HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-22 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - Proposal #21-356- Reasons to keep the R4From:Marcia Kaveney
To:Agenda
Subject:Proposal #21-356- Reasons to keep the R4
Date:Monday, February 7, 2022 11:12:54 AM
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Dear Commissioners and Mayor Andrus-
I appreciated that two Zoning Board/CDB members recently voted to not recommend the
approval of rezoning for project #21-356. I agree with their opinion. I appreciate whatCommissioner Madgic said about having discretion with zoning choices. We can leave
housing pockets in the traditional core area. While I know that the city will naturally spreadout in all directions, I think we have to hang on tight to zonings that are most friendly to
affordable and attainable housing- which are R2, R3, and R4. These zonings best support theproblem that the city commission says is one of the most urgent- housing opportunities. We
need housing for existing employees and residents, not more commercial.
Residential zoning R4 blends in perfectly with B3 and I disagree with the idea that havingthose two zonings on one block will be problematic. Think of cool old Brownstones or
apartment buildings that are in other urban downtowns and the nice variety they bring to acommercial district. It is a developer's spin to say that R4 and B3 are not compatible. The
beauty of R4 downtown is that it's uses are limited to owner occupied housing and does notallow for non-owner occupied short term rentals. These Type-3 STRs along with luxury
condos and apartments will be the demise of the character of Bozeman- downtown andelsewhere. I think anything over R3 is a greater risk for luxury apartments but B2, B2-M, B3
zonings are even more so because of their allowable use of Type 3 STRs. If we continue tolose R3 and R4 zoning in the downtown area, we risk the historic downtown area becoming
largely a collection of luxury apartments, restaurants, hotels, and expensive shops. This canmake for a sterile "anywhere USA" environment as the balance shifts from mixed residential
to mostly commercial as well as an environment that caters to wealthy visiting individuals. Ibelieve a healthy downtown needs mainstream people living there of all income levels.
Keeping R4 zoning in place for housing is one way to do that.
Please keep the housing friendly zoning of R4 on this block and vote no to this zoning changerequest.
Thank you,
Marcia Kaveney1496 Boylan Rd. Bozeman