HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-25 Public Comment - V. Backus - Centennial Park Neighborhood Conservation in Action ProposalFrom:Vickie Backus
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Erin George; Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer;Emma Bode
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Centennial Park Neighborhood Conservation in Action Proposal
Date:Tuesday, May 20, 2025 11:02:27 AM
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City Commissioners,
I write in support of the Centennial Park Neighborhood Conservation in Action
Proposal which seeks to protect the residential character of the historic neighborhood
immediately adjacent to Centennial Park by having the area zoned R-A instead of R-C in the
Unified Development Code Update.
I have lived in Bozeman since 2021 and actively participated in the Northeast Neighborhood
Association (NENA) as secretary. During my tenure as secretary, in an effort to help guide
future development within our neighborhood, NENA sought to gather input from members of
NENA as to what they liked best and wanted to preserve in our neighborhood. We did this by
hosting the Photo Voices Northeast project at Tin Works Art and presenting the results to the
commission and planning department.
Unfortunately, our efforts were entirely dismissed and ignored and we were told that
“preserving neighborhood character” was nebulous and not quantifiable. We then remedied
this with the help of Susanne Cowan and other faculty at MSU. The resultant publication,
Investigating Neighborhood Character in the Northeast Neighborhood of Bozeman, MT, clearly
defines in a quantifiable manner the “character” of the Northeast Neighborhood. The
publication also shows there are NO distinguishable differences between the blocks within the
Centennial Park Neighborhood and those blocks south and east of it. In particular, this applies
to the block on Peach Street between Grand and Willson Avenues. The block south of Peach
has exactly the same character as the block North. Yet, the south side of Peach is zoned R-A
and north side of Peach is zoned R-C. This makes the boundaries separating the Centennial
Park Neighborhood from its fellow Northeast Neighborhood arbitrary and capricious.
The arbitrary and capricious nature in which the Centennial Park Neighborhood(CPN) was
singled out for R-C zoning is the primary reason I am hope the commission will rectify this
egregious error. In addition;
The CPN proposal aligns with a minimum of five state-approved housing options in
MCA 76-25-302 (i.e., options a, d, e, f and j). The CPN proposal would also lessen the
burden of safety, emergency, and transportation services per MCA 76-25-207 and
natural resource protection (eg.,mature vegetation) per MCA 76-25-209.
The CPN aligns with Bozeman Community Plan (BCP) 2020 because it:
a) Maintains the Future Land Use Designation,
b) Secures and promotes safety,
c) Lessens the burden on transportation, parking, and on Centennial park itself - in
light of hundreds of new apartment units soon to be inhabited nearby,
d) Provides for adequate air and light,
e) Allows for compatible urban growth,
f) Conserves the value of existing buildings,
g) Provides affordable housing options and creates conditions for "Missing Middle
Housing",
h) Maintains housing diversity (Goal N-3),
i) Aligns with no less than three (3) of its Themes and 25 of its Goals.
In closing, please support the proposed rezoning action for the Centennial Park Neighborhood
and preserve the quality of life for all residents who live in the neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Vickie Backus