HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-21-21 Public Comment - D. McNeil - Why I oppose Canyon Gate's zoning requestFrom:Debra McNeill
To:Agenda
Subject:Why I oppose Canyon Gate"s zoning request
Date:Tuesday, December 21, 2021 2:04:02 PM
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 Bozeman City Commissioners
My name is Debra McNeill and I live at 2512 Valhalla Court, one block from the proposed
Canyon Gate development. My primary objection to the Canyon Gate development is thenegative impact this project would have on the safety of the northeast Bozeman community.
Furthermore, the project's request for commercial zoning would be a detriment to ourneighborhoods.
The Canyon Gate development would negatively impact the safety of the northeast Bozeman
community. The proposal includes high density residential housing and commercial use whichwill only exacerbate the traffic pile-ups that occur whenever a train comes through Bozeman.
Earlier this month, an ambulance on an emergency run was blocked at the Rouse Streetcrossing due to a train stopped on the tracks! No development north of the railroad tracks
should be approved until a solution is developed and implemented to provide unimpededaccess for ambulance, fire and emergency vehicles. The risks to life and property due to trains
blocking the roads to our area are extreme! This is already a problem that could easily becomea tragedy! The situation is expected to get worse. Montana Rail Link anticipates that rail
traffic will increase 30-50% over the next five years and average train length is projected toincrease to nearly two miles. Currently, traffic snarls after the trains have blocked L, Rouse
and Griffin Street crossings are bad. Let's not make them worse with dense zoning.
The commercial zoning planned for the development is thoroughly inconsistent with theneighborhood and inappropriate for this area of town. The intent of B2M is to enhance the
character of Bozeman and to accommodate trade along the existing commercial zones. This isa residential neighborhood which already has 15 acres of B2M and REMU zoning at the new
Stock Yard plus 280 acres of commercial zoning west of Story Mill and Bridger. Anadditional 12 acres of B2M and REMU stacked up against a residential area doesn't make
sense given that this is not a downtown commercial area and should never be considered assuch.
I spoke at the Zoning meeting last month to express my objections to this zoning request due
to the safety issues. I believe that everyone who objected to the zoning request explained theirpersonal or professional perspective for objecting. I was appalled to learn that the 12 people
who spoke in favor of the zoning are all associated with HomeBase or are contractors withvested interests in the development. I heard a couple of these comments and at no time did
these people divulge their association with the project. Everyone who spoke in favor of theproject has a financial incentive for doing so and behaved unethically. While I did not stay
until the end of the meeting, I learned that the only zoning commissioner who voted in favorof the zoning was swayed by these favorable comments. Anyone providing comments from
HomeBase, Solomon Corwell Buenz, SMA Design or other contractors and affiliates of theproject must be required to divulge their financial or personal affiliation with HomeBase.
I acknowledge that this piece of land is a good development opportunity. It should be annexedby the City of Bozeman, zoned and developed, after the railroad safety concerns have been
resolved. However, the R5 and B2M zoning request should be denied. An R3 and B1 zoningfor townhomes, rowhouses, and duplexes would be entirely appropriate for this area. Ideally,
these homes should be priced to provide affordable housing for current Bozeman residents, nothigh-end apartments such as the units that HomeBase has been developing, which only worsen
Bozeman's housing crisis. Bozeman does not need any more vacation units for out-of-staterswho contribute little to our communities.
I encourage you to vote in accordance with the Zoning commission and deny HomeBase's
zoning proposal.
With my sincere regards,Debra McNeill