HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-23 Public Comment - L. Newman - Re-think how to develop a Code that supports the 15-minute neighborhood conceptFrom:Larry Newman
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re-think how to develop a Code that supports the 15-minute neighborhood concept
Date:Friday, October 13, 2023 11:27:17 AM
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The proposed Code does not support the “15-minute neighborhood” concept, does not supportaffordable housing goals, and will degrade Bozeman’s urban core neighborhoods.
One of the principles driving "form based zoning" vs. "functional based zoning" is the concept ofdeveloping 15-minute neighborhoods. NPR’s Climate Week offers a a balanced discussion of theconcept:
It's a global climate solution — if it can get past conspiracy theories and NIMBYsOctober 8, 20236:00 AM ET By Julia Simon
https://www.npr.org/2023/10/08/1203950823/15-minute-cities-climate-solution?
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Note: This concept has been linked to bogus conspiracy theories about confining residents to theirneighborhoods or limiting residents’ ability to travel outside their neighborhoods.
We support the concept of a 15-minute neighborhood design. If you have had the opportunity to visitor live in a 15-minute neighborhood, you probably relished the convenience. Remember your stays
in some of the great European cities or compact college communities.
Here's the rub in Bozeman: Our central core is already a 15-minute neighborhood. Residents of
Bozeman’s core neighborhoods can walk or bike to Main Street, MSU, the hospital, several grocerystores, restaurants, banks, and service businesses. The convenience of living in Bozeman's coreneighborhoods drives the cost. Why else would the denigrated "moneyed outsiders" pay $1.5 millionfor a downtown luxury condo? Why else do vacationing short-term renters pay VRBO prices to stay
in these condos?
Bozeman's problem is the surrounding suburban residential neighborhoods, often with restrictive R-
1-type zoning, are not 15-minute neighborhoods. Further, most of these neighborhoods cannotbecome 15-minute neighborhoods due to restrictive covenants that take legal precedent over Cityzoning modifications. Nearly every suburban trip requires a car. The bus system takes far more than15 minutes, and few residents are willing to cycle the necessary distance on the existing street
system.
As long as Bozeman's proposed zoning changes are applicable to the central core neighborhood and
new subdivisions while excluding the surrounding zone-restricted neighborhoods, the problem justgets worse. Residents of outlying neighborhoods are forced to enter Bozeman's core by car,overwhelming the transportation grid and available parking. Bozeman’s Community Developmentgoals stated in the 2020 Community Plan (Growth Policy), Climate Plan, and strategic priorities like
affordable housing will not be achieved by a patch-work application of the proposed code. Zoningchanges are further complicated by City vs. Gallatin County planning/zoning conflicts, whichcontinue to drive sprawl.
I urge the Board to halt the proposed core-focused zoning changes and re-think how to developa Code that supports the 15-minute neighborhood concept over the entire metro area.Focusing ONLY on the core neighborhoods is misguided.
—Sincerely,
Larry Newman & Nancy Rosen
1107 South 5th AvenueBozeman MT 59715
406.581.1220
21-year residents at this address.