HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-25 Public Comment - R. Brey - AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCEFrom:Ron Brey
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE
Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 9:21:01 AM
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Current planning textbooks call for the reduction of parking for a myriad of reasons While
more dense development allowances the City is considering may reduce actual vehicle
commuting if they were located in proximity to transit hubs and employment centers, those
cars aren’t going away Car ownership may be reduced in large urban areas, but cars will
still be owned in Bozeman for recreation and in town transportation needs when transit isn’t
available or when winter conditions preclude biking or walking. The rest of the time those
cars will be parked (stored) on the street
As the city seeks the right fit for parking requirements, I offer a couple considerations the
textbook discussions may be missing and that I haven’t heard thoroughly discussed during
the UDC and AHO deliberations:
As you review the ordinance and consider many complicated issues related to this topic, I
would ask that you pay special attention to the effects of drastic parking reductions. I don’t
think you have been presented with any reliable data showing that sub AMI income
precludes auto ownership. The cars will still be there only without a place to park.
When the residential parking districts were established we heard compelling testimony that
many residents weren’t primarily concerned about the parking to capacity on their blocks.
Their chief concern was the continuous traffic circling the block looking for non-existent
spaces. One resident described it as living inside Kmart’s parking lot.
Aside from busy traffic on otherwise quiet streets, there were serious safety concerns about
kids coming out into heavy traffic between closely parked cars. Drivers looking for an
available space on the next block or around the corner aren’t paying the kind of attention to
the immediate foreground they ordinarily would. It’s been noted that people often turn
down the radio when they are looking for scarce parking spaces so their focus isn’t
distracted.
I recommend that you revisit the testimony you heard from Mike Hope during the
deliberations on the Guthrie proposal. Mike referenced his experience as a developer in
emphasizing that development costs were primarily determined by the cost of the land.
When no space is allocated for parking, the value, and therefore the price of the land goes
up increasing project costs reducing the assumed savings. This surprised me and I would
urge the Commission to consult with Mike and others who have real rather than theoretical
knowledge of this issue.
I agree that parking standards can be reduced but not to the extent that unnecessary safety
issues are created I also recognize that the issue of affordable housing is a primary
concern in the community having volunteered for Paul's soup truck, overnight shifts at the
warming center, staffing several city affordable housing and workforce task forces, and
serving for 11 years on the HRDC board of directors. I have learned that this is a challenge
for which there are no home runs but instead requires a number of carefully fitted measures
to tackle the problem as effectively as possible rather than swinging for the fences.
Ron Brey
1106 S. 3rd