HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-21 Public Comment - C. Crane - Canyon GateFrom:Claire Crane
To:Agenda
Cc:Jacob Miller
Subject:Canyon Gate Development Project No: 21337
Date:Monday, November 15, 2021 10:25:19 PM
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Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed zoning of the Canyon Gate development (project
#21337), located at the corner of Story Mill and Bridge Drive. The current proposed zoning (B2M, REMU, R5, and
R3) does not align with nor enrich any of the neighboring communities, specifically the Legends, Creekwood, andHeadlands neighborhoods, and would be very detrimental to the existing communities.
I have been a family physician in Bozeman for the past 6 years and my husband owns a company here, which hestarted in 2009 and has since grown to employ over 130 people. We have two young kids. We chose to live in thisneighborhood as it offers a sense of community, quiet space that allows us to decompress and be the best we can atour jobs, and safe roads and access to open space for our young kids. The vast majority of our neighbors are alsofolks who live and work in Bozeman and have chosen to live in this area for similar values. Allowing medium- andhigh-density housing to be built immediately adjacent to this beautiful community would most certainly take awayall of these things that bring value to our lives.
While I certainly encourage and support the need to create a diversity of housing options in Bozeman in general, Ido not agree with placing medium- and high-density housing immediately adjacent to lower density communitiesthat have a completely different feel and character. This equates to spot zoning, in this particular circumstance.
The developer, HomeBase, is known for developing high-end properties with costs that far exceed those that manyworking families in Bozeman can afford. It is clear that their intent would be to maximize their profit and build outto the maximum allowed zoning. If they are allowed to proceed with this medium- and high-density development, itis certain that most of these homes would only be affordable by wealthy folks, presumably many from out of state,who are looking for a second and third home, and not by families who want to live and work here and contribute tothe local economy.
I am strongly asking for your assistance in ensuring this community does not get developed in this manner, bychanging the zoning designation to R-1, R-2, and R-3.
Here are a few additional reasons against the proposed zoning:
Environmental Impact:Medium- and high-density housing can have a positive impact when located in areas that help limit traffic and theoverall footprint of the people living there, such as in areas closer to downtown or in close proximity to workplaces.The proposed location of Canyon Gate would do neither. Everyone living in this neighborhood would be driving toand from work, the grocery stores, and schools. In addition, there are beautiful mature, large cottonwood trees in themiddle of the existing land that are home to deer, many birds, bear, and moose. Many of these animals use this area(specifically the field and forest in the middle) as a corridor between the Story Hills and Bridger Foothills. While Iunderstand that this land may eventually get developed, there are ways in which this could be done to mitigate theenvironmental impact, particularly if the zoning was re-designated to R-1 and R-2 and appropriate open space waspreserved.
Wildfire Safety:
This is an area at potential high risk for wildfires, given its proximity to the Bridger foothills and Story Hills. Had
the Bridger fire from 2020 spread in the other direction, it certainly could have affected all of these neighborhoods.
It is imperative to consider that this is a likely possibility that could occur again. Building out medium- and high-density housing in this particular area, with few arteries and exits from, could potentially be disastrous and poses alegitimate safety risk.
Traffic:This area of town has limited arteries to downtown and most workplaces: Bridger Drive/N. Rouse and Story MillRoad and for some, Griffon Drive. While traffic can be reasonable at times, at other times, the train will often blockat least one of these routes for up to 20 minutes at a time and there can be a significant backlog of cars, not tomention the fact that this can pose seriously delays for emergency vehicles. It is also imperative to consider thetraffic going to and from Bridger Bowl in the winter; we have found it near impossible to turn onto Bridger Drive attimes. There are many young kids in these neighborhoods and we all greatly value the low-traffic community. TheCanyon Gate development would dramatically increase traffic and result in many of these quieter streets becomingthrough-streets.
Schools:The designated elementary school for this community, Hawthorne Elementary, is near capacity with many gradesbeing completely full. With the addition of Bridger View community, and the ongoing growth throughout Bozemanin general, the school will almost certainly soon be full. This is very concerning to myself as a parent, and I feel thatthis needs to be addressed prior to dramatically increasing the population in this particular area of town.
I am strongly urging you to reconsider the current proposed zoning, and change it to R1, R2, and R3 — whichwould still allow for a diverse mix of housing options, while preserving the character of the existing neighborhoods.
Sincere thanks for your time and consideration,
Claire Crane