HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-23 Public Comment - D. Matney - Baxter 80 Annexation and Zone Map Amendment – Application 23208From:Dori Matney
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Baxter 80 Annexation and Zone Map Amendment – Application 23208
Date:Saturday, February 3, 2024 1:39:48 PM
Attachments:Dori Matney- Letter to Tom Rogers.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Community Development Board,
I am writing this email to you regarding the Zone Map Amendment and R4/R5 – Mixed Usezoning application for the land to the north of Laurel Glen HOA and neighborhood.
I am a property owner in Laurel Glen Subdivision as well as a 4th generation Bozeman native.
I am very concerned about our town and community. Please see my attached letter regardingthe proposal for the land on Application 23208.
Forty years ago I was born in a small, uninsulated green house lined with hay bails on Baxter
Lane west of the current day high-density housing across from the US Post office. My AuntJudy and Unkle Tom Kingma lived in an old farmhouse further west on Baxter and owned the
cows and dairy that used to be where Baxter West Subdivision is now. Over a decade ago, myfather, Carl VanderMolen sold the 40 acres he owned on the South side of Baxter Lane. At
that time, much of the land was deemed "wetlands" and could not be developed. There wereducks, geese, frogs, and garter snakes covering the fields. The horses had plentiful grass as
they were out to pasture. This is what Bozeman used to be. There is no wildlife now. Onlydomestic dogs and cats and people.
Today, I drive along Baxter and Tschache Lane, the two roads that were the north and south
borders of our farmland. All over the land, there are three-story, high-density residentialbuildings being built. Ten-plus years ago, that was protected wetlands and I can only assume
Bozeman City has been sold out and got paid off to allow for the land's development. This ishappening all over our once beautiful town of Bozeman. I am sad to see my hometown in its
current state.
My mom fears for her safety at her house of 37 years in Riverside Subdivision. We used toleave our keys in the ignition of our cars and the doors unlocked. Now she is asking me to put
up a security camera and new doors with better locks. Crime is growing too rapidly for ourlaw enforcement to curb it. Our once small, safe, lovely town is gone forever. My mom is
scared in her own house.
I beg you, please stop following the money and protect what we have left.
Dori Matney
Dori Matney
(406) 580-8222
Rick Matney
(406) 209-2457
rick.chromechaser@gmail.com
www.wildgamechef.com
www.chromechasers.com
Virus-free.www.avast.com