HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-25 Public Comment - J. Polus - .5532 Fowler Annex, file number 27-492From:Joe Polus
To:Bozeman Public Comment; maddy@bluelinedevelopment.com
Subject:[EXTERNAL]5532 Fowler Annex, file number 27-492
Date:Thursday, May 22, 2025 12:27:31 PM
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A Heartfelt Plea: Why This Affordable
Housing Plan Threatens Our Community
Stranding Families Far from Hope
Imagine families, already stretched thin, forced to travel 3.5 miles just to reach a grocery store,a doctor, a job, or a bus stop. For those without cars, this proposed site is a desert ofopportunity, isolating them from the essentials they need to thrive. This isn’t just a location—it’s a blueprint for urban sprawl, clogging our roads with traffic and pollution for the next 20years. The City Commission has confirmed: no public transportation will reach this area fordecades, leaving residents stranded. Affordable housing should lift people up, not trap them ina remote corner, far from the resources that give life dignity. This site is already surrounded byoverdevelopment, with no room for the green spaces, sidewalks, or roads needed to support agrowing population. Our community’s infrastructure is buckling, and this plan offers nosolutions—no safe paths for our children, no new parks, no fixes for our crumbling roads.
Endangering Our Children’s Safety
Picture children playing in Meadow Creek Park, their laughter echoing—now drowned out bythe roar of traffic on Meah Lane, a narrow road never meant to handle the surge thisdevelopment will bring. Our streets, already stretched, will become dangerous for the kids andpedestrians who call this place home. A new road planned on the other side of this narrowpark will choke its beauty and safety, turning a cherished community space into a hazard. Thisisn’t progress—it’s a threat to the heart of our neighborhood.
Tearing at Our Community’s Soul
Our neighborhood, with its high-value homes, isn’t just property—it’s a tapestry of memories,families, and dreams. A high-density project here risks unraveling that fabric, loweringproperty values and sowing discord between new and existing residents. This isn’t aboutrejecting affordable housing; it’s about finding a place where it can flourish without fracturingthe character of our community. By moving this project to a site with proper infrastructure, wecan ensure new residents thrive while keeping our neighborhood safe, vibrant, and welcoming.
Doubts About Blueline Development’s Trustworthiness
Who is Blueline Development? Their largest project, a modest 200-unit complex in Missoula,leaned heavily on the Missoula Housing Authority for management and support. Yet, their
website reveals no names—no board, no employees—just a void of transparency. Standardbusiness databases offer little clarity, noting only a $19.2 million deal with Aetna/CVS
Healthcare for a Colorado project. With no social media presence and an expected 33%turnover rate for these units, we’re left wondering: can Blueline truly handle a project of this
scale? Our community deserves a partner we can trust, not one cloaked in mystery.
We beg you to reconsider this site. Choose a location that supports new residents and
preserves the safety and spirit of our neighborhood. Our families, our children, and our futuredepend on it.
Thank you for your consideration,Joe Polus
Meadow Creek Resident