HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-23 Public Comment - J. Winnie - Community Dev Board 3-6-2023 Re Shady Glen 22-293 22-294From:Janet Winnie
To:Agenda
Subject:Community Dev Board 3-6-2023 Re Shady Glen 22-293 22-294
Date:Monday, March 6, 2023 11:04:29 AM
Attachments:Shady Glen Letter to community dev board 22-293 22-294.docx
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Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment.
Janet Winnie
Sent from Mail for Windows
3-6-2023
My name is Janet Winnie. I am writing as a concerned citizen and neighbor of the proposed
Shady Glen Development 22-293 and 22-294.
Thank you for the opportunity to offer my comments to the Community Development Board today .
At last review of the proposal for Bridger Meadows, now Shady Glen, the City Commission decided
against the development proposal primarily because of concerns about public safety but also because of
inadequate set back from wetland and concerns about the property being in the 100 year floodplain.
The current proposal before the commissioners is essentially the same. There is now a proposed
uniform 35-foot set back from the wetland, but this falls short of the currently City required 50-foot set
back. Justifying a smaller setback because other developments have even smaller setbacks does not
make sense when the impact of setbacks is intended to allow waterways and wetlands to function at
their natural capacity and to protect them.
Very soon it is hoped that the City of Bozeman will bring in the new unified Development Codes and will
take into account recommendations made by the Sensitive Lands Protection Plan that hopefully aims to
protect the dwindling natural wildlife habitats, wet lands and waterways for future health and
prosperity of the community. Preserving the natural habitat and lands is in everyone’s interest. The
Community Development Board and City Commissioners have the ability to deny this project as a first
step toward the future planning goals.
The current proposal still does not have real second point of access and public safety is still at risk. The
same plan for access through a locked gate is the same entry point to the HOA at Birdie Drive through
the Lynx. Obvious concerns about how EMS vehicles gain access and whether the locked gate access is
accessible, clear of snow and parked cars and able to be unlocked if access is needed through
Commercial Drive.
The new change making the road through the subdivision ending in a cul-de-sac narrower and longer
raises concerns that EMS vehicles might not be able to reach the cul-de-sac and might not be able to
turn around. There is potential for the road being blocked by parked cars and that plowed snow piled
along the road would make the road width potentially impassable for a fire truck or other EMS vehicles.
Commissioner Chris Coburn raised concern at last review about the risk for major flood events. The new
City of Bozeman Flood Plain map places all but the existing hay meadow in the 100 year flood plain. This
is still a major concern with changes in climate causing moisture from snowpack in the mountains to be
released in a very quickly due to rapid warming or rain on snow events that are predicted to be a
common pattern in climate change predictions for this area. Events like the catastrophic flooding in Red
Lodge, MT and Gardiner MT Spring 2022 could occur in this area. Building this close to flood plain is not
responsible to the health, prosperity and safety of homeowners.
Sensitive Lands within the parcel include federally protected wetland. Turning over the management of
a wetland to an HOA is irresponsible. There are examples all over the Valley of HOAs neglecting features
in their developments. I am told that the City does not enforce HOAs duties except if there is a nuisance
report.
Another major concern is the number and reach of tasks that the HOA is assigned by the developer to
perform. Managing the federally protected wetland, maintaining fencing, making sure no nitrogen or
phosphorous chemicals are used in the back yards ( this is noted to be promised by the developer but
not clearly stated in the HOA Covenants that I can see) , preventing dumping of lawn debris , maintain
trails, building and upkeep of bird blind, playground and picnic area, regular maintenance of dog
excrement collection stations, maintaining the locked gate and emergency egress road way, keeping
cars from parking along the long skinny road and cul-de-sac to keep way clear for emergency vehicle
access. It is clear all over Bozeman that HOA responsibilities are often shirked and features developers
install fall into disrepair.
On final concern is that the updated City of Bozeman Flood Plain shows AE Areas with Base Flood in the
back yards of the proposed homes. Neighbors immediately adjacent to the proposed development
pump water with sump pumps continually for several weeks every spring from their crawl spaces due to
shallow water table. The addition of houses, driveways, sidewalks and road would worsen the problems
for the immediate neighbors and greatly increase local run-off.
I understand the goal for development currently is for infill to generate more needed housing. It is clear
Bozeman planners are a hotseat for providing more housing, affordable housing as the demand is high
and more units increase the tax base to pay for services. This proposal continues to be problematic for
the public safety considerations and difficult for an HOA to take good care of all that would be asked of
them placing this sensitive land in the hands of the wrong caretakers.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit my concerns before the Community Development Board
today.
Janet Winnie
1045 Boylan Rd Apt 14
Bozeman MT 59715
406-600-6334