HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-23 Public Comment - L. Schulz - UPF and Wetland MitigationFrom:Lara Schulz
To:Agenda
Cc:Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; Christopher Coburn; I-Ho Pomeroy; Cyndy Andrus
Subject:[EXTERNAL]CC letter
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:43:28 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.
I am writing to submit my input and suggestions for two important topics. One is regarding
the upcoming UPF meeting and the other is regarding the upcoming Wetlands Protectionand Mitigation Work Session.
First, I would like to encourage the preservation of the Gallagator Trail, as it currently exists:
an unpaved and natural corridor without the addition of lighting. There are many reasons tomaintain the trail as dirt/gravel and unlighted. First and foremost, the trail is a watershed.
Paving the trail increases damaging and toxic runoff (see this link for morehttps://ei.lehigh.edu/envirosci/enviroissue/sprawl/paving.html).
There are many who seek out the Gallagator trail for its lack of pavement. The surface iskinder to the joints when running and walking, and kinder to the little knees and elbows of
children riding bikes. It is also quieter than pavement. The dirt trail absorbs sound andoffers a more peaceful experience. Lack of pavement on the Gallagator offers connectivity
to the Petes Hill trail system which is also dirt and gravel and provides urban recreationistsan opportunity to experience something that is more natural than pavement, which is
increasingly important for mental health as our town is expanding and paving more eachday.
Lighting trails introduces well studied and known negative impacts on humans and wildlife(see this link for some of those impacts,
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution/). Again, leaving the trail asit is, offers a more natural and peaceful experience than pavement and bright LED lights.
The trail has been loved for decades, just as it is. As the saying goes, “if it isn’t broken,
don’t fix it”.
Lastly, I encourage the city to employ an Urban Ecologist/Forest Ecologist that is
independent of the planning department to ensure thorough and unbiased reviews of allproposed commercial and residential development sites. I understand there is a need to
increase jurisdiction over wetlands and there is a desire to hire two full-time employedWetland Specialists, however, having two specialists of the same category rather than
diversifying and ensuring protection and preservation of wetlands AND urban forests seemsto be both redundant and negligent. An Urban Ecologist/Forest Ecologist could have greatly
reduced the ecological shortcomings and damage that occurred as a result of the CanyonGate development and would ensure protection and the improvement of existing
ecosystems such as the Gran Cielo II urban forest. Now is the time to take steps thatguarantee the preservation of what Bozeman still has, from an Ecological Services
standpoint and create a more responsible path forward for the development of this specialplace and all of its fragile and invaluable ecological assets.
Lara Schulz
3306 S 29th AveBozeman MT 59718