HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-01-22 Public Comment - M. McDonald - Wildlands SP CCOA application 21326 (2)From:Matthew McDonald
To:Diane Tolhurst; Sarah Rosenberg; Agenda
Cc:Heather Owsiacki
Subject:Concerns Re: Wildlands SP/CCOA application 21326
Date:Saturday, January 1, 2022 11:47:45 AM
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Dear Sarah and Diane,
My name is Matt McDonald and I live at 524 North Wallace with my partner Heather
Owsiacki. As neighbors who live directly across the street from the proposed Wildlands
Development, we’d like to voice some concerns regarding the parking narrative
submitted by 45 Architecture.
1.
Residential Parking
First Reduction - Car sharing agreement [Sec. 38.540.050.A.1.b(3)]
The developers are requesting a reduction of 5 parking spaces for 1 shared car among
12 residential units, which is nowhere near adequate. The fact of the matter is that
people who live in Bozeman need a car to get around the city and to enjoy the
wonderful outdoor beauty and recreation that the Gallatin Valley offers. The reality is
that the people who live in these units will likely all have 2-3 cars per unit. Reducing
the parking by 5 spaces and providing 1 car for careshare is detrimental to the lives
and lifestyles of both the new residents and the existing neighbors.
Second Reduction - Residential uses in mixed use projects [Sec. 38.540.050.A.1.b(2)]
By reducing the amount of residential parking by 50%, and forcing residents to park on
the street, the Wildlands Development is creating a dangerous traffic corridor on the
intersection of Peach and North Wallace. As residents, we want to see the North East
Neighborhood continue to be a safe place to walk, run or bike to enjoy the scenery,
trails and local businesses we love.
The Wildlands Development does not have a contingency plan for all of the street
parking taken by residents that will decrease the availability of commercial parking for
employees and patrons of those businesses.
Third reduction - Bicycle parking & non-residential shower, changing area & lockers
[Sec. 38.540.050.A.2.c(6)]
While adequate bike parking is important for a busy corner like Peach and North
Wallace, it is unreasonable to propose that 3 parking spaces be removed in order to
include this. Biking is popular in Bozeman, but residents will still have 2-3 cars per unit
in addition to their bicycles. The addition of 6 bike parking spaces and a non-residential
shower with lockers will do nothing to improve traffic congestion or safety for residents
of this neighborhood.
Fourth reduction - Landscaping in lieu of parking
The Wildlands Development team has mentioned their wish to be “good stewards of
the community” over and over in their proposals for this project.
If they are truly looking out for the beauty and wellbeing of our neighborhood,
landscaping in lieu of parking wouldn’t be a trade off. The responsible way to develop
this area would include provisions for landscaping that compliment the quaint, funky
feel of the neighborhood and also solve for the challenges of traffic and congestion on
a busy corner.
2.
Non-residential Existing
As neighbors who live directly across from Finks and Wild Crumb we are acutely
aware of the congestion created from the street parking those two businesses require -
in addition to the parking allocated in their lot. Any reduction in the 20 non-residential
existing parking spots would add to this congestion on Peach and North Wallace,
which will be compounded by residents using the street parking because of the
residential parking reductions mentioned above.
More residential cars parked on Peach Street will cause dangerous traffic when
combined with the massive semi-trucks that use this corridor for deliveries to/from
Finks, Wild Crumb, Mountains Walking, Bozeman Brewing, Bronken’s and Simkins-
Hallin.
3.
Non-residential New
According to page 2 of the parking narrative submitted (table below) the developers
are misrepresenting the type of commercial spaces being built in an effort to decrease
the required parking from 29 to 9 spaces.
The developer is showing “Artisan Manufacturing” shells (table above) that are allotted
2 parking spaces each (1 per 100 sq ft and 1 per 2 employees on a shift), but on page
4 it shows “shell A” as being “Health & Exercise,” “shell B” as “Restaurant” and “shell
C” as “Office”. As per Bozeman Code table 38.540.050-3, the required parking is:
Health & Exercise: 1 space/200 sq ft (shell A is 1603 sq ft = 8 spaces required)
Restaurant: 1 space/50 sq ft (shell B is 880 sq ft so 17 spaces required)
Office: 1 space/250 sq ft (shell C is 1217 sq ft = 4 spaces required)
TOTAL: 29 spaces
This 20 parking space discrepancy will cause major congestion along Peach and
North Wallace resulting in dangerous driving conditions (especially during the winter)
and a negative impact on the walkability and bikeability of the neighborhood.
Although we’ve had to take time away from family during the holidays to address these
concerns, thank you in advance for continuing to keep the residents of NENA in mind
when developing the neighborhood. We feel grateful to live in such a wonderful place
and we appreciate being included in the plans to develop Peach and North Wallace.
Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the points above.
Best,
Matt McDonald
mgmcdonald13@gmail.com
524 North Wallace Ave
Heather Owsiacki
h.owsiacki@gmail.com
524 North Wallace Ave