HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-21 Public Comment - H. Switzer & T. DeBoo - Bozeman CoHousingFrom:Heidi Switzer
To:Susana Montana; Agenda
Subject:Public Comment - Application #21096; Project Name: Bozeman CoHousing residential development site plan
Date:Tuesday, October 19, 2021 2:35:03 PM
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Dear Director Matsen and Planner Montana,
We wish to submit public comment for your consideration on application #21096, project
name: Bozeman CoHousing residential development site plan.
As a resident of Westfield Park, our neighborhood has been engaged in the discussion aroundthe Bozeman Cohousing development including meetings of our HOA membership, meetings
with representatives of Bozeman Cohousing, City of Bozeman public meetings, and meetingsand ongoing communications with City planning and transportation staff. We appreciate the
time and expertise the City staff have shared with residents as we determine the impact thisdevelopment will have on our neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. The site plan
and proposed development bring up many details that are concerning to us as residents, thelargest being parking, increased traffic, and sidewalks/bike lanes.
The new development is requiring fewer than two parking spaces per apartment. It is highly
likely that each household will have at least one car per adult, despite the intention of thedevelopment's residents to live a low-car lifestyle. The site is located in an area where walking
to grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants is not feasible; therefore travel by car or bus,especially in the winter months, will most likely be deemed very necessary by the residents of
this development. As there will not be adequate parking on-site, nearby community roads willbecome overflow parking. This will impact safety along Wagon Wheel Road, as well as
Fieldstone, Concord, and Lexington Drives. These streets are highly used by pedestrians,animals, and children and having additional vehicles parked on the road will reduce visibility
and safety. Wagon Wheel Road does not have the width to allow for parking. This should notbe considered an option in lieu of reduced parking requirements on the co-housing site. One
could make an argument for travel via the City's Streamline Bus service, however, the busroutes do not cross Kagy Blvd, making this an unlikely option. We urge you to rethink the
parking requirements and consider the safety of all residents in the area.
Furthermore, the City and the development have not supported efforts to live a low-carlifestyle by investing resources to connect the development with the broader public
transportation, bike lane, or sidewalk network. The planned "sidewalk island" is minimal andrelies on existing neighborhoods to provide safe routes for pedestrians and children. More
needs to be done to promote pedestrian and bike-friendly travel; at a minimum, installing bikelanes or sidewalks along Wagon Wheel Rd to facilitate safe non-vehicular travel.
This is a high-density development that will have big impacts on our community. While we
recognize that Bozeman is growing and changing, we ask that the City recognize the impactstheir decisions have on our neighborhoods and communities already in place. We have worked
hard to build a community where kids can ride their bikes and walk to school safely, andresidents can recreate freely as well as live in harmony with the many animals that call this
place home. We ask that the City take steps to ensure we can all enjoy the communities we
have worked hard to build, and not bring hardships upon each other by straying from the goalsof a walkable, bikeable community.
We appreciate your time and attention to these concerns.
Heidi Switzer and Ty DeBoo