HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-21 Public Comment - E. & T. Spotts - Mountains Walking 21319 `U•2S-z
October 19, 2021
To: City of Bozeman _
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
From: Ed and Terra Spotts
Re: Mountains Walking Brewery Zoning Change Request for BLOCK 50, Lots 18-20, PLAT C-23
Madams and Sirs,
We are the owners of the property at 809 East Fridley Street in Bozeman. This property is adjacent to
and immediately south of the property/parcel for which the zoning change is requested. We have
owned the property since 2003. We have reviewed the Mountains Walking zoning change application
and we object to the request to change the zoning from R3 to B-2M for several reasons:
• The application notes in several places that the change in zoning will add community benefits
and provide a place for the community to gather and socialize. This is already the case with this
business and the proposed zoning change would not add to this attribute. Rather, it would likely
result in an increase in traffic and activity in a residential neighborhood related to the brewery
operations.
• The application touts the providing of employee housing. While this is an admirable goal,the
property in question already provides residential housing and is zoned as such that additional
housing units could be constructed on the property under its current zoning.
• Mountains Walking knew that they were building a brewery immediately adjacent to a
residential neighborhood and had to be aware that the current location and zoning could lead to
potential limits on future expansion. That is a risk the business decided to take and we do not
feel that it should be ameliorated at the expense of neighbors and the neighborhood through a
zoning change.
• We feel that the expansion of the business will hurt the livability of our property as well as result
in a reduction in value.
Finally,we have corresponded with, and reviewed in detail the letter provided by, Kristin and Ken
VanDeWalle. We agree and support the issues that they have raised in opposition of the proposed
zoning changes.
Finally,we understand that Bozeman is a vibrant and growing community and flexibility in growth
management is necessary in some cases. However, for the reasons stated above as well as the fact that
his is a business that operates 365 days per year immediately adjacent to residences,we do not feel
that the purported community benefits outweigh the impacts on a long-established,thriving residential
neighborhood.
Thank you for your consideration, time and hard work.We appreciate it.
Ed and Terra Spotts