is to inform you of my concerns regarding the site plan application for the Bozeman CoHousing project. It is difficult if not impossible to understand and respond to the complex project documents in the time allowed by the “Notice of a Site Plan Application”. Based on the Site Plan Review Narrative submitted to Recreation and Parks Advisory Board which I did find online, I have the following concerns:
1. The developers plan to use two existing wells from 1962 and 1981 for landscape irrigation purposes and stock and domestic animal use. As a result, the site will not be subject to the mandatory water restrictions or the water surcharges imposed by the City of Bozeman for irrigation as adjacent neighbors are required. Annexation with R-3 zoning would seem to require that the entire project (irrigation included) be hooked up to city water usage. I can find no information on how using two old wells would affect Matthew Bird Creek, the aquifer or the effects to the environment on the park-like setting.
2. It is proposed by the developers that an existing barn will remain while the single-family home will be demolished. The existing barn is a non-conforming structure, not historic and not compatible with the intent of R-3 residential medium density district. The barn should be demolished as well. Likewise, there is a large shed moved by Bozeman CoHousing close to my property line that is not included on the site plan. Hopefully this will be removed as well, as it is unsightly. The former owners (Marilyn and Gerald Robertson) applied for the annexation into Bozeman and the R-3 zoning. They were in their 80s at the time of annexation and were not raising animals at the time of sale. In the forty years I have lived adjacent to the Robertsons, they never raised goats as Bozeman Cohousing is currently engaged. One can presume that the developers would not have purchased the property without the R-3 residential designation. Is Bozeman CoHousing planning to now operate as a “hobby farm” (former Gallatin County R-S zoning) as well as a medium density housing district in an area that is completely surrounded by R-1 single family homes? This is not compatible with the surrounding R-1 neighborhoods or R-3 zoning. This does not appear to be a “grandfathered use” as the Robertsons were not raising livestock ninety days prior to annexation and rezoning.
3. The required ninety-nine (99) parking spaces are proposed to be reduced to seventy-nine (79). Three shared cars are not a permanent solution. It seems logical that residents’ cars will exceed the proposed parking spaces.
4. The applicant seeks a departure from the maximum building length of 120 feet for one of the buildings to 150 feet. This exceeds existing standards. Are Apartment Buildings (the eight homes connected to the common facilities) allowed in R-3 zoning?
5. The Site Plan shows two large existing trees on the south side of the property to remain. These have already been removed by the members. I was told by a member the trees were not healthy. From my perspective, they were large and provided a natural screen to the development and my property. Will these be replaced?
Respectfully,
Donna Spain
105 Heritage Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715