HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-23 Public Comment - D. Carty -Gran Cielo II annexation_zoning (Application 22090)From:Daniel Carty
To:Agenda
Cc:Cyndy Andrus; Terry Cunningham; Jennifer Madgic; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn
Subject:Gran Cielo II annexation/zoning (Application 22090)
Date:Monday, June 12, 2023 11:53:27 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Date: Jun 12, 2023
To: Bozeman City Commission
Subject: City Commission Meeting, Jun 13, 2023, Agenda Action Item I.1,
Continuation of Gran Cielo II zoning discussion (Application 22090)
I am writing to ask the Bozeman City Commission to provide, via zoning, in
perpetuity protection for the two native, mature, aspen/cottonwood forests (total =
approx. 1.6 acres) that currently exist on the Gran Cielo II property (total = approx. 80
acres). My reasons for making this request are as follows:
(1) Environmental rationale for “zoning in” in perpetuity protection for existing
stands of trees on the Gran Cielo II property: On the eastern end of the Gran Cielo
II property (80 acres), there are two adjacent and sizable stands (i.e., forests) of
aspen/cottonwood trees totaling thousands of individual trees. Ecologically, these two“forests” are thriving and full of life, and ongoing ecological processes such as plant
succession make both of these forests fully functional, not only in and of themselves,
but also with respect to providing important wildlife habitat (especially for resident and
migratory birds).
Moreover, given local and global concerns about climate change, it is important to
protect all of Bozeman’s native, mature trees and perhaps even more important to
protect existing stands of native, mature trees such as the two aspen/cottonwoodforests on the Gran Cielo II property. Specifically, the more mature a tree is, the more
capable that tree is of sequestering carbon. For example, during a 40-year timespan,
a tree can capture nearly 1 ton of carbon through its branches, roots, and trunk. For
anyone—including developers—to cut down individual native, mature trees or to cutdown stands or forests of native, mature trees and replace them with many fewer,
young trees is simply a regression in the effort to combat climate change.
(2) Bozeman municipal code as legal rationale for “zoning in” in
perpetuity protection for existing stands of native, mature trees on the Gran
Cielo II property:
38.410 .010 General Standards: B. Natural environment. The design and
development of all land uses must be properly related to topography, and must, to the
extent possible, preserve the natural terrain, natural drainage, existing topsoil, trees
and other existing vegetation.
Comment: For the Gran Cielo II property, the total acreage of the two native, mature,
aspen/cottonwood forests is approx. 1.6 acres, which is only about 2% of the total 80
acres of the property. Consequently, it should be entirely possible for the developer
and the City, via zoning, to guarantee in perpetuity protection for these 1.6 acres of
forests.
(3) Bozeman city plans as sociocultural rationale for “zoning in” in
perpetuity protection for the existing stands of native, mature trees on the Gran
Cielo II property:
Bozeman Strategic Plan 2020
Bozeman’s Strategic Plan Subpart 6.6 Habitat commits the City to working with
environmental “partner” organizations to identify at-risk, environmentally sensitive
parcels of land that contribute to water quality, wildlife corridors, and wildlife habitat.
Comment: Arguably, the 1.6 acres of the aspen/cottonwood forests on the Gran
Cielo II property meet the above requirements, and thus it would be reasonable and
prudent for the City and the developers to consult with the City’s environmentalpartners with respect to “zoning in” in perpetuity protection for these forests.
Bozeman Climate Plan:
6.P.2: Maintain and Expand the Urban Forest
6.P.3: Enhance Greenspace and Carbon Sequestration for New Development
Comment: Self-explanatory
Bozeman Community Plan 2020: Theme 4: a city influenced by our naturalenvironment, parks and open space.
Goal EPO 2.3: Identify, prioritize, and preserve key wildlife habitat and corridors.
Comment: Self-explanatory
(4) Conclusion: Based on current Bozeman municipal code, Bozeman City plans,
and local environmental concerns, there appears to be ample legal, sociocultural, and
environmental rationale for the City Commission to require the Gran Cielo IIdevelopers to provide, via zoning, in perpetuity protection for the 1.6 acres of
aspen/cottonwood forests on this 80-acre property.
Daniel Carty
213 N. Third Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
dgc12@hotmail.com
406-548-2810