HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-21 Public Comment - E. Spotts - Mountains WalkingFrom:Ed Spotts
To:Agenda
Subject:Spotts - Letter Opposing Mountains Walking Zoning and Use Application
Date:Tuesday, November 23, 2021 2:12:48 PM
Attachments:Spotts Letter Opposing Mountains Walking Application.2021.11.22Combine.pdf
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Sir and Madame,
Please find attached our letter opposing the Mountains Walking plan and zoning change
application. We are the owners of 809 East Fridley, immediately south and adjacent to the
southern lot in the proposed application. Thank you for your consideration and hard work.
Ed and Terra Spotts
Owners 809 E. Fridley
Sent from Outlook
November 22, 2021
To: City of Bozeman
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
From: Ed and Terra Spotts
Re: Mountains Walking Brewery Plan and 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/parcels for which the zoning
change is requested. We have owned the property since 2003. We have reviewed the
Mountains Walking land use and zoning change application and we object to the
request to change the zoning of the southern parcel (currently a residence) from R-2 to
B-2M for several reasons that we stated in a separate letter to the City on October 19,
2021 (R-2 inadvertently referred to as R-3 in that letter)..
Since we submitted that letter we have virtually attended both the Zoning Board and
Planning Board meetings and had the opportunity to listen to the applicant, board
members and public comments as well provide our own. We appreciate the process. In
addition to our concerns and reasons for objection to the proposed changes in our out
October 2021 letter (attached for reference), we offer the following comments based on
information obtained in the board meetings.
• The Zoning Board voted 4:1 against the proposal and the Planning Board voted 3
to 3. Although the boards and we acknowledge that there is a current shortage
of housing in Bozeman, several concerns related to this proposal were brought
up including:
• There is/will be ample B-2M zoning in the area already and adding a small
parcel immediately adjacent to existing R-2 housing in a residential
neighborhood is not good policy.
• There would be no buffers between the parcel proposed to be changed from
R-2 to B-2M (i.e. southern parcel in application) and adjacent R-2 parcels to
the south. Unlike other businesses in the area, there is no street or alley
between these parcels. The current R-2 southern parcel owned by the
applicant is the buffer.
• The applicant stated several times that he did not really care if the R-2 lot in
question was zoned as B-2M. His interest was in providing housing. As
mentioned in our earlier letter, as currently zoned (R-2), the southern parcel
could be split and provide ample residential housing for the community.
• The proponent stated in the Planning Board Meeting that they had active
plans to move production off site. This was not mentioned in the Zoning
Board meeting. If that is the case, then changing the northern parcel from M-
1 to B-2M would enable them to maintain the retails aspect of the business
while allowing flexibility in future development. We do not see a need for the
zoning change of the southern parcel.
• The request to change the southern parcel to B-2M while moving the
production off site could be interpreted as “drop in” zoning to allow for overly
high density of housing units in a thriving R-2 residential community without
any buffer. If not the current applicant, a future owner could do so. We
believe this is not the intent of the city planners and commissioners.
Finally, we understand that Bozeman is a vibrant and growing community and the job of
planning and managing that growth is challenging. However, for the reasons stated
above and in our October 19, 2021 letter, as well as the concerns articulated by the
Planning and Zoning Boards, we do not feel that the proposed zoning change from R-2
to B-2M for the southern parcel is warranted, particularly given that current zoning
already permits the building of additional housing and the potential impacts on a long-
established, thriving residential neighborhood.
Thank you for your consideration, time and often thankless hard work. We appreciate it.
Ed and Terra Spotts
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
this 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