HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-21 Public Comment - Westfield Park HOA - Bozeman CoHousingFrom:WPHA Secretary
To:Susana Montana; Agenda
Cc:Brianne Rogers; Janne Hayward; Tyler Doshier
Subject:Public comment - Bozeman Cohousing, application #21096
Date:Monday, October 18, 2021 1:09:24 PM
Attachments:2021 1018 WPHA final public comment cohousing development.pdf
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Dear Planner Montana,
Please find attached a letter of public comment on behalf of the 83-household Westfield ParkHomeowners Association regarding application #21096, Bozeman cohousing residential
development site plan.With appreciation,
Brianne RogersWPHA Secretary
Westfield Park Homeowners Association
Fieldstone Dr, Concord Dr, and Lexington Dr
Bozeman, MT 59715
wpha.secretary@gmail.com
October 18, 2021
City of Bozeman Department of Community Development
ATTN: Susana Montana
121 N Rouse Ave | PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59715
agenda@bozeman.net | smontana@bozeman.net
Dear Director Matsen and Planner Montana,
Our neighborhood wishes to submit public comment for your consideration on application #21096,
project name: Bozeman CoHousing residential development site plan.
As a neighborhood, we have been engaged in the discussion around the Bozeman Cohousing
development including meetings of our HOA membership, meetings with representatives of Bozeman
Cohousing, City of Bozeman public meetings, and meetings and ongoing communications with City
planning and transportation staff. We are deeply appreciative of the time and expertise City staff have
shared with us as we have tried to understand the impact this up-zoned development will have on our
neighborhood community, members, and their investments in their homes. The site plan before you
today includes details that are concerning to our members in the following areas:
Viewshed
• Please require non-mesh carport backing for carports facing Wagon Wheel Road to reduce
headlight trespass into the windows of existing Wagon Wheel-adjacent homes.
• We are confident that the Concord/Wagon Wheel streetlight included in the plans will be dark
sky compliant; we look forward to ensuring additional screening is installed if light trespass
issues occur into existing neighboring homes.
Where the Sidewalk Ends…
• While the development enjoys significant parking reductions due to their intentions to live a
low-car lifestyle, the City is not supporting non-motorized modes of transportation by investing
resources to connect this development with the broader public transportation, bike lane, or
sidewalk network. It is disappointing that the planned “sidewalk island” is not connected to S.
3rd Avenue and instead relies upon adjacent neighborhoods to maintain and shovel sidewalks to
afford pedestrian-friendly and child-safe routes for our new neighbors. This project should also
require the installation of a bike lane(s) on Wagon Wheel that connect to the existing lanes on
South 3rd. This would facilitate the stated walking and biking goals of the City, Bozeman
Cohousing owners, and many of us in the area who use this infrastructure for commuting.
Traffic & Parking
• Because of the reductions in parking spaces required in the development (99 reduced to 79
through three car-sharing agreements and landscaping in lieu of parking), the site plan currently
provides for fewer than two parking spaces per unit. We anticipate spillover parking to become
our new reality on the near reaches of Fieldstone, Concord, and Lexington Drives. We will be
calling in violations of the City’s 72-hour rule for enforcement and watching the annual car share
reports to ensure that promise is living up to the practice. We recognize that it’s the number
and density of vehicles, not people, that makes a neighborhood less attractive and safe.
• Fieldstone Drive was built to just 26’, narrower than the 31’ curb-to-curb City minimum and
newer 33’ minimum design standard. Parking is currently not allowed on the south side of
Fieldstone, but signage is not well placed, and no curb marking exists. The onus will be on our
members to call in violations of vehicles parked on this side of the street and our neighborhood
will work with City staff to increase visibility of parking rules as needed to ensure EMS access
and safety on our neighborhood street.
• Wagon Wheel Parking – due to safety and congestion considerations, we do not think that
permanent or temporary parking on Wagon Wheel should be offered or allowed in lieu of
reduced parking requirements on the co-housing site. We are also concerned that if parking
along Wagon Wheel begins to occur on the east side of Wagon Wheel, it will also occur on the
west side, which our HOA owns and pays to maintain. Parking on our boulevard here is likely to
result in turf and sprinkler system damage. We continue to await guidance from the City and RID
on this matter. We have never had issues with vehicles parking along the west side of Wagon
Wheel in the past and we hope that the City coordinates with the County to prevent inevitable
spillover parking in this area without clear signage clarifying parking rules.
This high-density development changes the very fabric of our community. We recognize Bozeman is
changing; we simply ask that the City step up to support the future it envisions to ensure we can all
enjoy the communities we have each worked so hard to build and not bring hardships upon each other
with planning that focuses on density, but is not comprehensive in its approach by not addressing the
transportation infrastructure that would minimize its impacts on stable neighborhoods and advance
stated city goals and plans for a walkable, bikeable community.
With sincere appreciation for your time and attention to these concerns.
Your neighbors,
The Westfield Park Homeowners Association