HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-21 Public Comment - K. Day - Canyon GateFrom:Kristen Day
To:Agenda
Cc:Jacob Miller
Subject:Re: Application 21-337 Canyon Gate Application
Date:Tuesday, November 16, 2021 12:00:00 AM
Attachments:canyon gate.docx
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To the Bozeman Zoning Commission
Re: Application 21-337 Canyon Gate Application
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the high density zoning proposed for the Canyon Gate
development. In Bozeman, we are all well aware of the issues surrounding growth, density and
affordable housing, but this subdivision of four-story luxury condos and businesses is not going to be
the answer to these concerns. If zoned as requested by the developer, it will put a large strain on the
infrastructure of the area and a burden on the surrounding community.
With the addition of the Bridger View neighborhood and the planned commercial space in theStockyards, we are already putting a large traffic burden on an area of town that has limited ingressand egress points. Rouse, Griffin and L street/Wallace are the only three exit points from this sectionof town – all of which are already overburdened with the traffic that passes through on a daily basis.With current housing alone, traffic is often backed up to Griffin when a train is passing on Rouse or L
street. In the evenings, traffic is backed up on Griffin from 7th Avenue nearly to Rouse - even
without a train. In the mornings and afternoons, Wallace is commonly used by people commuting toHawthorne School and to the hospital. That street is increasingly dangerous with pedestrian trafficand street parking. It will only become more congested as the north side neighborhoods increase indensity. Additionally, travel into Bridger Canyon can face the same problem. It is often backed upfrom Bridger Canyon to the railroad tracks in the winter when Bridger Bowl is open. The high densityhousing and commercial spaces that Home Base is proposing are only going to make this situationworse.
In addition to the issue of limited access points, the intersection of Story Mill and Bridger CaynonRoad is becoming increasingly dangerous as more traffic proceeds through this area. One pedestrianhas already died at this intersection, and I would anticipate further accidents if we have commercialbusiness and high density housing on opposite corners of the intersection.
I would also argue that the neighborhood surrounding the proposed development has made openspace a priority for the community. At a recent meeting, a Home Base representative stated theirintention to put in the highest density development possible and to pay fees to the city in lieu ofhaving open space. They plan to tie into the open space of the surrounding neighborhood. By doingso, they are putting the burden on the surrounding HOAs who will have to pay for up-keep of theopen space that these new luxury condo owners will use for free.
In light of the above concerns, I would request that the Bozeman Zoning Commission rejects thehigh density zoning Home Base is requesting and preserve this area for lower density residential andcommercial development. In place of the B-2M designation, I would request that the Commissionconsider a B-1 (Neighborhood business district) designation. The B-2M designation is indicated in
‘arterial corridors, commercial nodes or areas served by transit’ – such as north 7th Avenue. This inno way describes, nor is it compatible with the location of Canyon Gate, on the outskirts of Bozemanat the mouth of Bridger Canyon. Additionally, the developers are requesting R3 and R5 designations
adjacent to, and sometimes in the backyards of, an R1 neighborhood. For the same reasons notedpreviously, it would be much more in keeping with the surrounding area to designate that space forR-2 and R-3, or R-3 only, development.
I request that you take into consideration the surrounding neighborhood, the location of a highdensity development at the only access point to Bridger Canyon, and the safety of the community asyou move forward with your zoning designation.
Sincerely,
Kristen Day