HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-23 Public Comment - W. & R. Gavin - 4840 Fowler Annexation and ZMA, App 22383 protest Bozeman City Commission
c/o Bozeman City Clerk [L-( -Z�,� �n
121 N. Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
March 20, 2023
RE: Application 22383, 4840 Fowler Lane Annexation and Zoning Map Amendment
To the Members of the Commission,
Per MCA 76-2-305, we are writing in opposition to the annexation of this property into the city
of Bozeman and resulting zoning change. We reside on a 80 acre farm whose northeast corner
abuts the southwest corner of the property being considered for annexation.
Our main concern with this annexation is that this will significantly increase the amount of
traffic on Fowler Lane. The City Commission has annexed the Homestead at Buffalo Run into
the city without full consideration of any traffic plan to alleviate the impact that this will have
on traffic in the area. A transportation impact study commissioned by the developer indicates
1,200 daily trips will be generated due to this new development. 83% of these trips, roughly
1,000 car trips, are projected to exit from the subdivision onto Fowler Lane. Given this request
by 213, LLC for the same zoning density as Buffalo Run, their 20 acres will generate roughly same
number of additional trips on Fowler Lane in addition to the 1,000 from Buffalo Run. The
developer is planning on extending Bennett Blvd. to Fowler Lane, which will introduce a direct
route for traffic from both Gran Cielo and this development to exit onto Fowler and then north
to Stucky without having traffic going through residential streets in Gran Cielo.
It should be pointed out that in addition to this annexation, an additional 80 acres to the south
has requested annexation at the same zoning density. Rough calculations based on Buffalo
Run's traffic study would indicate that all three developments will generate roughly 6,000
additional vehicle trips daily on Fowler Lane.
Fowler Lane currently is a two-lane dirt road with steep drop offs on either side. During the
winter this road drifts badly from snow and Gallatin County considers it one of the worst snow
plowing stretches in this part of the county. Every winter cars slide off into the borrow ditch
between the proposed development and Stucky Road and others slide through the T-
intersection at Stucky and Fowler into the irrigation ditch and fencing on the north side of the
intersection.
Fowler Lane T's into Stucky Road which is becoming a main east-west artery. Stucky is a two-
lane road with steep drop-offs on either side and no shoulder. The intersection of Fowler and
Stucky is controlled by one stop sign on Fowler Lane. During morning rush hour, I have sat at
this intersection for up to three minutes, waiting for a break in the traffic to turn left on to
Stucky Road. Adding more trips through this intersection is a recipe for disaster. Ten years ago,
a young mother was killed at the intersection of Stucky and Cottonwood due to the high rates
of traffic"flow at that intersection with only a stop sign for control--a similar situation to what
exists currently at the intersection of Fowler and Stucky. Adding an additional 6,000 new car
trips to this intersection is unconscionable. We feel strongly that the only responsible approach
to any new annexations along Fowler Lane is for the city and county to work out a traffic
control plan for this intersection and have it implemented and built before any new annexation
is authorized.
In the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan under Subdivision Review; Public Health and Safety it
states: "The creation of hazards to public health and safety are not acceptable and appropriate
mitigation must be provided." Paragraph 3.2 of the Bozeman transportation master plan of
2017 states that " ...land use decisions are tied to the adequacy of transportation infrastructure
and may serve to constrain growth depending on policy directions both within and outside of
the Bozeman city limits".
In addition It should be pointed out that retail facilities for food, gas and other services are
almost two miles to the east or north of the proposed development. One of the considerations
specified by the city to be considered in any annexation (Bozeman 2020 Community Plan,
Theme 5, Paragraph MO-1.1) is the availability of nearby services to minimize traffic. New
subdivision annexations into the city in this part of the county should be halted until adequate
services have caught up with the currently approved development.
An additional consideration is that this new development will run contrary to the cities own
Climate Change Initiative. When the City of Bozeman adopted it's climate plan in December
2020,there were 6 focus areas with 16 actionable solutions identified to reduce the City's
greenhouse gas emissions and create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable community.
This high-density annexation and zoning clearly and directly conflicts with the achievable goals
of the Bozeman Climate Plan in the following ways:
• There will be a significant increase in automobile use from a subdivision that is several
miles (not walkable) from grocery stores, local schools,the university, and most
commercial operations.
• Both Fowler Lane and Stucky Road are not suitable for either safe biking or walking as
they completely lack safe shoulders, bike lanes or sidewalks.
• This proposed subdivision will only encourage more driving and resulting emissions,
conflicting directly with climate change goals.
Sincere ,
William and Renee Gavin
4929 Fowler Ln
Bozeman, MT 59718