HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-11-23 Public Comment - C. McQueary & L. Shulz - Gran Cielo ll proposed Annexation 22-090From:Christopher Mcqueary
To:Agenda
Subject:Gran Cielo ll proposed Annexation 22-090
Date:Tuesday, April 11, 2023 5:23:46 PM
Attachments:Birds across the street Kurk Ave 05.2021.wav
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City of Bozeman Department of Community Development
ATTN: Tom Rogers
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Tom and Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing in protest to the Gran Cielo ll Annexation project # 22-090. The reason and
concerns for our protest are conditional and a modification to this project may change
our stance on it. Aside from water, no other natural feature or resource is as
important to this valley as mature, native trees. The current design of this project
would include the destruction of a stand of mature and native trees that runs west to
east and parallels Kurk Drive. This stand is a micro forest within Bozeman’s urban-rural
interface which is very important to many residents and is teeming with life. Decisions
and requirements used to grant or deny development in our city must take into
consideration the preservation of these micro forests as they are natural features
providing critical habitat. To allow their destruction is contrary to the city of Bozeman’s
own planning goals which clearly state the following:
Work to ensure that development is responsive to natural features
This best identifies with the preservation of trees; especially those which make up a
large contiguous native stand
Address climate change in the city’s plans and operations.
Because of a tree’s function and ability to absorb Co2 while producing oxygen, and
providing shade, they are the most important natural defense against climate
change.
Promote uses of the natural environment that maintain and improvehabitat, water quantity, and quality, while giving due consideration to the
impact of City regulations on economic viability.
While providing shelter and food for many birds and other wildlife species, trees
maintain habitat more than any other natural feature. Trees capture and hold
moisture. Trees allow the moisture they collect to remain cool, to be gradually shed
onto and into the soil, used for the health of the tree, or released into our
atmosphere. This cycle helps reduce drought and flooding. Therefore, city
regulations supporting native and mature trees are a source of economic viability.
The stand of trees which is threatened by this project supports over 20 species of resident and
migratory birds that have used this forest for many generations. They are currently busy
building nests for the spring and summer. In this very stand of trees and perhaps for nearly a
century, generation after generation of these birds have been repeating this activity. The
sound of these birds coming from this one stand is astounding and a natural feature of our
daily life. Destroying this stand would silence these sounds which would change the quality of
life for many people. Residents of adjacent neighborhoods (including Gran Cielo 1) enjoy this
stand of trees every day. It is very important to their well-being. It’s also an important factor in
the valuation of homes and played a significant role in why they chose to buy a home nearby.
As stated above, mature, native trees make real estate more valuable. For this reason alone,
and before this project can advance, a requirement of this project needs to include a
modification that will preserve this stand of trees. Such a modification will be a win-win for
both developers and current residents of Meadow Creek, Gran Cielo, and others in the valley.
The preservation of these mature and native trees upholds the planning department’s goals
and maintains the quality of life we can all have and deserve. It will set an important trend in
Bozeman’s planning and development while setting our city and its developers apart for all the
right reasons.
Thank you for your consideration and efforts toward keeping Bozeman a great place to live.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2bvylmodnm598lp/AAAWXLgX2edVGimBRsMynv7Ha?dl=0
Sincerely
Chris McQueary
Lara Schulz
3306 S 29th Ave
Bozeman MT
59718
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