The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04-03-24 Public Comment - A. Sweeney - Attn_ Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and City Commissioners, Re; The GuthrieFrom:Alison SweeneyTo:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Attn: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and City Commissioners, Re; The GuthrieDate:Wednesday, April 3, 2024 7:22:07 AMAttachments:comments for April 2nd.docx 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. Thank you for hearing from the community last night. I think it speaks to the desperation of residents from all across the city, not just Midtown, that so many turned out to voice their concern, when the Guthrie wasn't even on theagenda. I heard someone mention that you want to trust the process. Well I have to say, residents don't trust the process that has been used in the past. Hombase proposes a project that will result in huge adverse impacts to an existing historic neighborhood.Homebase meets with the neighborhood.Residents submit public comment or even speak at one or more Commission or CDB meetings.Homebase makes little to no changes to their project.Resident's concerns are largely ignored.Homebase's project is approved.Homebase's project is built, and the negative impacts are realized and experienced.Residents are left feeling ignored, powerless, and desperate, and out of this grief they search for reasons. How could the process fail them like this? How can they have noagency in developments that affect their life and real property? Do they want to continue to live in a place where they have no say, and the work they've done to build a life,restore an old house, and contribute to a community means nothing. This is where some people turn to the belief that their elected leaders, or high level staff must be getting kick-backs from developers. They probably come up with some worseideas, but this is the one I hear most often. There's an alternative process that I suggest you test, and see if it gets us to a better place as a community. Reclaim review authority over the Guthrie. Exercise your authority to approve with conditions, or if code has not been met (see my previous comments about COA for demolition within the NCOD) then DENY the project. Authority is given to the City Commission in our municipal code chapter 38.200.010 A which states: The city commission has the authority to review and require revisions to all development proposals subject to this chapter, and delegates that authority in certain circumstances as setforth below. The purpose of this review is to prevent demonstrable adverse impacts of the development upon public safety, health or general welfare, or to provide for its mitigation; toprotect public investments in roads, drainage facilities, sewage facilities, water facilities, and other facilities; to conserve the value of adjoining buildings and/or property; to protect thecharacter of the city; to protect the right of use of property; advance the purposes and standards of this chapter and the adopted growth policy; and to ensure that the applicableregulations of the city are upheld. https://library.municode.com/mt/bozeman/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH38UNDECO_ART2PELEACPR_DIV38.200JUSCAU_S38.200.010REAU In the affordable housing ordinance 2105 Section 2 Item J, authority is given to you to require changes that minimize adverse impacts: The city commission or its designated representatives may require the applicant to design the proposed development to reasonably minimize potentially significantadverse impacts identified through the review required by these regulations. The city commission or its designated representatives may not unreasonably restrict alandowner's ability to develop land, but it is recognized that in some instances the unmitigated impacts of a proposed development may be unacceptable and willpreclude approval of the development as submitted. Recognizing that the standards of this chapter are minimum requirements and the public health, safety, andgeneral welfare may be best served by exceeding those minimums, the city commission or community development director may require as a condition of approvalmitigation exceeding the minimums of this chapter. https://library.municode.com/mt/bozeman/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1181518#:~:text=2105%20uncodified&text=AN%20ORDINANCE%20OF%20THE%20CITY,HOUSING%20ADMINISTRATION,%20AMEND%20TABLE%2038.310. I would also remind you that this project is in R5 which does allow mixed use. The existing structure could be modified to include residential AND small scale neighborhoodcommercial. The city doesn't owe the developer a profit. But keep in mind that including some small scale commercial in an adaptive reuse scheme could provide a differentrevenue stream than the one provided by Homebase's sole pro forma. We have code that allows you to pursue a different way forward. A different process. But once the project is approved administratively, that's it. Maybe the neighborhood couldappeal, but that is expensive, for both the City and the residents, and it doesn't signify to the residents that their concerns have any value to you. I'm attaching my oral public comments from last night so they will be part of the written record on the Guthrie. Thank you, Alison B. SweeneyBernadette's Handmade JewelryBozeman MT406-404-5740alison-bernadettes.com Good Evening, thank you for taking public comment tonight Alison Sweeney 503 S 14th Ave After the meeting with the Midtown Neighborhood and Homebase Partners I am even more concerned about the Guthrie than I was before the meeting. I am disappointed that at least 3 of you didn’t ask to reclaim review over this project. Some of us have been coming for weeks asking for this. With 30-day leases it looks like it’s shaping up to be largely transient occupation. It doesn’t really matter weather that’s Homebase workers, or one-month short-term rentals for people who want to spend a month in Bozeman fishing, skiing, hiking or otherwise vacationing. This doesn’t protect renters, nor allow them to make a life in a neighborhood, to put down roots, and to build community. What this neighborhood could really benefit from is some stable long- term affordable housing for families with kids to attend Whittier School, but with all studio and 1-bedroom apartments that won’t be possible in this development. Section 2, Item J, of ordinance 2105 states: “The city commission or its designated representatives may require the applicant to design the proposed development to reasonably minimize potentially significant adverse impacts identified through the review.” It goes on to state that: “it is recognized that in some instances the unmitigated impacts of a proposed development may be UNACCEPTABLE and will preclude approval of the development as submitted. Recognizing that the standards of this chapter are MINIMUM requirements, and the public health, safety, and general welfare may be best served by exceeding those minimums, the city commission or community development director may require as a condition of approval, mitigation exceeding the minimums of this chapter.” In last weeks meeting with the Midtown neighborhood, Homebase admitted to anticipating a minimum occupancy of 2 per unit, perhaps more. According to US Census estimates for Bozeman Over 96% of households have a car, Over 41% have more than one car. Given this information, the neighborhood can expect to see 200 additional vehicles using their street and street parking. Pull this project from administrative review I remind you that you have the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or DENY this project. And I would argue that you have a responsibility, a duty, to neighborhoods. Your decision will have ramifications across the entire city in the future. Thank you