HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-22 Public Comment - Augusta Drive Neighbors - Information Update for CanyonGate developmentFrom:bolstad@comcast.net
To:Agenda
Cc:Jacob Miller; bolstad@comcast.net
Subject:Information Update for CanyonGate development
Date:Monday, January 10, 2022 12:21:34 PM
Attachments:OpinionOnHomeBasePartnersDevOfCanyonGate.docx
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Dear City of Bozeman,
We hope that this attached information could be helpful to you in your
deliberations tomorrow during the January 11th meeting of the City
Commission regarding CanyonGate development.
Thank you for your thorough efforts in meeting and reviewing this burdensome
project.
Warmest Regards,
The Neighbors on Augusta Drive, Bridger Creek, Bozeman.
January 9, 2022
To: HomeBase Partners and Developer Andy Holloran
Re: Planned development called CanyonGate
Dear HomeBase Partners,
It is of our strong opinion that the plans you have for development of the NE Corner of Bridger
Canyon and Story Mill Rd with buildings, like the other projects in downtown Bozeman, would
cause undue burdens and hardships in a variety of ways including:
• The high density will worsen the traffic snarling we already have with the trains blocking
the tracks. These issues should be solved before more density is added to the north.
o Life and safety issues. There must be unimpeded emergency access for
ambulance, police. and fire into our neighborhoods. In 2016, a Montana Rail
Grade Separation Study done by the Montana Dept. of Transportation evaluated
a possible grade separation at the railroad tracks across Rouse and determined
that an overpass would be impossible. The Bozeman Public Works Dept thinks an
underpass would be “tricky” due to groundwater and soil issues.
Bozeman Fire Dept stated that it would take them 20 minutes to get to us if
a train was blocking the road. This is a clear and present danger to
everyone living in this corner of town. NFPA Standard 1710 calls for a 4-
minute travel time per the 2017 Fire Master Plan. This Master Plan also
categorizes high-rise buildings as “high-hazard occupancies” as determined
in the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook. Low-hazard occupancies include 1, 2
and 3-family dwellings, and scattered small business and industrial
occupancies
Ross Lane, Montana Rail Link's Vice President of Communications shared
that they are forecasting substantial growth in rail traffic over the next 5-10
years including the number of trains passing through Bozeman to increase
by 30-50% in the next 5 years. Going from 20-30 trains per day to 30-40
trains per day. Train length is also anticipated to increase to over 10,000
feet. Increasing frequency of longer trains will increase delays, and further
isolate Northeast Bozeman and Bridger Canyon from emergency response
and access to the hospital.
o Congestion issue: Traffic is regularly stopped bumper to bumper along Rouse,
Oak, Bridger, and Griffin which happens quite often throughout the day.
o Reduced traffic visibility at the intersection of Bridger Drive and Story Mill Road.
• The city has already approved 12 acres of new B2M zoning and 3 acres of new
Residential emphasis mixed-use district (REMU) in the new Stockyard development on
Story Mill. In addition, retail shops, restaurants and services already exist along Bridger
and in the cannery District. There is no additional need for more.
• Our community needs more family friendly housing, not more vacant commercial space,
high density luxury apartments and condominiums to aggravate our housing problem.
Existing examples in Bozeman are creating "lock and leave it” part time home/vacation
housing for out-of-staters, while dramatically increasing housing costs and pushing
Bozeman locals out of the city into the county (or beyond). This kind of density worsens
the problems and sprawl that the city says it wants to stop.
• A majority of the proposed zoning types at Canyon Gate would create 14.26 acres of
huge five and six story buildings, sprawling to 100% lot coverage with hotels, retail,
apartments, and commercial uses.
• HomeBase has another three luxury projects underway downtown: Block 4, North
Central and One11 Lofts 2.0 which brings a total of your projects to 9.
We hope you will consider this and for your kind attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
The Neighbors on Augusta Drive