HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-24 Public Comment - D. Pratt - The GuthrieFrom:Deborah Pratt
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Guthrie
Date:Monday, April 8, 2024 1:09:26 PM
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To the Bozeman City Commission:
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Guthrie project. In preparation for this comment, I attended a
meeting with the developer, listened to the public comments at the most recent meeting, and talked with neighbors.
Additionally, I have lived at 408 West Beall for almost 20 years and witnessed the impact of this developer's nearby,
partially completed, nine-building North Central project.
Based on my observations to date, I request the City Commission reclaim review of the Guthrie project to assure a
substantive consideration of the "unmitigated impacts" which preclude project approval. City Commission review
will guarantee executive (elected officials) and public oversight.
The "unmitigated impacts" are significant and include, but are not limited to:
Safety: The Guthrie project will increase traffic by at least 200 vehicles in streets adjacent to a school and residential
neighborhood. Consequently, school children and neighborhood residents will be at increased risk of injury or even
death due to traffic congestion. Perhaps School District input should be requested.
Resources: Both parking and water resources will be strained or even exhausted by this project. The Guthrie
developer has failed to accommodate the parking demand prompted by this project, especially considering his gross
underestimate of per capita vehicle use.
With regard to water consumption, I am already asked to conserve water due to water resource depletion. Yet, the
developer has ignored the increased water demand of the over 100 two-person occupancy units.
Not Responsive to Affordable Housing: Although the developer claims to provide affordable housing, his Guthrie
project betrays this claim. How can over one hundred, 375-500 square feet micro-units, with month-to-month leases
at unaffordable rent, ease the affordable housing crisis? Long term leases, and larger, more affordable units would
provide long term and stable affordable housing, (instead of what is essentially an extended stay hotel).
Not responsive to NCOD: The purpose of the NCOD is the "restoration and rehabilitation" of the Mid-Town
Neighborhood, the Guthrie project defeats this purpose. On the heels of the developer's North Central project, the
Guthrie developer ignores the adjacent mid-century neighborhood character, tearing down these homes (and trees)
and replacing them with high density, luxury monoliths with no remediating transition.
I do understand and appreciate the need for higher density housing, but maybe the City should pause - in the form of
a year-long moratorium- and assess the need for and appropriateness of high-density development in the context of
safety, resource scarcity, and existing neighborhood conservation.
Finally, it is my understanding the developer's North Central project is over built and not fully occupied. Could
some of these units be converted into affordable housing?
Thank you for considering my perspective.
Deborah Pratt
408 West Beall Street