HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-22 Public Comment - M. Anderson - CT Owner CommentFrom:Michelle Anderson
To:Lynn Hyde; Agenda
Subject:CT Owner Comment
Date:Sunday, July 17, 2022 2:49:58 PM
Attachments:CT Owner Comment - Screening Proposal.docx
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Dear Lynn,
My name is Michelle Anderson, and I live in the Cottonwood Condos on Palisade
Drive. My unit will be directly affected with the development of the Six Range Condos
so I've attached a letter of comment for your consideration. Thank you so much for
your time.
Sincerely,
Michelle Anderson
4215 Palisade Dr.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Ms. Lynn Hyde
Development Review Planner
Community Development
RE: Application 21-235 (Six Range Condos)
Dear Lynn,
I live on Palisade Drive and am asking you to consider my comments for the Screening Proposal.
1. City Code Sec. 38.550.050.2a. (subsections 1, 3 and 4) require that parking lots must be
screened from adjacent residences, and that this screening must be continuous.
a. “Continuous” is defined by dictionaries as “marked by uninterrupted extension in
space, time, or sequence” or “characterized by continuity; extending in space
without interruption of substance; having no interstices or breaks; connected,
unbroken.”
b. Under either of these definitions, the proposed trees and shrubs on the Six Range
landscape plans (dwg 053), do NOT provide continuous screening.
i. The screening area will be completely void for 7 - 8 months because the
plants and trees selected will lose their foliage each fall as Bozeman has a
very short summer season of leaves and flowers.
ii. The listed plants produce flowers, blooms or fruit of some kind, in addition
to losing leaves annually. Such growth creates excess maintenance for
surrounding areas, including CT Condos, as well as creates opportunities for
pests such as nuisance birds, bees, wasps, and ants into an area adjacent to
the CT paved pathway. This is a risk to any and all users on the path.
2. City Planner Lynn Hyde stated in her comments on the parking lot landscaping (entry #74 of
the Project Flow Sheet) that the parking lot MUST be “be adequately screened, year
round,” and “robust screening is imperative” along the property line between the CT
Condos units and the Six Range parking lot.
a. Use of primarily deciduous plants and trees in no way meets these criteria.
3. The purpose of the parking lot screening requirements of the codes is to protect the CT
residences from harsh intrusions into the tranquility of our residences (especially bedrooms)
at all hours of the night.
a. The rear (southern boundary) of the Six Range parking lot has 81 canopied parking
spots directly facing the CT units approximately 50 feet away. While it is possible
that some Six Range residents may choose to back into their parking spaces, it is far
more likely that drivers will head into their parking spaces with their headlights
facing the CT residences. This means their lights will be shining directly into my
bedroom.
I respectfully suggest TWO other options which would clearly meet all of the elements of “parking lot
screening” that are NOT met by the current Six Range landscaping plan:
1. Solid wall or fence: Either of these provide continuous screening, can be built with materials
complimentary to the overall Six Range West Condo Scandinavian design, provide a low-
maintenance non-transparent screen between properties, and assist in preventing light and
noise pollution and trespass into the adjacent homes in the CT Condo community.
2. Earthen berm: Such a berm (between CT Condos and over 150 parking spaces), if rigorously
designed to create a continuous screening using soil, evergreen plantings and rock accents, will
not only provide screening from vehicle lights, but will also provide an aesthetically pleasing
landscape for new Six Range condo owners and CT pathway users.
Regardless of which screening solution is selected, it should be no less than 60” high to provide
complete screening from headlights of an average pickup, or an average SUV, which is 45” to its
headlights. These heights fall within allowed heights for fences (maximum 6’).
Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments.
Sincerely,
Michelle Anderson