HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-24 Public Comment - Bridger Commons Condo Association - Parking in MidtownFrom:City of Bozeman, MT
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]*NEW SUBMISSION* Public Comment Form
Date:Monday, September 16, 2024 10:06:27 PM
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Public Comment Form
Submission #:3488790
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Submission Date:09/16/2024 10:06
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Bridger Commons Condo Assoc
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bridgercommons@gmail.com
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Please see attached letter about parking in Midtown.
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UDC Update - Bridger Commons.docx
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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Subject: Please revise Sec. 38.530.040. - Number of vehicle parking spaces required.
Bridger Commons is a condo association with 22 units in the center of the Midtown
neighborhood. Midtown has grown rapidly over the last 10 years, with a denser housing supply
and mixed uses, an intended consequence of the renewal district. We feel this is a win for
everyone so far, however, there is a recent trend that concerns us: the three or four most recent
proposed developments have been high density residential with no commercial space and
insufficient parking area provided.
Because there are no parking minimums in Midtown, inconvenient, inconsistent, and unsafe
driving conditions will arise if this pattern of residential development is allowed to continue to full
buildout. Mixed-use development can alleviate these issues. For example, when the ELM
concert venue went in, people were concerned that there wouldn’t be enough parking, but in
fact it has worked well due to the diversity of uses in the immediate area. Concerts happen at
different hours than school and many of the surrounding businesses' normal hours of operation.
Dense residential development, however, involves parking for long periods of time and doesn’t
fit the model for different uses at different times of day.
Montana’s harsh winters and remote destinations make car ownership a near necessity. A
quarter or maybe half of our owners and residents walk or bike to work regularly in the summer,
but they still own cars for winter commuting, groceries, access to trailheads, etc. Even when
these vehicles are not being used, they have to be parked near their owner’s residence.
Completely filled parking, while efficient with space, means less ability for people who drive in
via the N 7th entryway to stop at businesses. It means difficult street maintenance and sight
lines now that everyone drives large vehicles with dark tint. It also means odd traffic patterns
when people frantically search for the last parking space at rush hour.
Now is the time to make a course correction. There are still several large, vacant parcels which
haven’t been developed and it’s important that they don’t worsen these issues. Please remove
the minimum parking exemption in BMC 38.530.040 for Midtown as part of the UDC update or a
sooner code revision. In addition, consider requiring that developers show the impact of timing
(within the day/week) in relation to parking.
Sincerely, Bridger Commons Condo Association Board and Members