HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-23 Public Comment - B. Waters - draft development code revision CDBFrom:Bob Waters.
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]draft development code revision
Date:Friday, October 13, 2023 10:42:30 AM
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Dear Commissioners and Community Development Board members:
It would appear that density itself has become the GOAL of the current development coderevision and that the PROBLEM of affordability, the prime mover that ostensibly propelledthe revision process, has been lost in a sea of adulation for what should be merely a tool thatcan be used to address that problem. The simplistic notion that affordability will trickle downas a result of sacrificing historic neighborhoods to increased density is based upon littleconvincing evidence and fails to take into account either the unique and extreme nature of theGallatin Valley’s current in-migration problem or a political climate that has undermined ourcity’s right to establish housing affordability mandates.
Density is a mere tool, like an axe. That axe can split firewood, but it can also smash through adoor or someone’s skull. It’s a useful tool when properly controlled and wielded for aconstructive purpose, but in the hands of the wrong person with the wrong intent, it can bewielded in ways that are destructive. Likewise, housing density, as a tool, is neither good norbad. But that tool, if left largely in the hands of builders, developers, and investors, who arenot in the business of altruism, will be used to maximize profits. In the absence of barriers oraffordability mandates, they will, as one should expect, use the density tool to their ownadvantage, not to the advantage of Bozeman’s residents.
It is time to slow this development code revision process down, take the problem back to thecommunity rather than remaining in thrall to experts who descend from elsewhere to sell theirideological one-size-fits-all solutions to Bozeman’s unique problems.
Bob and Anne Waters509 W. HarrisonBozeman
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