HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-24 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - Historic Landmark Program comments for CDB and HLP folderFrom:Marcia Kaveney
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Sarah Rosenberg; Erin George; Chris Saunders; adrienne
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Historic Landmark Program comments for CDB and HLP folder
Date:Monday, October 21, 2024 11:37:02 AM
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Dear Community Development Advisory Board members -
I am writing to you about the work session you are scheduled to have tonight on the
Historic Landmark Program (HLP) and the Initial Guidance report. I am in complete
agreement with other commenters who point out that trees are specifically meant to be
included in the HLP, and I find it unacceptable that the Heritage Tree Program- which
has been developing for over 2 years- and other tree policies are being proposed to be
excluded from the HLP as well as the UDC update.
The report specifically states on page 1, "CPC is a facilitator for this process, sharing
information around available policy options, while Bozeman citizens and the community
are the experts in identifying Bozeman’s needs and goals." (Bolding is mine.)
I agree with the above statement and find it unacceptable that the comments I and
several others made to include trees in the Historic Landmark Program have not been
included in the reported Survey Results on Bozeman's engagement webpage and are
proposed to be excluded from the HLP.
The survey results are supposed to help direct this HLP but the results that have been
posted on the City's engagement webpage are vague and incomplete. For example - why
weren't ALL the results posted in a non-summarized format? How many of the 125
buildings, places,signs, landscapes, etc. suggested by survey takers were special trees?
None of the 125 suggestions were shared with the public. This is the antithesis of
transparency. If the community is not identifying the needs and goals of Bozeman, who
is? I hope you will look into this during your meeting tonight.
In the initial guidance report we also find this suggestion for a policy conversation,
"Create a city-wide local landmark program that includes both architectural and
cultural significance. This would allow for designation of individual historic or cultural
landmarks inside and outside the NCOD, including buildings, environmental spaces and
natural features, and sites of cultural importance." (bolding is mine.)
First, the consultant or staff needs to define "environmental spaces" and "natural
features". To me, and many others, this is where we should specifically be including the
Heritage Tree program as well as other mature trees throughout the city, in zone edge
transitions, and in conservation overlay districts.
As you have heard and will continue to hear, trees are an appreciating green asset and
need to be protected- now, not in the future. Members of the community and Historic
Preservation Board have been asking for this for years via the developing Heritage Tree
Program, by petitions to stop tree removal in new developments, and even by
nominating a tree for a historic preservation award this year. Additionally, project
manager, Sarah Rosenberg, has long been indicating that trees will be considered in the
Historic Landmark Program so it is even more imperative that now is the time to include
their protections in both policy and program conversations.
Adding tree protections to the Historic Preservation Policy and Local Landmark Program
(HPPLLP) Policy Conversations and a voluntary Heritage Tree Program to the Program
Conversations is aligned with community wishes and the environmental goals of the
Bozeman Community Plan 2020, The Climate Action Plan, The Strategic Plan, and the
Urban Forestry Plan.
I hope you will take these concerns of mine, and many others, into consideration in your
work session tonight and help steer the HLP to include tree protections and a voluntary
Heritage Tree Program.
Thank you for your volunteer efforts and for your consideration of my comments.
Marcia Kaveney