HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-25 Public Comment - D. Cossi - Application 24655- OpposedFrom:Domenic Cossi
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application 24655- Opposed
Date:Tuesday, March 11, 2025 10:09:59 AM
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To whom it may concern,
I am neighbors of 701 N Montana Avenue and the Alsentzers. My property is located at 702
N Montana Avenue. I am a downtown business owner and also longtime north side resident. I remodeled my house and installed a sidewalk, per the city's requirement in 2021, which now
connects Rouse to the corner of Montana and Cottonwood via sidewalk. I appreciate thecharacter of our neighborhood, but believe it is time for sidewalks. For the reasons stated
below, I oppose application number 24655.
1. Sidewalks are necessary for public safety, even if built in segments
With the continued increase in traffic on N Cottonwood, sidewalks are necessary for the safetyof pedestrians in the neighborhood. This is especially true now that the North Third
Apartments are coming online in 2025. Those apartments have an exit onto Cottonwood,which results in the fastest way to access Rouse from the apartments being a straight line
down Cottonwood. This will result in dozens of additional cars a day driving downCottonwood. While it would be ideal to install sidewalks all the way down Cottonwood at
once, the current policy is important to ensure that sidewalks are installed in the neighborhoodas it becomes possible. Our neighborhood is only 5 blocks from a fast growing downtown
Bozeman and it is time to take traffic and pedestrian safety seriously here.
2. Allowing the variance would essentially end the city's requirement to install sidewalks,result in inconsistent enforcement of City rules and would negate the expense of other
landowners that have installed sidewalks.
In 2020, 702 N Montana completed a remodel and installed sidewalks, as required by theCity. At a similar time, the landowners on the southeast corner of Black and Cottonwood
completed a remodel and installed sidewalks. If the City grants this variance request, it willhave to grant every future variance request as this property is no different from others in the
neighborhood. This will end the ctiy's effort to have sidwalks installed on the north side, just5 blocks from our growing downtown.
For example, it is my understanding that the property 623 N Montana Ave (across the street
from 701 at the southwest corner of Cottonwood and Montana) submitted plans a few yearsago to install a large, multi-unit building but did not pursue it when informed sidewalks were
needed. If this variance is allowed, why wouldn't the owners of 623 come back and requestthe same variance?
Further, it is the expectation of landowners that have recently installed sidewalks that others
will do the same. Then, eventually, there will be sidewalks throughout the neighborhood,justifying the investments already made by those that have done it. There are multiple
sections of sidewalk on N. Cottonwood now, and that trend should continue. In addition, with
this lot, the square block on which 701 is located will be only one lot short of beingcompletely surrounded by a sidewalk.
3. Given the preschool run at 701 N Montana, neighbors would prefer a sidewalk.
The Alsenzters have a preschool, which has drop off and pick up times that result in fairly
high traffic for a short period of time every day. Neighbors believe it would be safer both forpedestrians and the kids for a sidewalk to exist during these drop off and pick up times.
5. A relaxation can be allowed to save the trees
It is not clear if the homeowners have formally requested it, but they inform me they were told
they could not change the course of the sidewalk to save the trees. However, the cityfrequently allows for the path of a sidewalk to be varied to save a tree. At my 702 N Montana
property, the City allowed a smaller boulevard to save a lilac tree. The same should beallowed for 701 N Montana. The crabapple tree is right on the street and with minimal
variation, the boulevard should encompass this tree. Similarly, if possible the sidewalksshould be allowed closer to the street to save the hedge row at 701.
Sincerely,
Domenic Cossi (702 N Montana)