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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-30-23 Public Comment - T. & S. Reiner - 1801 & 1805 Willow Way Annexation, App 23016May 25, 2023 Bozeman City Commission 121 North Rouse A venue Bozeman, MT 59715 THOMAS E. REINER SHARON K. REINER 1711 WILLOW WAY BOZEMAN, MT 59715 RE: Annexation and Initial Zone Map Amendment for 1801 and 1805 Willow Way/ Tracts 7 and 8 of Bea tty's Subdivision Ladies and Gentlemen: Tom and Sharon are protesting the "Annexation and Initial Zone Map Amendment" for 1805 and 1801 Willow Way, Bozeman, MT 59715, Tracts 7 and 8 of Beatty's Subdivision, S13, T02S, ROSE. History We have owned our home on Willow Way since 1984. We have raised four children in our home and numerous grandchildren have played in our yard. When the home was purchased, Willow Way was a dirt road that ran between Lincoln and Kagy Boulevard. Kagy ended at 11th Avenue and was just ~ small dirt road that ran from Willow Way to 19th Avenue. Once Kagy was pushed through to 19th, Willow remained a dirt road connected to Kagy until a few years ago when it was paved. Traffic There is a right-hand only turn at 19th and Lincoln making Willow Way a main thorough fair for people to race down to get to Kagy. Because there are more people living south of Kagy Boulevard now then when we purchased the home, there is an enormous amount of traffic on Willow Way. Along with the vehicles traveling down Willow Way, there is a high volume of college "foot, bike, and skateboard" traffic not only from the "high density" housing already existing at the addresses which are the properties that are the subject of this letter, but also from the high-density housing complexes between Willow Way and Kagy that do not have outlets other than Kagy Boulevard. These students used Willow Way to access the campus as well. Paragraph "g" of the Zone Map Amendment (ZMA) states that proposed rezoning will result in increased density that will result in far more traffic on Willow Way. This traffic will physically endanger walkers, bike riders, and skateboarders. I Bozeman City Commission May 25, 2023 Page 2 Sharon has personally contacted the Gallatin County Sheriff's Depaiiment, including the Sheriff directly, regarding the high rate of speed that vehicles travel down Willow Way. She has also contacted Assistant Mayor Terry Cunningham. She has been advised that there is basically nothing the Sheriff's Department can do. They are too busy to care. In their own non-scientific survey, the Reiners estimate that roughly 85 to 90 percent of the vehicles travelling down Willow Way exceed the 25 mile per hour speed limit by travelling well over 40 miles per hour. Several deer and ducks have been killed. It is only a matter of time before a "pedestrian" is hit and harmed. Adding more traffic to Willow Way is only going to increase this problem. The homes on Willow Way are zoned R-S. The homes on Alder Court are zones R-2. The only R-4 zoning in the area is south of Kagy. This density is not allowed in R-S zoning. The engineer states in subparagraph "k" that the rezoning will result in increased density on the subject property, which presently is inconsistent with the any other property on Willow Way, including ours. Failure to Provide Justification In their letter dated January 16, 2023, C&H Engineering and Surveying, Inc., to the City of Bozeman planning Department gives no justification as to why 1801 and 1805 Willow Way should be rezoned to R-4. The engineers do not make a claim that rezoning is necessary to hook up the two houses on Tracts 7 and 8 of Beatty's subdivision to city sewer and water services. In other words, these two properties can be hooked up to the City's utilities without changing the zoning to R-4. The result of changing the zoning to R4, as admitted by the engineers, will increase density on Tracts 7 and 8, to the detriment of all who reside on Willow Way and Alder Comi. The engineer acknowledges in subparagraph A of the ZMA narrative that this rezoning will result in a residential high-density district, which is wholly inconsistent with the residences on Willow Way and Alder Court. Conclusions Our home and property will be greatly injured if the Bozeman City Commission approves this rezoning request. ~