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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-29-22 Public Comment - M. Harrison - Fowler Avenue Connection Project LetterFrom:Maggee Harrison To:AgendaSubject:Re: Document shared with you: "Fowler Avenue Connection Project Letter.docx"Date:Friday, July 29, 2022 10:00:33 AM Attachments:image004.pngimage005.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Thanks for the heads up! Here is the letter. Please confirm receipt.*********************************************************************************************************************************************************I am writing this letter in opposition to the Fowler Avenue Connection Project. My husband and I moved to Bozeman in 2002 from Washington, DC. Like many others raising families in the overcrowded suburban environment of the DC area, we cherished the opportunity to use the trails and parks dispersed successfully in the neighborhood we lived in. These sanctuaries provided the opportunities for us to commune with nature and expose our son to the wonders of natural habitats and how dependent these cherished ecosystems are on our good stewardship. In deciding to relocate to Montana we wanted our son to continue to explore nature and the diverse, open, clean and healthy environment that we had so enjoyed in our younger years. We were also appreciative of responsible development of the land that is such a valuable, limited asset, so we decided to reside within the city limits. Over the past 20 years we have witnessed the enormous growth of Bozeman and placed our faith in the hands of the City Commission to uphold the height restrictions of buildings and other solid development initiatives that they “said” they supported and that we agreed with. However, the recent development of Mendelhall and the downtown area has left me perplexed and greatly saddened. In reviewing the City website one would imagine that the planning of the subdivisions, road improvements and annexations of more and more land that surrounds our city is done in a fair and equitable manner. An approach that asks and “listens” to the public’s concerns – a public that shares the City Commissioners view of a healthy, green and collegial place to reside. With each multi-million-dollar development comes challenges that should have been foreseen by the people who are elected to lead our city into the future in a manner that addresses the values we all on paper have agreed to. To name a few: lack of parking, clear cutting of trees and trails, abandoned electric scooters strewn throughout our neighborhoods and ineffective enforcement of city rules/regulations (e.g., fireworks, noise restrictions). We need to stop and take a breath. True – we (voters/citizens) need to support our elected officials and the many volunteers who serve on the various advisory boards. Living in a democracy and in this country comes with responsibilities. I am hoping beyond hope that the City Commission will put a “hold” on the Fowler Avenue Connection Project Extension until we have a time to share our vision, our hopes and desires for the city we all love. Preserving and protecting the open field between Oak and Durston; the integrity of the neighborhood abutting Fowler between Durston and Babcock and the adjacent trail is imperative. There is no need based on the figures cited by Nick Ross, Bozeman’s Transportation Director, during the Staff Report presentation at the Transportation Advisory meeting (7/27/22) to proceed with this project. The cons of the road project outweigh the pros – this is the “westside’s” last greenspace/natural habitat and this a great opportunity to make a lasting gift to future generations who want to teach their children of the wonders of nature and how we must as citizens of the earth live in harmony with it. It is my fervent hope that our elected officials will truly listen to their citizens and apply the city’s vision statement to this situation. My recent attempt to participate in the public opinion gathering opportunities afforded us have left me bruised. Why take us to the south of town to tour an open, fallow field to rejoice in how great the bike trails are instead of walking through the meadow and trail that is lined with mature cottonwoods and native trees and grasses that would be destroyed. I do not feel “heard”; I do not feel that the process employed by the Transportation Advisory Committee truly embraced their desire to include the public in the decision making process (e.g., please refer to the questionnaire they circulated which had no option for keeping this space green); citing that many people are in favor of this and that they are not willing to renege on this road project going forward. This sentiment was expressed in a KZBK interview of Nick Ross which was posted shortly before the Transportation Advisory meeting being gaveled into session on 7/27/22 – which contributed to my feeling of being dismissed and not heard during this critical aspect of the project planning schedule. My question to you is: Who are these people? Developers, engineering firms who have been awarded the contract? As presented at the meeting on Wednesday July 27th by a former Bozeman Police Officer Fowler Avenue will not be a route of choice for emergency vehicles to travel on based on speed limits, population and public safety. Once again there is no need to proceed with this project – it is a rare, and final opportunity for the City Commission to preserve this last green space for future generations to enjoy. Give the westside a Galligator Trail, and give the residents of Bozeman the many environmental benefits of mature growth trees and the wildlife that dwell there. Respectfully submitted, Margaret Harrison 313 N 23rd Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718 On Fri, Jul 29, 2022 at 9:03 AM Agenda <agenda@bozeman.net> wrote: Good morning, Due to our IT security protocols, we cannot open a link to Google docs. Will you please resubmit your comment as an attachment or copy and paste into the body of the email? Thank you, Mike Maas, MPA| City Clerk City of Bozeman | 121 N. Rouse Ave. | Bozeman, MT 59715 D: 406.582.2321 | C: 406.599.0804 Pronouns: he/him/his www.bozeman.net From: Maggee Harrison (via Google Docs) <maggee.harrison@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, July 29, 2022 8:54 AM To: Agenda <agenda@BOZEMAN.NET>Subject: Document shared with you: "Fowler Avenue Connection Project Letter.docx" CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Maggee Harrison shared a document Maggee Harrison (maggee.harrison@gmail.com) has invited you to edit the following document: Please verify receipt of attached letter. Looking forward to meeting with you on Tuesday to discuss this very important topic. Thank you for the opportunity. Fowler Avenue Connection Project Letter.docx This email grants access to this item without logging in. Only forward it to people you trust. Open If you don't want to receive files from this person, block the sender from Drive Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA You have received this email because maggee.harrison@gmail.com shared a document with you from Google Docs. City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. As such, this email, its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for public disclosure and will be retained pursuant to the City’s record retention policies. Emails that contain confidential information such as information related to individual privacy may be protected from disclosure under law.