HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-24 Pulbic Comment - B. Cooke & J. Alderson - Baxter 80 Annexation Protest MAN
2/23/20224
RE: Adjacent Owner Protest for Application #23208—Baxter Annexation and Zone Map Amendment
To: City of Bozeman Department of Community Development,
ATTN: Tom Rogers, PO Box 1230, Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 at agenda@bozeman.net
From: Barbara Cooke at bc(@barbthecpa.com
3007 Sunridge Drive Santa Rosa CA 95409
02.—Lo—Z IBC
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Dear City of Bozeman Commissioners,
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. I received a notice of a proposed annexation
and associated zone map amendment application (23208) and I reside at an adjacent property 5785
Saxon Way, Unit B, Bozeman, MT 59178 with ownership of one of the units in the Stella View Condo
Association.
In light of the application's R-4(Residential High Density) and R-5 (Residential High Density—Mixed) initial
zoning designations, I am filing this protest to these proposed zoning designations and respectfully ask the
City Commissioners to reject these designations based on the inconsistencies with the surrounding
medium to moderate density neighborhoods, lack of apparent trails and open space and lack of planned
protection of the wetlands.
I request that the City Commissioners ask the developer to modify this proposal in the following ways to
better align with the Bozeman Community Plan and protection of Sensitive Wetlands and Open Space.
Declaratory Reasons for Rejecting R4/R5 Zoning:
(1)The Proposal Would Create a Lack of Transitionary Zoning and Zoning Imbalance:
Currently we have pockets of R4 (Residential High Density) designation scattered throughout the Laurel
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Glen Homeowners Association and neighborhood, the density consists of two-story apartment buildings
that blend in well with the other two-story housing types that have setbacks from roads and sidewalks.
My residence consists of a two-story condo unit next to a single-family home with moderate to medium
density in our sub-area of the neighborhood. To maintain consistency with the character of our
neighborhood and R3 zoning designation, I request that a portion of this proposal be R3 and limited to
two-story dwellings with setbacks and small yards to maintain this moderate to medium density.
(2)The proposal does not address protection of Sensitive Wetlands and Open Space Enshrined in the
Sensitive Lands Plan and Bozeman 2020 Community Plan.
Without a site plan from the developer there is no assurance that the proposed R4 and R5 high density
designations for App. 23208 would protect sensitive wetlands that spread out from several creeks,
including Baxter Creek, Ajacker Creek and McDonald Creek. Because this property contains significant
sensitive wetlands, I request that the developer with modifications reserve and create open space, trails
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and parks around these wetlands to preserve them for wildlife habitat, for the enjoyment and well-being
of the residents of all the surrounding areas and to increase walkability through the development to
maintain a "high-quality environment" as described in the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan under the City
Responsibility section.
I hope that you as the City Commissioners will consider the full range of issues that this proposal entails
and fully balance the needs of the impacted surrounding residents with the interests of the developer in
accordance with the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan as well as the Sensitive Lands Plan.
Sincerely,
Barbara Cooke,Trustee of the BC and JA trust
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Jeanne Alderson, Trustee of the BC and JA trust