HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-25 Public Comment - S. Walgren - 5532 Fowler Annex File Number 24-492From:Scott Walgren
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]5532 Fowler Annex File Number 24-492
Date:Tuesday, May 20, 2025 8:19:04 PM
Attachments:5532 Fowler Annex – File Number 24-492.pdf
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Subject: 5532 Fowler Annex – File Number 24-492
To: Bozeman City Commissioners and Planning Staff
From: Scott and Catherine Walgren
Address: 3090 Meah Lane, Bozeman, MT 59718
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners and Planning Staff,
I write to you as a resident of the Meadow Creek Subdivision to express my opposition to
the development plan for Rocky Mountain Flats, File Number 24-492. While I commend the
City’s commitment to addressing affordable housing needs for families earning 30–80% of
the Area Median Income, this particular development, as proposed, falls short of serving
that community effectively—and risks creating more challenges than solutions.
This is not the first time residents of Meadow Creek have had to raise their concerns. Years
ago, the proposed Buffalo Run development posed similar issues related to incompatible
growth, infrastructure strain, and erosion of public space. Sadly, many of those same
issues remain in this proposal—now compounded by even greater strain in our rapidly
growing part of the city.
1. Location and Access to Essential Services
The proposed development is over 3.5 miles from essential services including grocery
stores, healthcare, schools, and public transportation. Families who qualify for this type of
housing are more likely to rely on public transit, walkable access to work and services, and
neighborhood-scale support systems. Placing affordable housing at the geographic edge of
Bozeman, far from these resources, isolates rather than includes. This location
fundamentally fails the mission of equitable and integrated community planning.
2. Infrastructure Incompatibility and Road Concerns
The infrastructure surrounding this project is not equipped to handle the anticipated
increase in traffic, density, and pedestrian use. Specifically:
The only nearby streets (Blackwood, 27th, Kurk, 31st) are either incomplete, narrow,
or lack stormwater infrastructure and sidewalk connectivity.
31st Avenue is not built to City standards and currently lacks the curb/gutter and
width required for safe access.
Blackwood Road, at only 24 feet wide and partially built, cannot support increased
vehicular access, let alone parking demands.
Installing new roads to support this development—particularly through Ainsworth Park—is
simply not viable.
3. Threat to Public Parkland – Ainsworth Park
Perhaps the most unacceptable element of this proposal is the plan to construct a road
through Ainsworth Park. As residents, we were told this park would be expanded—not
cannibalized—as westward development continued.
The park is currently only 175 feet wide. The proposed road would narrow it to just
115 feet—well below Bozeman’s minimum block width standard of 200 feet (BMC
38.410.040.C).
This unnecessary road would split the park into a narrow sliver between two streets,
effectively eliminating its use as a functional green space.
It also threatens the existing playground and disrupts a passive, community-oriented
park that is heavily used by neighborhood families.
Removing existing, established parkland from an active neighborhood for the sole benefit of
a single developer sets a dangerous precedent and betrays the trust of the Meadow Creek
community.
4. Misalignment with Urban Planning and Zoning Standards
While the zoning for Rocky Mountain Flats has already been approved, the development
plan conflicts with several principles outlined in the Bozeman Community Plan:
The area is not adjacent to any commercial zones nor is it served by transit.
Placing high-density housing in an isolated, car-dependent location contradicts the
city’s stated goals of compact, walkable, mixed-use development that reduces strain
on infrastructure.
By building this project in a location that lacks connections, services, and civic
support, we risk creating a pocket of economic and social isolation, not integration.
5. Better Alternatives Exist
We are not opposed to affordable housing. In fact, we believe Bozeman urgently needs
more of it. But we also believe that affordable should not mean disconnected, marginalized,
or second-rate. The right project in the right place—close to transit, schools, commerce,
and community infrastructure—would have our full support.
We urge the City to consider alternative sites better aligned with long-term planning goals
and to preserve the integrity of Ainsworth Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
Respectfully,
Scott and Catherine Walgren
3090 Meah Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
Subject: 5532 Fowler Annex – File Number 24-492
To: Bozeman City Commissioners and Planning Staff
From: Scott and Catherine Walgren
Address: 3090 Meah Lane, Bozeman, MT 59718
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners and Planning Staff,
I write to you as a resident of the Meadow Creek Subdivision to express my opposition to the
development plan for Rocky Mountain Flats, File Number 24-492. While I commend the City’s
commitment to addressing affordable housing needs for families earning 30–80% of the Area
Median Income, this particular development, as proposed, falls short of serving that community
effectively—and risks creating more challenges than solutions.
This is not the first time residents of Meadow Creek have had to raise their concerns. Years ago,
the proposed Buffalo Run development posed similar issues related to incompatible growth,
infrastructure strain, and erosion of public space. Sadly, many of those same issues remain in
this proposal—now compounded by even greater strain in our rapidly growing part of the city.
1. Location and Access to Essential Services
The proposed development is over 3.5 miles from essential services including grocery stores,
healthcare, schools, and public transportation. Families who qualify for this type of housing are
more likely to rely on public transit, walkable access to work and services, and
neighborhood-scale support systems. Placing affordable housing at the geographic edge of
Bozeman, far from these resources, isolates rather than includes. This location fundamentally
fails the mission of equitable and integrated community planning.
2. Infrastructure Incompatibility and Road Concerns
The infrastructure surrounding this project is not equipped to handle the anticipated increase in
traffic, density, and pedestrian use. Specifically:
●The only nearby streets (Blackwood, 27th, Kurk, 31st) are either incomplete, narrow, or
lack stormwater infrastructure and sidewalk connectivity.
●31st Avenue is not built to City standards and currently lacks the curb/gutter and width
required for safe access.
●Blackwood Road, at only 24 feet wide and partially built, cannot support increased
vehicular access, let alone parking demands.
Installing new roads to support this development—particularly through Ainsworth Park—is
simply not viable.
3. Threat to Public Parkland – Ainsworth Park
Perhaps the most unacceptable element of this proposal is the plan to construct a road through
Ainsworth Park. As residents, we were told this park would be expanded—not cannibalized—as
westward development continued.
● The park is currently only 175 feet wide. The proposed road would narrow it to just 115
feet—well below Bozeman’s minimum block width standard of 200 feet (BMC
38.410.040.C).
● This unnecessary road would split the park into a narrow sliver between two streets,
effectively eliminating its use as a functional green space.
● It also threatens the existing playground and disrupts a passive, community-oriented
park that is heavily used by neighborhood families.
Removing existing, established parkland from an active neighborhood for the sole benefit of a
single developer sets a dangerous precedent and betrays the trust of the Meadow Creek
community.
4. Misalignment with Urban Planning and Zoning Standards
While the zoning for Rocky Mountain Flats has already been approved, the development plan
conflicts with several principles outlined in the Bozeman Community Plan:
● The area is not adjacent to any commercial zones nor is it served by transit.
● Placing high-density housing in an isolated, car-dependent location contradicts the city’s
stated goals of compact, walkable, mixed-use development that reduces strain on
infrastructure.
● By building this project in a location that lacks connections, services, and civic support,
we risk creating a pocket of economic and social isolation, not integration.
5. Better Alternatives Exist
We are not opposed to affordable housing. In fact, we believe Bozeman urgently needs more of
it. But we also believe that affordable should not mean disconnected, marginalized, or
second-rate. The right project in the right place—close to transit, schools, commerce, and
community infrastructure—would have our full support.
We urge the City to consider alternative sites better aligned with long-term planning goals and to
preserve the integrity of Ainsworth Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
Respectfully,
Scott and Catherine Walgren
3090 Meah Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718