HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-23 Public Comment - A. Throop - Comment on new Bozeman Development Code_ZoningFrom:Allison Klein Throop
To:Agenda
Cc:Randy
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comment on new Bozeman Development Code/Zoning
Date:Monday, September 18, 2023 10:03:00 AM
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I am not 100% sure I am reading the draft correctly as I tried to go through the 532-pagedocument, so please forgive me if any of my assumptions are incorrect. I was also unaware of
the new rezoning draft until a few days ago, so forgive my tardiness. It seems to me that thecurrent R-S, R-1, R-2, and R-3 are all going to be combined into one new zoning designation
of R-A which will allow up to 8 units. As R-1 and R-2 were single-household and one to two-household residential developments and even R-3 allowed up to five residential structures, this
seems like an extreme change and one that will drastically change the appearance of what Ifeel to be the heart of Bozeman.
I suppose I am most worried about the area that is included in the current Neighborhood
Conservation Overlay District [Broadway to 7th and Tamarack south towards the college). Iunderstand the need for areas where there are condos, apartments, townhouses, etc.. I
understand the current construction that has been going on for 5 years or so just north of MainStreet that creates more of a transition from the businesses of Main Street into the residential
areas. Still, I think rezoning and clumping all of R-1, R-2, and R-3 is a mistake. I cannot helpbut picture the children's book "The Little House" and imagine these amazing unique
Bozeman homes within the current Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District getting soldto developers who create 8-unit buildings. Little by little these fantastic homes will be
surrounded by large buildings and, in turn, those amazing homes will sell as it is no longerpleasant to live in that situation.
One of the things that drew me and so many people I know to Bozeman was not only walking
our incredible Main Street and exploring all there was to offer, but also to walk north or southpast the business sections into the residential sections. Whenever we have family and friends
who visit, we always bike or drive them down S Willson as we believe it is one of the mostbeautiful stretches and the thought of that being rezoned as RA and, over time, being replaced
by units that can cram more people in, breaks my heart.
Rezoning the current R-1, R-2, and R-3 areas in the Neighborhood Conservation OverlayDistrict will in no way fix the affordable housing issue we have in our town. The multi-unit
buildings going up cost extravagantly more than any single-family home I've seen in theneighborhood, both in terms of rent and purchase.
I would ask that you take into consideration the look and feel of the current Neighborhood
Conservation Overlay District and perhaps keep the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones within it as theycurrently exist so as not to completely change the feel, charm, and historic nature of
Bozeman.
Allison Throop
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allison (klein) throop
.cell. 917 757 8382.email. awkthroop@gmail.com
.website. www.northforkmapping.com
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