HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-22 Public Comment - P. Owsley - Fowler Avenue Connection Opposition t � I
July 1, 2022
To Whom it May Concern:
Fowler lane as an arterial is a bad idea. The Bozeman Pond park will not be the same. Instead of a
stroll among the trees, it will be a sidewalk along which to breathe car exhaust. The little league ball
fields will have speeding vehicles dodging little leaguers. Kids walking to school will have one more
busy street to negotiate. The quiet neighborhood we live in will not remain a neighborhood with a
beautiful trail but instead will become another busy street to push traffic North and South. Fergusen
was planned with development potential, as a wide street with land buffering the housing on each side;
however, Fergusen is labeled a feeder and Fowler is the arterial. If there is already a wide street that can
handle the traffic, why would our little road need to be five lanes?
When the development was being planned for Fowler between Durston and Cascade, we negotiated
with the developer and the city to make sure the integrity of our neighborhood remained livable. We
knew a development was inevitable and a road eventually would go through to Babcock. We as a
Sweetgrass Neighborhood negotiated the linear trail instead of a pond and park for that development.
The trail has been well traveled by walkers,joggers, and bicyclists all the way down to Babcock, even
though the south half is gravel. We assumed when the French property was sold,the south section
would be developed into a neighborhood street just like the north part with the continuation of the park
as a linear trail to connect Babcock to Durston.
Much to my dismay,the trail and neighborhood was not even considered as an option. There was not a
city representative at the open house on Wednesday the 29r'of June. The only speakers there were with
the engineering group that has been contracted to put the design options in place. One poster showed
how the city asked for our input previously before putting these options together. I emailed the
planning dept two years ago. I got a response that it was very early in the planning stage and if I want
information refer to the master plan. This was less than helpful. There were multiple neighborhood get-
togethers and signed petitions to save the trail. I do not think our neighborhood input was mentioned on
that poster.
I have the feeling you did not want our input and the decision was already made. I vote for the three
lane raised median option because it seems to be the least destructive.At the open house there were a
lot of people that were not happy with any of the options or with the process. Bozeman has been a
special place. I'm afraid those days are limited.
Sincerely,
Philip J Owsley
150 Sweetgrass,Bozeman MT
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