HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Public Comment - J. Darrow - Re_ Public comment on the Guthrie proposalFrom:Jason Darrow
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re: Public comment on the Guthrie proposal
Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 3:56:14 PM
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This comment is In reference to appeal application #25033
Jason Darrow
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM Jason Darrow <higherground406@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and City Commissioners,
I am writing to express my strong support for the appeal submitted by BHAG LLC to
overturn the administrative approval of the proposed four-story project in ourneighborhood. My concern is not just about the scale of this development, but about the
inconsistent and unfair application of our Development Code and NeighborhoodConservation Overlay District (NCOD) guidelines, as outlined in the appeal.
When I sought approval to build an addition over my attached garage, city staff explicitlyrestricted my project to two stories (29' max), citing the NCOD guidelines as
superseding allowable base zoning heights (38' R-3 base standards which I understand waslater increased to 46'). To comply, I invested significantly in architectural and engineering
services to ensure my design adhered to both the Development Code and these statedrestrictions. Now, we are being told that these same guidelines—once presented as firm
regulations—are merely suggestions, and that a different project will be permitted toexceed them by double. This is an unacceptable inconsistency in enforcement, and it is
fundamentally unfair to those of us who followed the rules.
Beyond this particular case, I am deeply concerned about the broader trajectory of
planning decisions in our neighborhood. Many of us have invested years in building astrong, stable community—one where affordable housing exists in hidden, well-integrated
apartments, and where many residents work in the building trades, contributing directly tothe city’s growth and vitality. Unlike office-based jobs, our work requires tools, materials,
and equipment that cannot be transported by bicycle or on foot. Reliable parking isessential, yet this proposed project is poised to overwhelm the already limited supply,
making it even more difficult for tradespeople and working residents to live and operatehere. It is unfair to approve a development that disregards these basic needs.
The Elm Event Center should serve as a cautionary example. We have already seen whathappens when projects are approved without regard for their impacts on the surrounding
community. How can this proposed development, which introduces even greater potentialfor disruption, possibly be justified?
I urge you to overturn the administrative approval of this project and uphold our existingDevelopment Code and NCOD guidelines consistently. These standards have served our
neighborhood well, and they should not be disregarded to accommodate selectiveexceptions. If the rules are to change, they must do so through an open and transparent
process—not through arbitrary reinterpretation.
Sincerely,
Jason Darrow
Bozeman Resident, Midtown Neighborhood