HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-23 Public Comment - K. Lavin - Bozeman Hotel MM LLCFrom:Kristi Lavin
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bozeman Hotel MM LLC
Date:Wednesday, November 15, 2023 5:12:44 PM
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Greetings
I am unable to attend the meeting this evening due to work conflicts.
I am deeply concerned about the proposed hotel/townhouses/parking garage project
Bozeman Hotel MM LLC.
The project appears vastly oversized for the site, even though it may meet with zoning
restrictions. Considering that the development will encroach upon our beloved library,
impacting parking for the public in favor of parking for hotel guests, and changing the
character of this beloved section of our town, I hope the library board and city staff will not
approve the project as proposed.
It seems that developers have a method of proposing very large projects that they will then
agree to downsize to appease the community, and I wonder if this current project bears
that rather deceptive intent.
My family has used the trails, Lindley Park, the library, and surrounding businesses nearly
every day since moving here 35 years ago. My husband and I have paid attention to and
followed the codes for renovations we have done on our home on South Tracy avenue,
choosing to invest in our neighborhood and community as we love the quality of life the
downtown area has provided. We have paid the fees for and designed our projects in
accordance with historical district codes. We have appreciated the process and know that
it only makes our neighborhood more desirable. We continue to pay increasing property
taxes to support street maintenance and other improvements, while our MSU wages
remain relatively still.
It saddens me that many home sales and new developments in the downtown Bozeman
area are being bought as investments, vacation property, and unoccupied dwellings,
catering to those who see Bozeman as a place to increase real estate wealth. Meanwhile,
those of us who earn a typical Montana salary are being out priced and finding it difficult to
bring in new employees due to the exorbitant cost of housing in our town. This is not
sustainable and is changing the character of our town. Now a proposed development is
threatening a cherished community owned space.
I am not opposed to building new homes and improving existing structures.
I am not in favor of “luxury” housing being built under the guise of in fill and meeting the
needs of a housing shortage, when in reality the average Bozeman worker and family
cannot even consider owning these dwellings. I am not in favor of developers making a
profit using public space such as a Library, limiting public access to a public parking lot and
limiting future growth of our library – a community gem that was created and is sustained
with a tremendous amount of Bozeman citizen financial support.
I question who will occupy the town houses. I am certain it will not be the average
Bozeman worker who is struggling to make ends meet in this expensive town.
Please do not support this project as it currently stands. It needs to be smaller, not limit
public use of library parking or outdoor spaces, and not limit in any way the future growth
of the library.
Thank you for reading and considering my thoughts.
Kristi
Kristi A. Lavin 311 South Tracy Avenue Bozeman, Montana 59715 USA 406-599-9750