HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-23 Public Comment - K. Sanchez - Update to Bozeman Development Codes -From:karen bucklin sanchez
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment - Update to Bozeman Development Codes -
Date:Monday, October 2, 2023 3:31:43 PM
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Helo,
Please do not push forward the plan to combine Zones R-1, R-2 and R-3 into a combined Zone R-A.
We urge the City Commission to vote against the Unified Development Code (UDC).
I have lived on North 5th Avenue for four decades. I live here because this is a walkableand bikeable
neighborhood. I live here because it is diverse in so many ways and includes subsidized housing such
as Deaborn Manor. I live here because there is greenspace (Westlake Park). I live here because there
are young working families and older residents like myself who have invetsed in our neighborhood.
This is the basis of a functional, livable, neighborhood.
In the past few years, we have seen the well-intentioned plan to develop affordable high-density
housing in our neighborhood (north of Main Street) backfire into the hasty development of luxury
apartments. This has started to destroy the character of our older core neighborhoods. Let's pause
and not keep moving forward in this direction.
We need more density and we need more affordable housing. We recognize that the legislature
stunted the ability of the City to require affordable housing be constructed by developers. To ignore
this and push the new development code and its zoning consolidation forward is to not be aware of,
or willing to take responsibility for, the irretrievable damage this will continue to do to our
community as a whole.
There are options that we can consider and implement that do not rely on the goodwill of
developers. Let's take a moment to carefully think through unintended consequences and to come
up with innovative incentives. For example, please recognize that many of Bozeman's subdivisions
have covenants that will override the proposed zoning consolidations, pushing the same type of
empty unaffordable developments farther into our city's historic central Bozeman neighborhoods.
Let's identify areas where affordable housing and high-density housing can be constructed to house
working families and encourage full-time engaged residents of Bozeman. Replacing established
neighborhoods with vacation townhouses and apartments is not the answer. We need more primary
residential places and not part-time empty luxury condos.
I urge you to NOT pass the new UDC.
Sincerely,
Karen Sanchez