HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-24 Public Comment - B. Swartz - Application 23306, Range 5 Site PlanFrom:Betsy Swartz To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application 23306, Range 5 Site Plan Date:Wednesday, November 20, 2024 9:29:00 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Planning Commission: I am wiring to oppose a massive development next to the 4 Daughters Farm that will destroy their ability to farm, as well as put 500-1000 more cars onto Stucky Road daily. Farming is critical to retaining the essence of our beautiful Gallatin Valley. This land, like many of the farms in this area offers some of the most fertile soil in the valley. I am certainly not anti-development, and I do realize that this valley is destined to grow because of the many amenities and beauty our valley offers. But we also need to be careful about how and where we develop. I grew up on a dairy farm in Southcentral Pennsylvania. The area that my father once farmed is not dotted with houses and condos. Again, growth is inevitable, but careful planning will preserve the farmland AND allow for expansion. 1. The proposed development, an apartment building, will change the growers at 4 Daughters ability to farm, present new challenges to them regarding soil and water quality, and block southern exposure of light to their farm. 2. This development will be adding 500-1,000 cars without improving arterial routes. Stucky Rd. is not built for high traffic use. It’s a narrow 2-lane road and there are no shoulder areas between the ditches. Currently, Stucky has absorbed a lot of traffic from people cutting from 191 into town (via Gooch Hill), including semi-trucks. We witness many vehicles in ditches and it’s not a safe road for bikers/pedestrians. 3. This proposed site of development is home to groves of trees, providing habitat, respite and shade to wildlife and livestock in the area. It also offers a tranquil experience for the customers of 4 Daughters who come to the farm to pick flowers, etc. To have a 3 story apartment building shadowing over this farm will be devastating. Let’s not make mistakes about placement of apartment buildings in rural areas where farming is critical. Let’s not make hasty decisions and rush into development, just because there are people at the ready with financing/plans, etc. There are many people who don’t have our town’s best interests at heart and simply want to develop, develop, develop. We are better than that. I’ve lived in this valley for 31 years. Let’s be thoughtful and careful about our growth and placement of new units. Sincerely, Betsy Swartz 310 Comfort Lane Bozeman, MT 59718