HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-23 Public Comment - D. Wales - Proposed changes in city zoningFrom:Doug Wales
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed changes in city zoning
Date:Monday, October 2, 2023 11:13:37 AM
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Attention: City planners and Bozeman City Commissioners
My name is Doug Wales and I live at 323 West Lamme Street. I moved to Bozeman in 1978
and have lived within 4 blocks of downtown for over 40 years. I am in strong opposition toyour proposal of making any changes to our zoning laws.
When I moved into my W. Lamme residence in 1990 to start my family and 28-year career at
Bridger Bowl, the north side of Bozeman was the affordable housing district. The $60,000homes on the south side were out of my price range. We are already overwhelmed with the
rapid, multi-story building development that is occurring in our neighborhoods. We now livein a permanent construction zone, and your proposal would increase it by order of magnitudes.
Our narrow, and functionally, single-lane streets have long exceeded their intended capacitylimits, and simply cannot support the traffic and parking your development allowances would
demand. Biking is no longer safe. What you are proposing would make bike lanes for safetransportation impossible.
Along with thousands of others on the north side, I have spent hundreds of thousands of
dollars in improvements in my home and property to help make the north-side of Bozeman asafe, beautiful and desirable location to live, work and raise families. We have all poured so
much of our lives, yes, blood, sweat and tears, into improving our homes and neighborhoodsonly to see developers like Andy Holloran and HomeBase investors swoop in to capitalize on
our hard work and investments, making the north-side a desirable location to live. We shouldnot be fighting to preserve our neighborhoods from developers.
As a former board member of the DBA who was a part of creating the vision in Bozeman's
2020 plan, I am very upset to see the radical departure that has been taken with massive 6story buildings penetrating our neighborhoods ... buildings that were intended for Mendenhall
Street only. And now, with this proposed change to our zoning structure, at 66 years of agewith no prior intention of ever moving, I am facing potential massive loss in my property's
retail value if I miscalculate the "time to sell". This is traumatizing.
I am fully aware of the overwhelming task you are facing to adequately and fairly manage thegrowth of our rapidly growing community. In my role at Bridger Bowl, I witnessed first-hand
the challenge of meeting the needs of a rapidly growing and diverse ski community area, andthe tough decisions required in updating antiquated lifts, infrastructure and facilities while
keeping prices as affordable as possible. You have a very difficult job to do and the decisionsyou make are much more consequential than what the management and board of directors at
Bridger face. However, what you are proposing in this zoning change is as egregious as if ournonprofit Bridger Bowl Ski Area were to scrap their nonprofit structure and sell to private
investors.
We all understand how expensive Bozeman has become, and yes, I am very discouraged that
my own children can't afford to buy a home here. However, your proposal will not solve theproblem. New downtown neighborhood developments will be high-priced real estate, without
question.
As planners and commissioners, you do have viable options for increasing our affordablehousing. North 7th Street, which has a very close proximity to our charming downtown, has
ample locations that can accommodate large, affordable apartment and condominiumcomplexes. The old K-Mart parking lot and adjacent area has ample room. There are many
other businesses in buildings along North 7th that could be incorporated into large multi-use,commercial and residential buildings that would not overwhelm neighborhood homes. The old
Dollar Store parking lot is vacant. There are many locations that could accommodate ouraffordable housing needs. Let Andy Holloran and HomeBase investors spend their ample
money in creating the green spaces with landscaping and parks and develop those regions toaccommodate our affordable housing needs.
Our zoning system has been in place for over 100 years. We DO NOT need to change it.
Please, don't vote to destroy our community with this egregious change to our zoning systemin Bozeman.