HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-23 Public Comment - R. Kopek - Proposed parking garageFrom:Ruth Kopec
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed parking garage
Date:Wednesday, November 15, 2023 12:30:39 PM
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The Bozeman Public Library is an outstanding facility that services patrons froma wide geographic area, with a variety of interests, and consisting of a widerange of ages and physical abilities. The current parking lot services thosepatrons well. From elderly patrons like my husband and me to young familieswith babies in strollers and toddlers in hand loaded down with books topersons with a variety of disabilities.
My concern with the proposed parking garage, which will service both guests ofthe luxury hotel to be built and patrons of the library, is that the out-of-townguests of the hotel will not respect the right of the library patrons to utilizeparking that is convenient for them. Even if there will be reserved parkingareas for library patrons, my fear is that it will not be respected by hotelguests. Additionally, there is the question of who would enforce suchrestrictions. Should area residents with disabilities and families loaded downwith children, books and strollers be forced to park on non-ground level areasand deal with either stairs or elevators? Right now, we all can just easily walkto the entrances of the library.
We residents of the Bozeman area have already experienced the conscious and
unconscious actions of tourists to Bozeman that disrupt our way of life. While
we probably have all been tourists at some point in our lives and disrupted lives
of residents in areas we have visited, the Bozeman Public Library has been a
refuge for Bozeman area residents to escape the increase in area tourists, meet
old friends and connect with our community. By building a parking garage that
services both guests of the luxury hotel to be built and the library, I foresee
nothing but more inconvenience for Bozeman residents. Should a parking
garage be necessary in the future to service the patrons of the library, I believe
the library board can address the needs of its patrons better than a group of
developers from out of state. I encourage the library board to vote against this
proposal.
Ruth Kopec
84 E Clara Court
Bozeman, MT