HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-21 Public Comment - B. Stroock - Canyon GateFrom:Betty Stroock
To:Jacob Miller; Agenda
Subject:HomeBase Partners development on corner of Story Mill Road & Bridger Drive
Date:Tuesday, November 16, 2021 4:51:45 PM
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Dear Bozeman Zoning Commission,
The currently vacant 24-acre area located on the northeast corner of Story Mill Road and Bridger Drive in Bozeman
is clearly ripe for development. Given the rapid growth of Bozeman, new construction on the site is inevitable. But
such development must be done in a manner that compliments the surrounding neighborhoods, which are single
family homes and two-story apartments, condominiums and townhomes. Nothing in the area (aside from the Story
Mill itself) is higher than two stories. Whatever is built on the Canyon Gate development must not mar the
neighborhood with high-rise buildings that destroy the character of the neighborhood.
In addition, the developer of the site should be required to maintain adequate park and/or open space appropriate to
the housing density being added to the area. The developer must not be allowed to get by with just a “cash in-lieu”
payment and a token park of only 2 acres. The very popular trails, parks and other open spaces in and around the
Legends subdivision and along Bridger and Rocky Creeks are already well used - some would say they are
becoming crowded. Human/wildlife interactions have been increasing in recent years to the point of danger for all
involved. Allowing a developer to merely piggy-back on already existing open spaces would further crowd these
important community amenities, degrading their value for everyone and increasing the chances of a fatal interaction
with bears or some other wildlife species that frequent the area.
Accordingly, I urge that the site proposed for development by Canyon Gate not be zoned for anything higher that R-
1 or R-2, allowing for only residential and possibly some very light commercial (coffee shop, deli, etc.)
construction. I urge that height restrictions be placed to allow nothing higher that two stories.
To put my comments in context, please know that I am a long-time resident of this neighborhood, having lived on
Story Mill Road for the past 26 years. I purchased a converted barn back in 1995, and have owned the property ever
since. I have witnessed the development of the Bridger Creek Golf Course and its three adjacent Bridger Creek
subdivisions, along with the Legends Subdivisions, other developments further north along Story Mill Road and
additional new housing on both sides of Bridger Drive. Thus far, as hundreds of homes and families have come to
the neighborhood, they have managed to do so without destroying adequate space for bears, deer, coyotes, foxes,
beavers, and many other species of wildlife to migrate into and through the area. Please don’t destroy this
remarkable success. Please limit Canyon Gate development to density and use consistent with the surrounding
neighborhood.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Betty Stroock
1350 Story Mill Road