HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-23 Public Comment - S. Johnson - Fwd_ Letter For Community Development Board September 18, 2023From:Susan Johnson
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Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fwd: Letter For Community Development Board September 18, 2023
Date:Wednesday, September 13, 2023 12:54:17 PM
Attachments:SuzieJohnson-CDB-9-18-23.pdf
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From: Suzie JohnsonDate: Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 12:42 PM
Subject: Letter For Community Development Board September 18, 2023
September 18, 2023
Dear Community Development Board,
I am writing on behalf of Livability in what is now R1/R2 in Bozeman.
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that I know all of you sitting on this board love Bozeman!
Bozeman is not a place that you come to for just a job, but a way of life that includes the beauty of the
mountains, open spaces, rivers, art, the best symphony, MSU, amazing downtown, children who look
you in the eye, beautiful well-kept homes, and people who are proud of Bozeman.
When I came 32 years ago, I forgot to close the gate. Others came for the same reasons that I did - the
natural beauty, the charm of this city, and the people: people who helped one another, people who
cared for one another.
On to Livability, R1/R2 were put into place for a purpose - not to keep people out, but to be inclusive
without being overbearing. In my R2 neighborhood there are a few grandfathered fraternities and
sororities, rental houses with 5 students on close to 1⁄4 of all the lots, a couple grandfathered 1 to 2
story apartments that do not tower over their next door neighbor's single-family home, and many
owner- occupied houses. This balance keeps my neighborhood peaceful.
Is it affordable housing in what is now R1/R2 to build a 3 story 8 unit apartment, condo, or town house?
A developer buying in R1/R2 would need to pay well over $700,000 per space to tear down a house and
then put in millions for a 3 story 8 unit apartment or townhouse. Let’s be realistic. This is going to be
affordable housing? The developer is not building these out of the good of his/her heart but to make
money, as they should, but it won't be affordable.
Let’s talk Historic Preservation building requirements. Is there in place a committee that would review
the type of structure to be built in what is now R1/R2? Do we want Bozeman to tear down a single-
family home and put up a 3 story apartment that does not fit into the character of the city? How many 8
unit apartments are enough in the historic conservation overlay district?
My R2 neighborhood is varied with about 90 students living within a block of me and all kinds of people
today. Please do not tell me I am crying "Not in my back yard!"
I ask the Community Development Board to recommend against combining R1, R2, and R3 into the
proposed RA zone. It is too much too fast.
Thank you,
Susan Johnson
411 W. Arthur Street
Bozeman, MT 59715