Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-27-24 Public Comment - A. Kociolek - Public Comment for City Commission 2_27_24 agenda re. Gran Cielo II # 22090From:Angela Kociolek To:Agenda Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment for City Commission 2/27/24 agenda re. Gran Cielo II # 22090 Date:Monday, February 26, 2024 1:32:10 PM Attachments:2.26.24 Kurk Street Forest Protection - Gran Cielo II #22090.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. Public Comment re. Gran Cielo II # 22090 2/26/24 Dear City Commissioners, You have two consent items related to the Gran Cielo II development on your 2/27/24 agenda. In case you are not familiar, here’s a photo of a feature on the Gran Cielo II site affecIonately referred to as the Kurk Street Forest. This forested stand is an ecological asset on its own and in combinaIon with other trees, private and public, as Bozeman’s urban forest. Any city concerned about climate resiliency should see trees as one of their biggest allies. Don’t take my word for it. ESnger et al. 2024 concludes “Our findings highlight the value of trees in miIgaIng urban heat, especially given the expected warming with climate change. ProtecIng exisIng urban trees and increasing tree coverage are important acIons to enhance climate change resilience of urban areas.” Branch Out Bozeman, a partnership involving Bozeman’s Forestry Division, is seeking to expand Bozeman’s tree canopy for many good reasons pertaining to our collecIve health and social wellbeing, the environment, and the economy. Do you know what they figured out? To increase tree canopy cover by a mere 3% costs way more money than the City has! That’s why as we work to expand the canopy cover through planIng, we must also keep exisIng trees standing during development. Every Ime we keep trees standing in this context, we are doing the right thing on all fronts for the City of Bozeman. We have some work to do on the UDC environmental protecIons codes as wri_en. However, I’m sure, if there is the will, the Planning Department can take the Gran Cielo II project in a much more posiIve direcIon than it did Canyon Gate. This new Commission has the opportunity to learn from that past mistake. Losing >140 trees in one fell swoop was an egregious and ignorant act that didn’t need to happen. Bozeman can and must do be_er. If the City chooses to annex the Gran Cielo II parcel, then we need to be sure to protect the forest and put any necessary roads a buffered distance away from the forest rather than through it. This is a prime opportunity to bring to life the intent of the recently adopted SensiIve Lands ProtecIon and PRAT Plans, the Bozeman Climate Plan 2020, the Bozeman Community Plan 2020 (AKA Growth Policy) and the Historic PreservaIon Board’s newly rolled out Heritage Tree (and grove) Program. Please use your individual votes and collecIve voice to protect the Kurk Street Forest in perpetuity. Thank you. Sincerely, Angie Kociolek 620 N Tracy Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Photo by C. Mcqueary, used by permission.