HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-25 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - AHO Comments for City Commission mtngFrom:Marcia Kaveney
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:David Fine; Chuck Winn; Douglas Fischer; Terry Cunningham; Jennifer Madgic; Joey Morrison
Subject:[EXTERNAL]AHO Comments for City Commission mtng
Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 11:35:23 AM
Attachments:2025. Jan.28. AHO comments for City Commission.pdf
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City Clerk-
Please include these comments in the City Commissioner's packet for tonight's meeting as wellas the AHO folder.
Thank you,
Marcia Kaveney
A"ordable Housing Comments
January 28, 2025
Dear Commissioners and Mayor-
While you are considering the AHO revisions tonight, I hope you will take to heart the
lessons the team at Strong Towns has illuminated with their recent books and webinars
and discard the entire deep incentive program. Thoughtful and incremental changes are
sought that seek to include the historic neighborhood residents instead of the recent
radical changes that threaten to displace our current middle- and lower-class downtown
residents.
The following are some of my greatest concerns and possible solutions which I hope you
will consider at your meeting tonight.
1. Changing the height allowance.
We often hear sta" say that most of the neighborhoods are not built to their full allowance
right now so there seems to be no need to change it.
Instead: Leave all current zoning heights in place.
Example- Leave the current height allowance as is in R1-R3- approximately 45 feet but
allow more stories. Luxury housing often includes 15 foot ceilings limiting the number of
stories in 45 feet but moderate housing uses 8 – 10 foot ceilings which allows for more units
in the same amount of space and compatibility with the neighborhood. Lower ceilings are
not attractive to luxury apartment builders but may encourage more local builders.
Instead: Use incentives to defray costs for building within current height restrictions in
existing R1-R4 neighborhoods.
2. Do not accept Land in Lieu of a"ordable housing. This practice further displaces where
“regular” people can live and asks the City to become developers/builders. Where in our
growth policy does it state that we want only the wealthy to live downtown?
Instead: Remove any Land in Lieu program and require any project using an incentive to
include a"ordable units on site.
3. Do not allow all parking to be 1000 feet away from the building.
Instead: Require a minimum of nearby parking-preferably under buildings.
We need to accept that we live in a city currently with inadequate public transportation for
workers and need to make allowances for a minimum of require nearby parking. Even
modest apartments can include ground floor or below grade parking. My neighbor, an
employee of a long time essential downtown business works full time but is not physically
capable of navigating the streets of Bozeman on foot without the proximity of the parking
garage downtown and her onsite parking at her home and is stuck driving until our public
transportation improves.
Example of well-done modest apartments with enclosed and outside parking: The Pines on
South 11th and Olive. Each 2 and 3-bedroom apartment is alloted one enclosed spot and
one designated spot outside.
4. Applying incentives as a one-size-fits all.
Instead: Apply incentives only to the a"ordable units created and use more permissible
incentives along arterials.
I hope you will consider my concerns and alternatives in your discussion tonight. I
understand this is a complicated situation to improve in our current culture, but I remain
cautiously optimistic that you also see that our recent approach to downtown has not
helped our housing situation and that you will take steps to alter the path we’re on in a way
that we can all live with.
Thank you,
Marcia Kaveney