HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-23 Public Comment - M. Spogis - Integrity of UDC DevelopmentFrom:MaryEllen Spogis
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Integrity of UDC Development
Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 10:19:00 AM
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Dear Community Development Board Members,
Colin Scarff, the Principal of Seattle’s ‘Code Stuido’, with Chris Saunders, unveiled the UDC,
at Monday's Community Development Board's meeting, September 11th, 2023. It is myunderstanding Mr. Scarff presented the UDC this once, flying back to Seattle the next day, and
leaving further questions and input to Mr. Saunders. I attended this meeting. Mr. Scarff tookmost of the questions, demonstrating, as author of the UDC, the most knowledge. Chris
Saunders filled in a few times. Unfortunately Mr Scarff is not available, it seems, for furthercommunity communications. This presentation included an illegible PowerPoint, and
complaints from the audience of not being able to hear. Our community was left stunned, witha massive detour from a long time established core neighborhood coding system. Undoubtedly
further clarifications & questions ensued, to say the least.
I find it extremely significant, when Mr Scarff was queried by Ben Lloyd, of Comma-QArchitects, on how Bozeman’s UDC compares to other cities Mr Scarff has developed. The
two answers spoke immensely of the confusion and uproar that has resulted within Bozeman'scommunity. #1) He stated this is perhaps one of the most progressive, (a.k.a. aggressive),
plans he’s developed.#2) Colin Scarff also stated this process was backwards to his usual procedure. He explained
the process usually begins involving community input, strategizing first, and thendevelopment/presentation of the completed code plan. For me, this is quite disturbing and
baffling. Who spearheaded these 2 deviations from Colin Scarff’s ‘Code Studio’s’ usualprotocol, and why? (The tense the UDC is written is also disturbing, as though it's a done
deal.). I encourage all City employees and citizens of Bozeman to view this 9/11/23Community Board Meeting.
Because of Colin Scarff's answers, and the intensity & timing of the proposed UDC, I would
like to see the UDC scrapped and rewritten by Code Studio's usual protocol, involving theBozeman Community first.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen M Spogis
613 N Tracy AveBozeman, MT 59715