HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-25-23 Public Comment - D. Carty - May 25, 2023, meeting of Urban Parks and Forestry BoardFrom:Daniel Carty
To:Agenda
Subject:May 25, 2023, meeting of Urban Parks and Forestry Board
Date:Thursday, May 25, 2023 8:51:04 AM
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Note: Please place the following public comment in the CY2023 Urban Parks and
Forestry (UPF) Citizen's Advisory Board folder and distribute to all UPF board
members before tonight's (May 25, 2023) meeting. Thank you.
Date: May 25, 2023
To: Bozeman Urban Parks and Forestry Board (UPF)
Subject: Agenda Item J1: The value of native plants/trees on public and private
property
I am writing to comment on tonight's UPF discussion about the value of nativeplants/trees on public and private property within the City of Bozeman, as follows:
In the City of Bozeman (Bozeman), decisions about residential/commercial
development and road building are shaped by the Montana state constitution,Montana state laws, and by Bozeman's growth policy, municipal code and
ordinances, and various city plans (e.g., Strategic Plan, Community Plan, Climate
Plan, and Transportation Plan). In many of these documents, there is language that
argues for maintaining a healthy natural environment (e.g., clean air and clean water)while still allowing for residential/commercial development and road building to meet
the needs of a growing human population.
In Bozeman in recent years, residential/commercial development and road buildinghave taken precedence over maintaining a healthy natural environment. For example,
large numbers of native, mature trees have either already been destroyed (e.g., along
Flander's Mill Rd) or are slated to be destroyed (e.g., Fowler Ave Connection, Canyon
Gate, Gran Cielo II). Moreover, in many areas of Bozeman, groomed urban parkshave replaced formerly natural open spaces, thus further contributing to the ongoing
degradation of Bozeman's natural environment.
In Bozeman, a philosophical shift in how development-related and road-buildingdecisions are made will be needed to prevent the continued loss of native plants/trees
and prevent the continued degradation of Bozeman's natural environment.
Specifically, Bozeman's development and road-building decision makers (e.g., City
Commission, Community Development staff, Engineering and Transportation staff)will need to move from an anthropocentric view of the world to an ecocentric view of
the world. Briefly, anthropocentrism is a human-centered view of the world in which
the natural environment is only valued in terms of the material or physical benefits it
can provide to humans. In contrast, ecocentrism is a view of the world that placesintrinsic value on all living organisms and their natural environment, regardless of
their perceived usefulness or importance to humans. Perhaps it was an ecocentric
view of the world that led Aldo Leopold to develop his concept of a Land Ethic, when
in 1949 he wrote in a Sand County Almanac:
(1) "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we
see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and
respect."
(2) "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of thebiotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."
(3) "To [some people], a blank space on a map is a useless waste; to others the most
valuable part."
In conclusion, if we, as Bozeman residents, are truly concerned about maintaining a
healthy natural environment, then we should do everything we can to encourage our
City government, commercial/residential developers, and public and private roadbuilders to maintain large numbers of native plants/trees on both public and private
property. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Daniel Carty213 N. Third Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
dgc12@hotmail.com406-548-2810