HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-19-23 Public Comment - P. Tolleson - Public Comment for Application 22375From:Tolleson, Paige
To:Lynn Hyde; Agenda
Subject:Public Comment for Application 22375
Date:Friday, May 19, 2023 2:13:11 PM
Attachments:Public Comment.docx
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Hi Lynn,
Please see my attached public comment for application 22375.
Thank you,
Paige Tolleson
Dear City of Bozeman,
I am deeply concerned about the North 3rd Affordable Housing Plan. I am a long term tenant of
Mr. Daniel O’Donnell in 812 N 3rd Avenue. While I absolutely agree the City of Bozeman is in
need of more affordable housing, I do not believe that the N 3rd lot is an appropriate loca�on.
The neighborhood on North 3rd is already surrounded by low income housing including:
Darlington Manor, Bridger Heights (referred to on google maps as Bozeman’s Baby Factory) and
the Homeless Encampment on Hemlock St. Due to our unique posi�on of 360 degrees of low
income housing, residents on North 3rd have experienced the�, drug abuse, homelessness, and
drug sales. If rather than further segrega�ng Bozeman’s low income community to North 7th-
North 3rd, and instead dispersing it amongst the city, the impacts of the underprivileged would
be felt less. This patern of segregated housing is an unfortunate way for the city of Bozeman to
withhold resources and opportunity to the poor, and keep the wealth and prosperity for the
rich.
A good example of a well thought out affordable housing neighborhood is the Bridger View
Community. By allowing people to purchase these homes at a below market value it helps low
income families get into a stable living situa�on. By also intermixing the homes as at market
value and below market value you do not segregate the lower income folks. Home ownership
also influences a sense of pride, and care for a community. Rentals on the other hand are
disposable and built for the profit of the rich, who will also reap the rewards of tax deduc�ons
because of the low income nature.
I am also concerned about the limited number of parking stalls required for these apartments.
The development plan states, “The requested incen�ve for the project will be a reduc�on in the
parking ra�o to one stall per dwelling unit per 3d. of Deep Incen�ves.” This is not an incen�ve; it
is neglect and cost cu�ng of the required parking capacity needs for 216 units. The average
number of vehicles per household in the United States is 1.8, and in Montana specifically it is
4.5. On the low end of this range, with 216 units there will be at minimum 388 vehicles. Where
are the extra 117 cars going to go with only 271 parking stalls? I suppose North 3rd will now also
be litered with hundreds of cars parked on the street.
As Bozeman deals with the growing pains of becoming a city rather than a town I would have
hoped for more though�ul city planning. Instead it seems this city is focused on catering to the
rich with sprawling subdivisions, removing wildlife corridors, and segrega�ng low income
neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Paige Tolleson