HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-10-23 Public Comment - A. Craighead - UDC rezoning changes for oct 10 community development board meetingFrom:April Craighead
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC rezoning changes for oct 10 community development board meeting
Date:Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:52:31 AM
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Dear Commissions,
I’m writing as a concerned Bozeman citizen about the proposed new changes to the UDC codes
pertaining to rezoning of districts to higher density housing (proposed zoning R-A). I would like to say
that I am certainly opposed to this amendment for areas within the historic district and long
established neighborhoods with single family units. Most people realize the need of affordable
housing and using in-fill to do that is a fist step but not at the expense of overcrowding, loss of
community, and traffic issues within already vibrant neighborhoods.
I feel that such efforts for high density housing should be implemented in new developments or in
other areas like the old K-mart as do many other residents.
I realize that the most recent legislature has passed bills for cities like Bozeman to embrace urban
development but changes in UDC codes at this juncture seems premature especially with the current
growth of Gallatin County.
I have witnessed much of the in-fill that the city has done within the past 5-10 years but I have yet to
see that any of the apartments, condominiums or townhouses appear to qualify as “affordable
housing”, places like the apartments on Babcock and Wallace, Black and Olive and Block M and the
new apartments on the NE side are not priced anywhere near affordable for most working people of
Bozeman. This infill has also caused parking and traffic issues within established neighborhoods.
I could go on and on about the how this would negatively impact neighborhoods but I’ll keep this
short. I hope that many of the neighbors that have already been affected by city in-fill will tell the
city in no uncertain terms how this negatively impacts their neighborhoods, property values, parking
and quality of life. If they don’t I know that many other concerned citizens will. If the city really
wants higher density housing to succeed they should focus these developments out of the core city
neighborhoods and work on changing how people view higher density living. Currently most people
who move to Bozeman have been sold on the American dream of owning a house with a yard etc.
Most of us realize that this is not sustainable for our resources but that is what realtors , chamber of
commerce and developers constantly bombard people with. So if you want peoples’ perceptions to
change maybe you should start with them.
Sincerely,
Lance and April Craighead
April Craighead
Wildlife Biologist
Craighead Institute
201 So. Wallace Ave
Suite B2D
Bozeman, MT. 59715
406 585-8705
april@craigheadinstitute.org