HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-31-23 Public Comment - N. Kimball - RE_ comment on N 3rd proposal with stadd responseFrom:Lynn Hyde
To:Nicole Kimball
Cc:Agenda
Subject:RE: comment on N 3rd proposal
Date:Wednesday, May 31, 2023 8:04:00 AM
Nikki,
Thank you for the public comment. It has been received and is in the public record available for all
reviewers, applicant and decision makers.
Best,
Lynn Hyde | Development Review Planner, Community DevelopmentCity of Bozeman | 20 East Olive St. | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771406.579.1471 | lhyde@bozeman.net | www.bozeman.net
From: Nicole Kimball <nikkikimball@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2023 9:48 PM
To: Lynn Hyde <lhyde@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: comment on N 3rd proposal
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Hello,
My name is Nikki Kimball. I have owned and lived at my home at 618 North 3rd Ave since 2004. I am
concerned about Project #222375 – North 3rd Apartments. I understand that Bozeman needs
housing for people earning lower incomes. However, accepting a sub-par development from an out-
of-state firm is not the way to go. As presented at the planning meeting on 15 May 23, this project
fails in several areas: the project does not honor the dignity of those people who will be renting; the
lack of structured parking and minimal points of ingress and egress to vehicles associated with the
project will create congestion and safety concerns for the project itself and for those of us already
living here; and the proposed buildings are completely inappropriate to the neighborhood they are
entering.
First, to the dignity of those renting:
By providing only rental opportunities through the complex, DEVCO prevents people oflower means from growing wealth as there are no rent-to-buy or lower income units toown in any way.
As proposed these apartments will only remain affordable for 30 years. No mention wasmade of rent control or what happens to those who’ve made these apartments their homefor years preceding that short time.
DEVCO’s first stated mission to, “build and operate first class multi-family housing that
are an asset to the communities,” is not consistent the design proposed for North 3rd
Apartments. There is nothing first class about placing people of lower income into oneisolated complex beside, but apart from, this neighborhood. The fact that the proposed
buildings are jarringly different in scale and in feel from neighboring homes to the eastand south, further stigmatizes its renters.
The project includes no amenities aimed at providing a dignified situation: no cafes,small retail stores, childcare, open spaces equivalent to those found in the existingcommunity. Such multi-use entities would provide incentive for neighbors living nearbyto integrate with renters.
Parking as it effects renters of this complex: By not providing structured parking, Devcowill build a vast black top parking lot which will be a heat-sink in the summer, harmingthe immediate environment for its renters by exposing their homes to exceedingly highambient temperatures.
Most housing units will have window on only one aspect of each home, thus preventinghealthy airflow to dissipate heat.
Parking: several of my neighbors and many of those people on the community development board
have already expressed concerns regarding parking, so I will be brief here.
There is clearly not enough parking for the residents and any guests staying with them,particularly in the winter, creating dangerous overflow into neighboring areas. Duringnon-winter times, there will be insufficient parking during events such as BMX racingor concerts at the Aspen Crossing outdoor public venue. Please refer to letters outliningthis problem as well as that of congestion of local neighborhoods for more on this point
The need for parking could be reduced through mixed-use additions such as day care,coffee shops or bodegas which would allow residents to attain goods and serviceswithout the need for excess driving. Further, times of need for parking differ inretail/service vs residential parking, thus allowing the same number of parking spaces toaccommodate more people’s actually parking needs.
Buildings inappropriate to the neighborhood and city:
· Ordinarily developers must pass projects through city commission approval toensure projects meet city development plans and objectives as well as, otherestablished standards such that neighbors of such projects are not unduly harmed,environmental/traffic/safety concerns are studied, and that projects are appropriatefor the areas they are entering. Directly east of the proposed project, homeownershave been required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness for proposed work asbenign as replacing a backyard porch. Now the city is encouraging out-of-statedevelopers to replace open space with buildings that dwarf the establishedneighborhood, blocking daylight and likely severely hurting property values, withlittle or no oversight.
· As to appropriateness, I must point out that the proposed development in no wayfollows that of the city in general. For instance, the proposal states that there willbe a dog park, though open space in the drawings is extremely limited. I agree withthe need for a dog park (or kid’s playground, or other similar amenities) for aproject of this scope. For DEVCO to comply with established norms, I wouldexpect that park to fit with size and quality of existing parks such as: Cooper, WestPaw Park at Story Mill, Burke Park, GCRP, Lewis and Bark, Highland Park andSnowfill.
· The large asphalt area proposed will reduce groundwater recharge and increasestormwater management volumes and associated treatment costs for the city.
In summary, the city seems to be preferentially allowing for-profit, out-of-state interests to usepublic tax-payer-funded incentives to build housing that demeans people living in the project, badlydamages the local safety, and causes losses to the mental and financial health of adjacenthomeowners. All of this will be done for a company that can, in 30 years, remove all renters of lowerincome levels in order to earn even more profit. Bozeman needs dignified, appropriate housingwhich can people of lesser means can rent or buy for the foreseeable future. We do not need atemporary band aid which will neither provide long-term help to people in need, nor respect theneeds of those people already living in the area. Please take the time to do this right! Sincerely,Nikki Kimball618 North Third Ave
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