HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-09-24 Public Comment - W. Gavin - Application 23306 Site plan objectionsFrom:William Gavin
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application 23306 Site plan objections
Date:Saturday, November 9, 2024 10:28:58 AM
Attachments:Application 23306 Site plan objection.pdf
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Please forward tis attachment to the City of Bozeman Department of Community Development.
William Gavin
4929 Fowler Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
November 9, 2024
City of Bozeman Department of Community Development
ATTN: Community Development Application 23306
121 N. Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
RE: Application 23306, Range 5 Site Plan
To the Director of Community Development:
Regarding 38.250.030.B, we are writing in opposition to the approval of the site plan. We
reside on a 80-acre farm whose northeast corner abuts the southwest corner of the subject
property.
Our main concern with this development is that it will significantly increase the amount of
traffic on Fowler Lane, without any proactive plan to mitigate this. The City Commission
previously annexed the Homestead at Buffalo Run, less than a mile south of this property,
without full consideration of any traffic plan to alleviate the impact the development will have
on traffic in the area. A transportation impact study commissioned by Buffalo Run indicates
1,200 daily trips will be generated due to this new development and 83% of these trips (roughly
1,000 car trips), are projected to exit from the subdivision onto Fowler Lane. Range 5’s Traffic
Study indicates there will be an additional 1,500 trips on Fowler Lane, in addition to the 1,000
from Buffalo Run. The developer is planning to extend Bennett Blvd. to Fowler Lane, which will
introduce a new, direct route from both Gran Cielo and Range 5 to exit onto Fowler and then go
north to Stucky.
An additional 80 acres (Gran Cielo II) to the south of Range 5 was also annexed at the same
zoning density. Rough calculations based on Buffalo Run’s traffic study would indicate that all
three developments will generate roughly 6,316 additional vehicle trips daily on Fowler Lane.
Fowler Lane is a two-lane road with steep drop-offs on either side. During the winter this road
drifts badly and Gallatin County considers it one of the worst stretches for snow plowing in this
part of the county. Cars slide off into the ditch during winter between this proposed
development and Stucky Road, while other vehicles slide through the T-intersection at Stucky
and Fowler into the irrigation ditch and fencing on the north side of the intersection.
Stucky Road is a main east-west two-lane artery with steep drop-offs on either side and no
shoulder. The T-intersection of Fowler and Stucky is controlled by one stop sign on Fowler Lane.
During morning rush hour, we have sat at this intersection for up to three minutes, waiting for a
break in the traffic on Stucky to make a left turn onto Stucky.
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Adding more trips through this intersection is a recipe for disaster. Twelve years ago, a young
mother was killed at the intersection of Stucky and Cottonwood due to the high rate of traffic
at that intersection with only a stop sign for control-- a similar situation to what exists currently
at the intersection of Fowler and Stucky.
Adding an additional 6,316 new car trips to this intersection is unconscionable. Range 5’s own
traffic study engineer concludes that the intersection of Stucky and Fowler is inadequate for the
proposed traffic and needs to be modified. We feel strongly that the city and the developer
should be required to develop and implement a traffic control plan for this intersection
before any construction begins on Range 5’s development.
In the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan, under Subdivision Review; Public Health and Safety, it
states: “The creation of hazards to public health and safety are not acceptable and appropriate
mitigation must be provided.” Paragraph 3.2 of the Bozeman transportation master plan of
2017 states that “ …land use decisions are tied to the adequacy of transportation infrastructure
and may serve to constrain growth depending on policy directions both within and outside of
the Bozeman city limits.”
It is rather startling and concerning that the city continues to approve high density
developments without prior mitigation of the traffic impacts. Local residents continue to point
out the safety concerns without any apparent response from the City.
We can only hope that it will not require the death or serious injury of one or more people
before the City acts proactively to mitigate the very traffic issues it is creating with the approval
of these subdivisions.
Sincerely,
William and Renee Gavin
4929 Fowler Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718