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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-22 Public Comment - J. & J. Jelinski - North Central AppealFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Wednesday, March 2, 2022 8:55:32 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:03/02/2022 8:55 AM Response #:1577 Submitter ID:49108 IP address:71.15.194.254 Time to complete:6 min. , 47 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 First Name Jane and Jack Last Name Jelinski Email Address jjjelinski@msn.com Phone Number 4065878367 Comments To the Bozeman City Commissioners: Appeal the Conditional Approval of the North Central Master Site Plan & CCOA, Application No. 21029 which includes The Ives Application No. 21165. We request that you deny the application No. 21029 and No. 21165 for the reasons expressed here. The Bozeman 2020 Community Plan establishes the guiding principles for future development: “It is the long-standing policy of the City to balance the interests of new and existing residents.” (p.14). The NC Master Plan proposal violates this fundamental principle. The Community Plan goes on to further explain this fundamental policy: “The needs of new and existing development coexist and they should remain in balance; neither should overwhelm the other. . . Quality and function is superior to quantity alone (p.20).” Allowing high priced 5 story buildings imposed on traditional neighborhoods with no transitional scale is not in balance with the traditional neighborhoods and quality and function are ignored. Page 27 of the 2020 Community Plan waxes lyrical in its description of the merits of Bozeman’s unique neighborhoods. “Bozeman is indeed a city of unique neighborhoods. From the traditional neighborhoods north and south of Bozeman’s downtown, to the developments of more recent times, Bozeman’s neighborhoods are as diverse as the periods of time in which they were built. This eclectic mix of housing opportunities within differing geographic parts of town helps define who we are, where we came from and where we’re going.” “Neighborhoods or communities that offer a mix of housing, needed services, and opportunities within close proximity of each other are considered ‘complete communities’. They promote walking or short commutes to the things in life we value and depend on including jobs, schools, places of worship, friends, goods and services, open spaces, trails, appropriately scaled urban agriculture such as community gardens, and more. Neighborhoods help improve community safety and overall community health.” This is a perfect, accurate description of the neighborhoods that surround the urban core as they exist today. The proposed NC Master Plan makes a mockery of these neighborhood values described in the 2020 Community Plan. It’s as though they have been erased. There are two Goals in the 2020 Plan that have been similarly ignored: Goal N-4.1. “Continue to recognize and honor the unique history, neighborhoods, neighborhood character, and buildings that contribute to Bozeman’s sense of place through programs and policy led by both City and community efforts.” And Goal N-1.11. Enable a gradual and predictable increase in density in developed areas over time.” This proposal is neither gradual nor predictable. If zoning can be changed every time a developer decides their project will be more lucrative in a different zone, the predictability of zoning disappears. “Predictability is a very important element in the complex and difficult public and private decisions relating to growth.” (p.15) The zoning of the neighborhoods surrounding this proposal has protected the quality of life for decades. The Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District adopted in 2019 has further endorsed the value of these neighborhoods. Approval of the NC Master Plan has conveniently erased the stability of existing surrounding neighborhoods and caused their residents to live in fear because their quality of life seems threatened at every turn. The affected neighborhoods do not have a parking problem. Approval of the NC Plan would create parking problems in the surrounding neighborhoods. To characterize opponents as “nimbys” and as people who fear change is insulting. It is a convenient way to label and thus dismiss the concerns of very real people whose neighborhoods (like those so glowingly described on p. 27) are threatened. Those of us who are concerned about the complete disregard for the principles stated in the 2020 Community Plan are actually smart enough to understand that the NC Master Plan is a type of development that is not only incompatible, but in violation of the guiding principles that have been approved in the 2020 Community Plan., a Community Plan that received approval of the City Commissioners just a year ago!. Is it any wonder why residents feel betrayed and yes, we must confess, outraged by the NC Master Plan proposal. We don’t fear change, we fear a complete lack of consideration from people we elected to represent us. As citizens who have participated in the development of the Community Plan, who have attended endless meetings and studied the documents, we are in favor of attending to the stated number one priority of the City – providing housing for the missing middle, so that our workforce can live inside the city in affordable, safe walkable neighborhoods. “More housing, in a variety of type, size and cost, is needed at prices that residents can afford.” (p.22). Respectfully Submitted, Jack and Jane Jelinski 433 North Tracy Ave Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-8367 jjjelinski@msn.com We have standing to join this appeal for the following reasons: We have lived two blocks from this property for the past 47 years and have been actively involved in neighborhood development and planning and with NENA since 1980. We have written many letters regarding changes in zoning, have participated in the Bendon Adams community meetings, and in public meetings while the community plan was being developed. We will be impacted by the Home Base construction for the foreseeable future. While we supported creating the SID to update our infrastructure which has increased our property taxes by $712 this year and for the next 20 years, we have been experiencing traffic from construction trucks during the last three years, and have limited access to ingress and egress to our newly built N Tracy Avenue for 3 years, and will experience increased traffic as a result of Home Base activity. We have also experienced the loss of a number of neighbors If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure receipt of all information. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.