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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-25 Public Comment - H. Morrison - 5532 Fowler Annex File number 24-492From:Heidi Morrison To:Bozeman Public Comment Cc:maddy@bluelinedevelopment.com Subject:[EXTERNAL]5532 Fowler Annex File number 24-492 Date:Wednesday, May 21, 2025 9:11:07 PM Attachments:5532 Fowler file number 24-492 Letter of Concern Morrison.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or openattachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hello, Attached please find our letter for public comment in response to this development. Thank you for your time and review of our concerns. Regards,Heidi Morrison Sent from my iPhone To the Bozeman City Commissioners and other Parties, We are writing to express concern about the development proposed at the newly annexed 5523 Fowler property (Rocky Mountain Flats). This area is problematic for this type of development for several reasons, and we would appreciate you taking a thoughtful look at the issues enumerated below and reconsider approving this type of development in this location. First - It is our understanding that all proposals for new commercial construction have not been approved in the area, and many have been rezoned for high density residential instead. Leaving this area of Bozeman without crucial necessities for this kind of development. This area of town is already fairly isolated, but to propose low-income housing in the area seems rather negligent. Low-income housing should be in areas where work is accessible by walking, biking or public transit. This area is the edge of town, not anywhere near the Main St./Huffine, 19th or 7th corridors that are the highest concentrations of employers. Just look at the Complimentary Districts in the 2020 Community Plan and note that the major areas of commerce are nowhere near this location. Bozeman’s Streamline routes would likely take a person 45 min to well over an hour of riding to get to those areas of commerce in Bozeman. Low-income households often do not have access to reliable transportation and walking or biking are pretty much out of the questions for 5+ months of the year here. Second -3 miles is the approximate distance to the nearest grocery store, almost 3 miles to the nearest fire station and even further to get to the hospital or another medical facility. Again, when you have reliable transportation it isn’t nearly as daunting, but for families that would already likely be struggling these services are simply too far away to be considered reasonable to walk or bike, leaving only public transportation or driving as the option. Modality is paramount in the Community Development plan and this isolated area leaves few options for multi-modality transit for basic life necessities. The old saying “location, location, location” rings loud and true for low-income development and residents. Third - There is a total and utter lack of infrastructure in this area to support the in-process and existing developments, but to add another almost 300 units, that will likely house 400- 600 people, is absurd. Direct access to main roadways is virtually non-existent and the available plan just punches onto roads in the Meadow Creek community which are neighborhood roads, not access roads. Blackwood would be the nearest potential more direct access route to 19th, but that currently dead ends at Parkway. On top of access to main roadways, there are roadway safety considerations that are being completely disregarded. Fowler is not improved enough to handle higher amounts of traffic, Stucky is increasingly dangerous and not improved enough for the traffic it already handles. The other potential access roadways in the area to 19th (Graf and Blackwood) are not connected to Fowler or to 19th. This puts all current residents in this area at unmitigated and seemingly unconsidered risk. Regardless of speed limits or other traffic laws, it will push high speed traffic through the neighborhood and not onto main thoroughfare streets. How will existing community members be able to respond to these concerns? They won’t as the level of Bozeman PD is also inadequate for the level of growth in the area. There is no plan or assurance that existing members of the area matter and that concerns or other issues that WILL arise can be handled appropriately. Based on the plan designs available, there appear to be less than 1 parking space per unit. The existing developments nearby will then bear the burden of street parking which is frankly inconsiderate. It is also against the development plans that were approved, followed and written into covenants in the existing neighborhoods. Meadow Creeks development covenants and bylaws are available and can be read if you would like to understand what was considered at the time this neighborhood was approved and what the current residents abide by. This area was originally developed to include trails, preserve trees, open space and a general feel of Bozeman. This plan includes none of these essential items and leaves the neighboring developments to “pick up the slack and burden.” Fourth - There are also significant concerns among folks who own homes and live in the area because there is a component of pride in ownership which will always lack in developments like this. Statistically speaking pride in ownership facilitates community, growth, social networks, identity, etc.. The only pride in this scenario is that a developer who received some sort of incentive (tax or otherwise). The area neighborhoods with ownership are watching this area of town be rezoned and over developed at every turn with priority that appears to be pro developer/company owned and not individual ownership. Simply put, this area is 100% overwhelmed by the new developments and feels no consideration is being given to the existing. In the past few years there has been only 1 known development (Grad Cielo II) that will be individually owned units/homes rather than development group owned/managed. Even with a management company there is typically very little done to address the ongoing maintenance, cleanliness and aesthetics of the developments. This concern is evidenced by the online reviews for currently managed properties. What recourse does the City offer to the other neighborhoods and developments? Fifth – Unfortunately, the current reality of Bozeman and other cities is that housing is not the only limiting factor to affordability. This is a land-locked community where almost all essentials (groceries, etc.) have to be transported great distances to be available for consumption/use. There is no way around this added cost of living. Even with a reduction in rent it does not mean the struggles of these families will be ameliorated to an extent that affordable will be with in range. According to Bozeman’s’ 2020 Community Plan “The needs of new and existing development coexist and they should remain in balance: neither should overwhelm the other.” Additionally, according to the 2020 plan “Urban design should integrate residential and commercial land use activities…” , include “Variety of housing and employment opportunities.”, “Encourage distribution of affordable housing units…with priority given to locations near commercial, recreational and transit assets.” These and other elements of the Community Plan support that this is not an appropriate development for this area. Higher density development is understood to be the priority of the City’s plan, but the expectation is that is will be reasonable and that existing communities also matter. The solution to low-income house cannot just be “well here is some land, and here is a developer willing to do it.” Based on the incredible numbers of developments that are currently in progress in the Bozeman area it would seem like there could be or should have been discussions and negotiations with those developers to allow for incentives for lower income residents to be considered as tenants across the City. Many of the approved developments were granted rezoning concessions and very likely some other tax/other incentives in the process. If those developments have already received incentives and concessions from the city, shouldn’t they also be participants in addressing affordable housing? Working with those developers would help spread the “burden” of low-income housing across the town and include those residents in all communities rather than create low-income projects in isolated pockets of Bozeman. The city has maintained that they consider the highest and best use of our very limited resource, land, in their process of development. However, there seems to be a serious lack of appropriate use in this location given the actual statistical data surrounding low-income projects. There are hundreds of units coming up in Bozeman and Belgrade already that could represent real opportunity for low- income residents and those opportunities are being ignored. The name of Bozeman’s development game has been too little too late and unfortunately it appears the ship has sailed for appropriate planning. However, it has become very clear over the past 10 years that wealthy developers seem to be the only consideration here. Low-income households deserve better than some pocket of land at the edge of town nowhere near the jobs and other life essentials that they require. Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns. Sincerely, Brian & Heidi Morrison 3328 S. 30th Ave.