HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-24 Public Comment - D. & D. Richter - Harper's Corner, App 23127 •
May 2, 2024 FO 5_io
Bozeman City Clerk
121 North Rouse Ave
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Subject: Application 23127
Project Name: Harper's Corner Annexation & Zone Map Amendment
Dear Bozeman City Commission:
We are Del and Dena Richter. We own property at 2950 Harper Puckett Road Bozeman, Montana. Our
property is located about 100 yards south of the proposed property annexation and development
referred to as Harper's Corner Annexation and Zone Map Amendment and is covered under Application
23127.
We oppose the annexation and rezoning of this property as R-4 as proposed by Russell Hosner LLC.
Long Range Planning and Development
The Triangle Community Plan that the city of Bozeman was part and parcel to approving includes over
4000 acres north and west of the current city limits. The current plan for development by the Bozeman
City Commission seems to be "zone and develop at the behest of developers." We absolutely disagree
with the current city planning approach. The City Commission has no responsibility for ensuring the
maximum profitability of developers via high density apartment complexes and furthermore you do
owe the land owners and taxpayers of the county a responsible and reasoned development approach
protecting the quality of life in the Gallatin Valley.
A responsible approach for the several thousand acres currently outside the city limits would involve
preparing a true area wide plan rather than expediting small development projects. It is timely to 1)
step back 2)create a community development plan for the large area 3) gain feedback from residents,
developers, businesses, infrastructure experts and 4) proceed with a comprehensive development plan.
This approach will surely provide a less painful process than you are currently using and provide a
template for residents to understand impact on their property before they buy or sell, provide a firm
foundation for developers to bring proposals forward to the city, provide a footing for future business
growth in designated areas and allow long term infrastructure planning by city professional staff.
Incompatible with Existing Community and Residents
The proposed development is completely inconsistent with the surrounding area and private
properties. High Density developments such as R-4 are located over a mile to the east and over a half
mile to the south. The proposed property is surrounded by agriculture or single-family homes
developed on acreages used for small agricultural operations such as hay, grain and domestic livestock.
You also will be destroying a green corridor with an active year-round stream and important wildlife
habitat. The surrounding property consists of rural development with people who love the Gallatin
Valley for the intrinsic values, open spaces, community reflecting all that is best in the Gallatin Valley.
My question is...... will you as a City Commission stand for the principals and values you have already
agreed to in several joint studies or will you stand before the public and profess that these values are
meaningless to you? You will be destroying your credibility allowing a high-density development on the
Harper's Corner Annexation.
Non-Compliance with Published and Approved Plans
The City of Bozeman has been part of generating and/or approving planning documents to guide future
developments. These include The Triangle Community Plan, Natural Resources Plan, Gallatin Valley
Sensitive Lands Protection Plan, Bozeman Community Plan. There are numerous statements,
objectives and guidelines from your own approved planning documents that are convicting the City
Commission of"non-compliance" if you approve a high-density development at Harper's Corner
Annexation. Some of these include:
>......health, safety, and quality of life of our citizens is the number one value driving the plan.....
> Opportunity for agriculture, industry and business, while minimizing conflict between adjacent land
uses.
> Increase community participation and citizen engagement in planning and visioning.
> Maintain current setback standards from irrigation infrastructure, wetlands, and water-courses
> Encourage developments to employ Best Management Practices for projects along and adjacent to
ditches, streams and rivers... manage runoff of particulates, pollutants and sediment into waters.
> Establish open space, parks and trails along the Gallatin River and other waterways.
> ....protect valuable agricultural land and open space in the heart of the Triangle where development
goes against the vision of contiguous land use patterns.
>Support opportunities to establish larger swaths of open space and parks instead of primarily relying
on small parks from individual review of subdivisions.
> Encourage protection of surface water and groundwater resources......
> Protect wildlife corridors and habitat.
Opposition to High Density Developments
We oppose approval of this project as High Density as it is not in congruity with the surrounding
community and it fails to recognize the intrinsic character of the adjacent lands, community, year-round
stream and long term potential for park and green corridors as the city expands to the northwest.
Sincerely,
e 1 Z'
Del Ric er Dena Richter
2950 Harper Puckett Rd
Bozeman, MT 59718