HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-23 Public Comment - S. Ferraro - UDC_Zoning Map RewriteFrom:Sandy Ferraro
To:Agenda
Cc:Terry Cunningham; Cyndy Andrus; Christopher Coburn; I-Ho Pomeroy; Jennifer Madgic
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC/Zoning Map Rewrite
Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 11:26:50 AM
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Dear City Commissioners and Community Development Committee,
For the second time, I am again writing my opinion and offering my comments for your consideration. As Iunderstand the process now, the City Commission charged the Community Development Committee (CDC) torewrite, overhaul, address growth and affordable housing back in 2022. The CDC and the City have forged aheadwith a 500 plus page UDC/Zoning Proposal with comprehensive and far reaching consequences.
I feel that the City of Bozeman has erred egregiously throughout this whole process.It smacks of a railroad job being rushed through, hoping we would not notice or care. Bozeman Citizens were notadequately informed, informed at obscure and wrong forums, and just over the last month became somewhatinformed on a very complex issue and subject. Many are still left in the dark and do not know what is coming atthem. The past 3 CDC meetings allowed the public to voice their opinions. The citizens have spoken loudly andclearly, myself included, to scrap this plan, and start over by involving your constituents, the citizens of Bozeman.The Bozeman public have overwhelmingly voiced their opinions at the CDC meetings and in writing with vehementobjections, disdain, disgust, frustration, and outright rejection of this UDC rewrite. The most prominent objection isthe issue of combining RS, R-1, R-2, R-3 into a "One-size-fits-all" R-3A. The R-3A would allow an 8-plex on asingle family lot 3 stories in height. The CDC has stated that the Montana State Legislature, via Senate Bill 382, isthe mandate for the new proposal for incorporating relaxations, density, growth, affordable housing, etc. I havenever heard such a phony or lame excuse. Section 19 of SB 382 states a minimum of 5 housing strategies beadopted. There are 14 strategies to choose from. The City of Bozeman has chosen to go with the most onerous anddensity oriented and went above and beyond the State of Montana idea of duplex, tri-plex, 4-plex and is proposingstuffing 8-plexes into single family neighborhoods. This is a travesty and a debacle of unimaginable proportions. Itwill empower developers and investors to single out vacant lots, homes to tear down, only to replace them withluxury high-rise 3 story condo structures offered at exorbitant prices and out of sight rents. That is the exactopposite of affordable housing, and it will not the needle one iota. It will just exacerbate the problem. It harms thepatient.It will serve to destroy neighborhood cohesiveness, integrity, pride of ownership. It will pit neighbor againstneighbor. It will drive down property values and the Bozeman we know and have put our pride, joy, work, anddollars into will be gone forever.
The elimination of off-street parking and relaxations of parking regulations defies any common sense approach. Wehave road congestions galore in this City. Our streets are already clogged not only with traffic, but with cars, boats,trucks, trailers, RVs parked along the streets. This a driving nightmare. Add Bozeman winter and snow loads andimpassability is real. It is unsafe and unwise to adopt these off-street parking regulations. Our present regulations arealready being abused and ignored.
The City of Bozeman has hired outside consultants at great expense and continues to do so and continues to drinktheir "kool-aid". I resent having my taxpayer dollars spent this recklessly and unwisely. Why has the City not set upworkshops and forums for the citizens and property owners to weigh in and give their input to build a proposal thatwould work? Why is this such a rush job?
I wish to be on record, as a Bozeman Property Owner, as a retired Real Estate Broker, and a concerned Citizen withmy opinion stated as clearly and concisely as possible. This UDC/Zoning overhaul is a boondoggle at best and is adebacle. It should be rejected outright and total. Then the City Commissioners can take some of the constructivecriticisms and the constructive input received so far and build upon that in a "Start Over" mode. Enable the citizensof Bozeman through workshops, public forums, meetings to give their input for a workable guiding document. Askfor the public's involvement for a change. A change of this magnitude as being proposed can never be taken back
and would regretted forever.
Respectfully submitted
Sandy J. Ferraro
-- Sandy J. Ferraro3002 Colter Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715Cell: 406-581-9037