HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-24 Public Comment - S. Sterry - Proposed Guthrie Development ~ Opposition letterFrom:Sky Sterry
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed Guthrie Development ~ Opposition letter
Date:Monday, April 15, 2024 12:25:30 PM
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Greetings!
Im writing to voice my opposition to the proposed Guthrie development on the north side oftown.
While I generally believe that we need more housing, and more affordable housing, It feels to
me like at 80% AMI, #1,864 is still a HIGH RENT for Bozeman. Average per bedroom rentin Bozeman is about $800 per month.
The main problem that I see is that this “affordable housing” is being traded for reduced
parking requirements. 39 parking spaces for 111 units? This seems crazy.
I understand that it is wise to “nudge” all of us toward less cars, more bikes and more publictransit. However, we live in a place where it is winter 6 months of the year, and biking is
simply not an option in the winter. This type of incentive makes more sense in areas thatexperience less severe winter conditions.
Please let me use the Wildlands development near the Wild Crumb as an example. Parking
for the Wild Crumb was difficult before the new development. The City voted to change thezoning to B2M to facilitate this mixed use development. Mixed use is AWESOME!
However, people still need parking. Wildlands was allowed to develop with half of itscalculated parking need ~ 30 spaces instead of 60. Now, even before the Wildlands units and
retail are on-line, parking in that area is a DISASTER! I have several times found a carparked right across my driveway apron on Peach.
I feel that time and time again we are setting ourselves up for failure, enabling more high
density with less parking. This might work OK in the summer, but certainly not in the winter.
Please consider sensible development with regards to parking. These developers are makingmoney hand-over-fist and the general view from most of my friends is that they are steam-
rolling a development-friendly city commission. The developers can afford parking.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sky SterryWookey Design Studio, 406-551-2000
4979 Durston Road, Bozeman MT 59718www.wookey.net