HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-15-25 Public Comment - Bozeman Tree Coalition - Approval # 24606From:BozemanTreeCoalition
To:Chuck Winn; Erin George; Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Emma Bode; Douglas Fischer; Jennifer Madgic;Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Approval # 24606
Date:Monday, April 14, 2025 3:25:33 PM
Attachments:Reply to Cty Mgr Winn 4.14.25.pdf
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Greetings, please find our reply attached in pdf.
April 14, 2025
Dear City Manager Winn,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our letter concerning the approval of application 24606. We
appreciate the time you took to cite the approval letter. We respectfully disagree with the rationale.
Allowing a developer to remove public assets (i.e., mature healthy trees and boulevard) is not in
compliance with code (see our burden of proof letter) nor does removing these trees in good
condition follow the City’s own Urban Forest Management Plan or Emerald Ash Borer Course of
Action plan.
Furthermore, after perusing the 24606 folder, it does not appear that the Bozeman Transportation &
Engineering Department was consulted prior to this approval, which may have been an oversight
given the importance of boulevards for snow storage. At the April 10, 2025 Inter-Neighborhood
Council meeting, Director Nick Ross presented, "On-street Parking Management for Winter
Maintenance." During his talk he discussed boulevards. Starting at the 37:09 mark, Director Ross
explained that “a boulevard is not only for trees but also that’s our primary area for snow storage on
our local streets so that the snow can get cleared from the street and have somewhere to stay.”
We remain steadfast in our recommendation that it is in the City’s best interest to re-examine this
approval decision. This site is within an existing neighborhood, within the NCOD, and there is strong
public support for protecting these assets. Also, this approval may set a poor precedent for
future takings of public assets for commercial gain.
Please remember the City of Bozeman’s Core Value of Teamwork: "Respect others, welcome citizen
involvement, and work together to achieve the best result.” Allowing the removal of these existing
mature trees and the boulevard is arguably not the best result.
Sincerely,
Bozeman Tree Coalition co-founders, Dan Carty, Marcia Kaveney, Angie Kociolek, Chris Mcqueary
and Lara Schulz
CC: Community Development Director Erin George, Mayor Terry Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Joey
Morrison, Commissioner Emma Bode, Commissioner Douglas Fischer, and Commissioner Jen
Madgic
BOZEMANTREECOALITION@GMAIL.COM