HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-24 Public Comment - C. Stillwell - Application 23354 _The Guthrie_From:Christy Stillwell
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application 23354 "The Guthrie"
Date:Monday, March 25, 2024 7:47:58 AM
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Dear City of Bozeman Commissioners, Mayor Cunningham, and Deputy Mayor Morrison:
I’m writing to request action on The Guthrie project proposed for the corner of North 5th and
Villard Ave, application #23354.
Specifically, I would ask that you reclaim the role of final review authority rather than leavingthe matter at the sole discretion of the Community Development Director. There is too much
at stake with this project, given it will be the first to draw on the city’s affordable housing"deep incentives.” The city needs to get this right to avoid a negative perception of future
affordable housing initiatives. I feel all of you all should be part of this application review.
The reasons I am against the application in its current form are as follows:
Size:
Project documents show that the original idea was to renovate the existing care center andcreate 42 units. When building issues produced no bids for the project, the developer revised
his plans to five stories and 111 units. This seems like a big jump. I understand that thedeveloper wants to make a profit, yet I urge commissioners to consider: at what cost to the
surrounding neighborhood and the city itself, in the way of precedent?
Just because Homebase is technically “allowed” extra height, should it be granted? Thispocket of R-5 zoning sits across from a church and one block from an elementary school, to
and from which many young children walk. Given the proposed location, I wonder about asmaller scale. A three-story building with 60 units would seriously mitigate the impacts. Also
consider that 220 affordable, rent-only units are underway on N. 3rd Avenue next to the BMX
park. Another large project on N. 7th and Short Street is also providing affordable units. I
recognize these projects don’t solve the housing crisis, but they do lower the urgency andmight justify a smaller, less impactful building in our residential neighborhood.
According to a Bozeman Daily Chronicle article, Andy Holloran stated that "part of the reason
he wanted to build an affordable project is because workers at the AC Hotel, which HomeBasebuilt, are having a hard time finding housing." Again, I question the developer’s motive. This
sounds self-serving, rather than an effort to develop Midtown in a way that will benefit thecommunity far into the future. A smaller scale to the project would fit the location better,
reducing traffic, parking issues, noise, and light pollution in a historic residentialneighborhood.
Parking.
Current zoning code does not require parking along N. 7th Avenue and the “deep incentives”also eliminate parking requirements. But in a pocket of R-5 zoning, should this be the case?
Many of the bungalows in this neighborhood don’t have driveways. Parking is tight in theneighborhood around Whittier school, especially during drop off times and special events at
the school. With potentially 200 new residents — double the neighborhood population —traffic is going to be an issue. Again I ask: just because HomeBase is “allowed” to ignore
parking issues, should they, in this particular location?
In summary, I feel that “deep incentive” bargaining should be studied on a case-by-case basis,at least in this first application. I urge commissioners to take another look and truly ask
yourselves if application 23354 is in fact the “smart growth” you have committed to.
Sincerely,Christy Stillwell
406-570-3774
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