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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-27-24 Public Comment - C. Mcqueary - Public comment for CC mtg Grand Ceilo 22090From:Christopher Mcqueary To:Agenda Cc:Daniel Carty; Kaveney Marcia; dangie@me.com; Craighead April; Lara Schulz Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public comment for CC mtg Grand Ceilo 22090 Date:Tuesday, February 27, 2024 12:15:58 PM Attachments:GC ll CC mtg statement for 02.27.24.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. Sent from Outlook Dear City Commissioners Public Comment re. Gran Cielo II Agenda for Feb 27 2024 My name is Chris McQueary I live at 3306 S 29th and I am an adjoiner to the proposed Grand Cielo development and more importantly to the Kurk St Forest on its southern boundary. I’d like to bring your attentfon once again to a piece of land proposed for the Grand Cielo ll development. I hope you can visit this area soon in person to see why it is so valuable to all of us and why the mature trees and forest found there are the developer’s greatest asset and can now be preserved through thoughtiul and efficient site planning guided by you. A lot of tfme has been spent in our lives composing the many 3 minute blocks of spoken and written commentary which we have then presented to our city commission and to the developers about this property and proposed development. We used our tfme to describe the values of this property centered squarely on the conservatfon of its trees (the asset to us all) and known as the Kurk street forest. To summarize what has been spoken and written previously about this asset: Natfve and mature trees are deeply rooted in the 80 acre historic ag land that is being proposed for development and was recently annexed by the commission. The trees as the asset, have created the Kurk St forest. When I say a forest, I mean a fully ecologically functfoning, thriving type of ecosystem which supports many plants, and animals. For example, the relatfvely large populatfon of birds nestfng in this forest have been doing so generatfon after generatfon, season after season for nearly 100 years. There are two stands of trees bisected by a seasonal irrigatfon waterway which looks like any other stream in Montana. The two narrow ribbons of tree stands that are about the width of a 2 lane street makes them an easy natural feature to design around for preservatfon. Scarcity alone could be the greatest factor in knowing that these trees are an asset to all of us. An interestfng fact is that less than 4% of the 80 acres being proposed for development are forested. From a higher-level view, the new owners of the 80 acres are quite fortunate as they have acquired 50% of all the trees in a 640 acre area. Check this out on google earth, it’s striking. Scarcity alone is not the only factor though. While the ecological value is the most important asset to myself and others who are centered on such things, I realized that there is another important value factor as well…. one which is monetary. This factor is known and currently used by the developers themselves in their promotfonal video (https://grancielobzn.com/ ) . As any perspectfve buyer can see in the video, the trees and forest are showcased in the foreground in their brilliant fall colors. It is stated that these are the “million-dollar views” being made available to current and future residents of Grand Cielo. I am sure that current and future potentfal residents were drawn in by the belief that the aesthetfcs provided by the trees and the forest would be lastfng in perpetuity as was my family in our decision to invest in our property nearby. We see these trees every day as they fill the windows of our home and as we enjoy them while outside. Each tfme we return home, the trees are there. Because of this invaluable part of our life, there has been many sleepless nights and fear within our household since the announcement of Grand Cielo ll and how it might be designed without tree conservatfon as the priority. I felt some relief to see that the developers had recognized their asset. I am now hopeful that the preliminary plat and site design is created with city requirements and ordinance to recognize the conservatfon of the most important asset………the trees of Kurk St Forest. On Sunday evening my young son told me that he heard the owl. Once I heard it as well , everything we were doing stopped and we ventured into the Kurk St forest. While being guided by the sound (which we know well as a great horned owl) we were able to catch up with wise old owl and had a few minutes to watch this creature which resides here in the winter. This outfng reminds us of the trees which stand dormant now waitfng for spring and for the birds to return when they will bloom again for possibly the 100th tfme. This forest is stfll alive and well. Dormant trees in Kurk St Forest winter 2022/23 Thank you Chris