HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-17-24 Public Comment - R. & M. Seed - Haprper's Corner ZMA Ray and Mary Seed
2380 Watts Lane _
N An
Bozeman, MT 59718 FCCG-
I+ 1
June 17, 2024
Bozeman City Commission
121 North Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Re: Written Protest to Harper's Corner Zone Map Amendment, Application 23127
for R-3 (Residential Medium Density) on the western 20.06 acres and R-4
(Residential High Density) on the eastern 20.06 acres.
Dear City Commissioners:
Raymond B. Seed and Mary S. Seed are Grantors of the Raymond and Mary Seed Family
Trust, which includes the residential home located at 2380 Watts Lane, Bozeman, MT. This
property is directly across from the proposed Harper's Corner Annexation;Application 23127.
We protest this application for R-3/R-4 zoning for reasons outlined in the letter submitted
by our attorney, Erin Arnold. Approving R-3/R-4 zoning for this 40-acre property would have a
negative impact on our neighborhood and on public safety. There are over 200 acres of land
between the properties on Watts Lane and east of Harper Pucket. Hidden Valley Road, a two-lane
road with ditches on both sides, is the only road that crosses these 200 acres from east to west.
The 200 acres form an island that the city would have to jump over to connect roads with annexable
land west of Harper Pucket. The increase in traffic that R-3/R-4 housing would bring to this road
will create an unsafe situation.
An application for R4 zoning was presented and denied with a 3-2 vote on January 23,
2024. The developer refused to work with us on tapered zoning. In good faith we met with the
developers,Jon Knokey and Drew Russell,at our house on February 8"'along with other neighbors
to discuss tapered zoning. After one and a half hours of side-stepping zoning, they were asked
directly how they were going to taper the zoning and they said,we are not. We are applying for R4
zoning again and will get one of the Commissioners to change their vote. They went on to use
intimidation tactics by stating, if you don't go along with R4 then the Commissioners are going to
assign REMU. In the next few minutes, they said, if we don't go along then they were going to
sell to the 86 developers to the east of the property and they were going to get REMU. Because of
these disingenuous tactics,misinformation and the incongruent statements made by the developers
we retained an attorney, Erin Arnold, to advocate for our interests.
The evidence that Jon Knokey refused to work with us on tapered zoning is clear. He did
in fact re-apply for R-4 zoning which was set to be heard May 7,2024.As we all know he changed
the application to R-3/R-4 the day of that hearing. What a waste of everyone's time. We did not
ask for, nor agree to, R-3/R-4 zoning. If you recall at the January 23rd hearing, we wanted R-1.
This zoning is the most congruent with our neighborhood of 5-20 acre lots. We sent an email to
Mr. Knokey by email on February 16, 2024,proposing R-4 for the western 20 acres and R-2 for
the eastern 20 acres. We thought this was a win/win for both parties and a significant compromise
for the neighbors. We got no response from him.We still feel strongly this is the appropriate tapered
zoning for the 40-acre Harper Corner development.
We ask that you read and consider Erin's letter as it addresses all our concerns and outlines
clearly what we are asking from the commissioners regarding zoning and annexation of Harper's
Corner, a 40-acre property.
Yours sincerely,
Raymond B. Seed Mary