HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-24 Public Comment - R. Eck - Proposed Guthrie BuildingFrom:Randal Eck
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed Guthrie Building
Date:Saturday, April 6, 2024 5:31:42 PM
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Dear City Commission Members,
My name is Randal Eck. I live at 515 W. Villard St, kitty corner across the street from the site
of the proposed 5 story Guthrie Building. I moved to Bozeman from my hometown ofSheridan, Wyoming in 1999. Being heavily involved the construction industry, as a plumber,
in Bozeman, I have seen a lot of change. I think at this point we have more than reached a timewhere we actually need to stop and consider the issues moving forward.
I was able to buy my house with the help of my brother in 2006. We are co owners 50/50. At
the time it was a lot of money. I was proud at the fact that we were able to do it and I was ableto secure a future in the town that I have chosen to make my home. I have slowly been able to
work on my house through saving and sweat equity to continue. When the hail storm cameravaged roofs in Bozeman in the early 2000 teens, I was able to re-roof my house with the
help of some knowledgeable friends myself and completely set my house up to mount SolarPV panels and Solar Hot Water Panels. For years I have scrimped and saved now to be able to
buy the panels to install on the mounting on my house. Only now to have a developmentthreaten to block out the South facing sun for approximately half of the day, all because
someone wants to pretend they're supporting Bozeman with an "affordable housing project"that is allowed to alter the height rules. To me, this is unacceptable.
Also I already come home late some nights from work and if I don't plan or think about a
concert happening at the nearby Elm, I end up not being able to park at my own house. This isunbelievably frustrating to get home tired from a long day, only to not be able to find a
parking spot in front of my residence. Only to find out that this will not only become a one inwhile occurrence, that if the allowed proposed building is constructed, it will become the new
normal because we continue to allow this and other developers to build without any foresightor thought given to where people will park their cars. How can continue to make any sense for
anyone that claims to be involved in planning or oversight for our city!
Enough is enough! There are other places to build such projects that make way more sense.You, as our city commissioners continue to not represent the needs of your constituents if you
continue to allow developments such as this to move forward in unchecked and to side step therules every time and pretend we're somehow slowing down sprawl to line the pockets of Andy
Halloran. I among many others are tired of this nonsense. This continues to degrade our cityand make it an intolerable place to live. Please reconsider such decisions and think about the
people and community that we already have.