HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Public Comment - K. Filipovich - The Guthrie 25033From:Karen Filipovich
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Guthrie 25033
Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 9:26:50 AM
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Dear Commissioners:
I am writing on opposition to the proposed development in the corner of Villard and 5th.
While I appreciate the changes since the last application, it is still not appropriate. Pleas deny25033.
I walked my kids to grade school for years through that intersection. The traffic analysis and
relief are not likely to address safety concerns. At a minimum, it needs to be upgraded to afour way stop.
Second, the city appears to be waiving the two year stay in demolition after a denial, but I
can't find anything that clearly states that a waiver was issued or was warranted. This violatesCC 38.230.100.A.7.
Finally, the NCOD is being ignored. This has been par for the course north of Main for years,
but it doesn't make it right. The city has not evaluated most of the area since 1987, before theNCOD, for historic considerations. Each major alternation is then used as another nail in the
coffin to ever consider the integrity of the existing neighborhood. When I must submit designstandards for evaluation for adding an egress window, but a developer can scrape and replace
with a completely incongruous building, something major is amiss with how the NCOD isapplied.
As commissioners, I implore you to think about some big picture changes so we don't keep
having these issues in the core of old Bozeman:
Do a zoning analysis. It has been put out as an idea, but never goes anywhere in the planningdepartment. The zoning changes north and south of Main cause major transition problems. On
the west side, there hasn't been a completely clear zoning area plan that could embrace asecond city commercial center to residential step down that is not car dependent.
Please get real about how this city deals with existing neighborhoods and either truly enforce
the NCOD or create a clear set of standards that both preserves existing buildings wheneverpossible and enhances neighborhood character.
Sincerely,
Karen Filipovich