HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-21 Public Comment - S. Casto - Canyon GateFrom:Sean Casto
To:Agenda
Subject:Canyon Gate 21-337 public comment
Date:Tuesday, November 23, 2021 1:24:45 PM
Attachments:Public comment information_11.23.21.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Commissioners and Zoning Commissioners, Please add the attached important public comment document pertaining to the public comment
period of the zoning commission meeting last night.
Thanks,Sean Casto
November 23, 2021
Zoning Commissioners
City Commissioners
20 East Olive Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
RE: Canyon Gate Development Project No: 21-337
Dear Zoning and City Commissioners,
I commend the zoning commissioners for their thoughtful deliberations in the Canyon Gate zoning
meeting yesterday, November 23, 2021. The vote was a split decision and resulted in denial of a
recommendation. I appreciate and respect Mr. Mark Genito’s comments that he was swayed by
the comments of those supporting the application. In the spirit of fairness, transparency and good
governance, I am writing to share what I have learned: those few speakers in favor of this
application are, in fact, employed by the Applicant or business associates of the Applicant,
Homebase Partners, LLC (Homebase) dba Canyon Gate Investors, LLC and Canyon Gate
Partners, LLC.
I recognize that the public has a right to voice their opinion and agree that every public comment
should be heard and considered. However, those with a financial incentive should be required to
disclose that fact. None of these speakers did.
The following table describes those public commenters that were in favor of the project and their
affiliations or financial incentives with this Project. None of these speakers disclosed their
affiliation with Homebase or the Project. This is not a complete list, as it was difficult to catch all
the names. I anticipate reviewing the recorded version of the meeting to do a more thorough
review. It will be interesting to learn if any of the supporters of the project were independent of the
Project.
Andrew Gault1 Senior Project Manager for Homebase Partner’s Canyon
Gate Project
Lauren Cummings2 CFO of Homebase Partners
Francesca Cendro3 Design Professional of SMA architects, the lead architect
on the Canyon Gate project
Haley Rowland4 Sales Director at AC Hotels, and affiliate of Homebase
Partners
1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gault-36006313b/
2 https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-cummings-a769716/
3 https://www.architects-sma.com/francesca-cedro
4 https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-rowland-0ab200b2/
Robert Horne5 Managing Principal of Dodge Capital, LLC located in
West Palm Beach, who is partnering with HomeBase
Partners. Based in Chicago, Illinois.
Amber Bolton6 Accounting Manager for Homebase Partners Montana
Kristin Fetterman7 Principle at Connect Property Management, LLC which is
a property management company for Homebase Partners
Properties.
The reason I bring this to your attention, as mentioned above, is that these public participants
have a financial incentive to see this project proceed, but solely at the expense of those neighbors
and other community members that share the burden. It is completely unethical to seed or stage
proponents of the project in the public comment period with fodder to sway a vote.
We thank you for your service in your role.
Sincerely,
Sean Casto
1451 Maiden Spirit Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
5 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-horne-556b536/
6 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-bolton-84a0009a/
7 https://www.connectbozeman.com/about