HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-24 Public Comment - C. Stillwell - project 24107 Block 104 Bozeman YardsFrom:Cindy Stillwell
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; jmadgic@gmail.com; Douglas Fischer; Emma Bode
Subject:[EXTERNAL]project 24107 Block 104 Bozeman Yards
Date:Sunday, December 15, 2024 9:59:40 PM
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 Planner SARAH E ROSENBERG
and Mayor and City Commissioners
Please accept my thoughts and comments on the current application , project 24107labelled Block 104 on the public notice and named “Bozeman Yards” on the planningpublic comment site.
The Project 24107 application is within the NCOD, which states:
“All new construction...[in] the neighborhood conservation overlay district ... will be
subject to design review unless specifically exempted. The recommendations of the
design review board or administrative design review staff must be given careful
consideration in the final action of the review authority.”
In reading the application and proposal and looking at the drawings for thisapplication I do not see any of these guidelines for NCOD as having been considered.
The ongoing developments in this unique part of Bozeman have been steady and yetthey have all managed to stay under the height that is proposed in this project. Whenthe project narrative claims they have:“
“carefully taking into consideration the identity of this unique piece of theBozeman fabric”
and then goes on to say that the design : “provides some funk and identity tothe neighborhood”
I am at a loss to understand these claims. The design of the building is not inkeeping with the existing humble homes mixed with older simple structuresmixing yet again with newer modern but fairly low-profile buildings. A primaryjewel in this part of Bozeman is the view north, the Bridgers. The old traindepot and the train tracks keep this view shed open to all. At the height of fivestories and 70’ this proposed building effectively bisects the view shed that thisedge of town now provides. I suppose that those who can afford the top storybalcony condo units will have the view. I feel that a better design could becrafted for this section of town, one that is better suited to this historic part oftown and is in compliance with the NCOD—and does not start this grab forheight and the better views while blocking out the neighbors to the south andwest.
I also urge the commissioners to look at this project as another example of an out ofstate developer taking advantage of the incentives provided in the Affordable HousingOrdinance to build something that once again is grossly out of step with the existing
neighborhood, the community and its wishes. In this particular proposal, it seems thetaxpayers will also be paying for it, as they are hoping for the use of TIF to helpfinance and make it work out on paper. Two one bedroom units on the ground floor,according to the application, out of 42 units. This is not quite the 5% they claim. Itseems clearly word has spread far and wide that Bozeman is ripe for the picking onthese kinds of developments, due to a problematic (and developer friendly ) incentivestructure.
Could the commissioners take the lead on this project and make some decisions thatmight support the future of this community as a whole? And not prioritize the profits ofthe developer. There is a better way.
At five stories and 70 feet in height, it is much more of a downtown building and yet itis more than a mile from downtown. There are better solutions to use this propertyand develop it in a way that is integrated into the neighborhood and takes a long-viewof what kind of city Bozeman will be for the future generations. This constantprioritizing of profits of the developer over the needs and desires of the communityneeds to end before its too late.
I thank you for reading my comments,
Cindy Stillwell
This application is within the NCOD, which states: “All new construction...[in] theneighborhood co been considered. I believe the mass and height of the project isgrossly out of character with theerlay district ... will be subject to design review unlessspecifically exempted. The recommendations of the design review board or administrativedesign review staff must be given careful consideration in the final action of the reviewauthority.”I have poured through the posted documents and drawings for this application and don’tsee where the NCOD has been considered. I believe the mass and height of the project isgrossly out of character with the surrounding neighborhood
