HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-23 Public Comment - D. Brown - Figgins Neighborhood ZoningFrom:Dawn Brown
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL][SENDER UNVERIFIED]Figgins Neighborhood Zoning
Date:Thursday, September 21, 2023 11:00:32 AM
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Good morning,
I understand the challenges that our growing city faces with increases toour population and a lack of affordable housing. This must be a very
difficult puzzle to solve, however, the recent discussions on zoning
changes have really been causing stress for myself and my fellow
neighbors. We do not have multiple properties that we are making moneyon that we can fall back on and escape to. We own a modest 1200 square
foot home that my husband, myself, and our kids live in. We chose to live
in this neighborhood because of all of the cul-de-sacs, parks, schools,
wildlife, and accessibility. I can't imagine the possibility of an apartmentcomplex, duplexes, or condos going up in this small intimate community.
Parking is already an issue because there are several rentals in this
neighborhood, so the streets are already lined with many cars/trucks and
campers. The traffic at this point is manageable but add in somecondensed housing and the safe walk to my kids schools or the kids riding
their bikes all over the neighborhood now becomes a huge area of concern
for parents. There is already concern over the subdivision going in north
east of Morningstar elementary.
Changing the zoning will greatly impact the value of many of my
neighbors and our only major investments. Why do the working class folksalways have to pay the price for poor planning by developers,
commissioners, and city planners etc? We work our butts off to live in
Bozeman. My husband works up to 60 hours per week and I'm at a solid
40 so that we can afford our home, the upkeep and raising kids in anexpensive community.
When I first moved to Bozeman in 1998 there were several trailer
parks....fast forward to the 2000's where the trailer parks get ripped downand gentrification has overtaken this community. Now there are campersall over Bozeman and a pretty significant homeless population. It's great
that there is a lottery for home purchases over in the Storymill park area
for the new housing going in. That is a decent solution, although, thatused to be an even more affordable housing area considering it was alarge trailer park at one time....Now my neighbors and I in the working
class neighborhood of Figgins, face re-zoning in our peaceful, quiet,
humble neighborhood. Most of us in Figgins bought our homes when theywere more affordable but couldn't afford to purchase anything in Bozemanat these new prices. Most of us in this neighborhood do not have extra
homes and investment properties to fall back on and now we facesignificant changes to our communities, homes, and the charm that
brought us to Figgins in the first place.
Please consider how these changes will impact us and please removeFiggins and other neighborhoods like ours from these future plans.
Working folks work hard and deserve to come home to safe and quiet
communities that we have spent our lives pursuing.
Thanks for your time,
Dawn
Dawn Brown SHRM-SCP
She/Her
Montana Ale Works
Human Resources DirectorCommunity Outreach & Events Coordinator
p (406) 587-7700
www.montanaaleworks.com