HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-25 Public Comment - P. McGown - Community DevelopmentFrom:Patty McGown
To:Terry Cunningham; Bozeman Public Comment; Jennifer Madgic; Joey Morrison; Erin George; Emma Bode; ChuckWinn; Douglas Fischer
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Community Development
Date:Tuesday, May 20, 2025 1:27:55 PM
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Dear City Commissioners and Planners,
Patty McGown, Bozeman.
Developer Jason Delmue has submitted motions that he has offered for consideration to theCommunity Development Board. His motions would throw a wrench into the UDC process becausehe is recommending antagonizing, last minute changes that appear to support pro-developmentanti-resident actions. Maybe I am misreading his motions, but I don’t think so. I am tired ofdevelopers pulling punches like this. My thought is, he should not even be on that committee as he,just like Egge, has an inherent conflict of interest between his day job and his direct influence overthe outcomes of the community development committee and the UDC on my city.
This is exemplified by Delmue’s motions. If a resident tried to make these motions, they would be
laughed out of the city building. His motions are a slap in the face to all the work that residents,
including myself, have been doing since the commission agreed to pause the UDC and listen. Well,
listening is one thing, hearing is another.
For example, I take offense to Delmue’s motion number 5,
the…”process for handling zone map amendments suggested as modifications to the draft zone
map contained in the draft UDC…” where he pontificates that “One example that comes to mind
is parcels on the S side of W. Babcock between 15th and 19th. Maybe it does make sense for allthe parcels along that stretch to get a higher zoning district, as was requested for the individualparcels. It matches being on a collector street. It matches being just across from parcels betweenMain and Babcock”
I ask: Who is he working for? Not me. Just for the record, I vehemently oppose the city plannersdeciding what zone to change parcels from and to, based on a developer’s recommendation, ratherthan through the proper channels already defined by the city. Delmue has an inherent conflict ofinterest if, for example, he is working with architects like Intrinsc, who in the past, attempted tosneak in and change the zoning on a parcel on Babcock just a block east of Delmue’s mention above,DURING the meeting when the UDC was paused. This kind of pro-developer activity makes itappear that developers have the upper hand with the city, where developers possibly learn ofsituations before residents. If that is the case, this has to change for trust to be rebuilt between thecity and residents.
The city has steps for the process for requesting zone map amendments to modify the zoning. Itrequires reaching out to every resident on every parcel in that zoning area proposed for changes.For example, the recent 2 requests to downzone in the Centennial Park sub-area of the NENA andthe Bon Ton’s neighborhood, which I strongly recommend. These grassroots efforts of residentsworked their tails off, (between working their day jobs, taking care of families, and giving uppersonal time going door to door) to honestly discuss this idea with every resident in theirneighborhoods followed every step of the process and the zoning deserves to be changed. Delmue’srequested motion makes a mockery of this process. This is wrong on every level.
It appears that Delmue’s disrespectful request (disrespectful to those neighbors around thoseparcels on Babcock of which I am one block away, and to the Centennial and Bon Ton neighborhoodswhom I mentioned above) may be self-serving, and if that is the case: this is wrong. And if it is notself-serving, it does appear to serve his industry: development.
And Delmue’s motion #4 seems to recommend that the city planners start the process of studyingthe “legal constraint to make city parcels with in HOA’s subject to city policy.”
Well, if this is what the community development board is going to recommend, this board is not
representing me. I don’t even have an HOA in my neighborhood and I see that this is the wrongapproach, and has not been brought up during this whole UDC rewrite process. Delmue appears tobe encouraging the community development board to change horses in the middle of the stream,and (as Dan Fogelberg sang) it’s going to "get you (all) wet and cold".
And the other motions Delmue presents also have issues I could address, but honestly, I am tired oftrying to speak truth to power only to be ignored and beat down. There are more than just "peoplewho haven't even moved here yet, and part timers, and developers" for the city commissioners andcity planners to consider. There are the residents who have lived in Bozeman for 40+ years who havemade Bozeman the desirable place to live that is being taken for granted by the city commission andplanners. Please do not let Delmue's motions be considered for any aspect of the UDC.
Lastly, please read the editorial by respected author and Bozeman resident Tood Wilkinson in theBozeman Daily Chronicle today (5/20/2025). He is an excellent writer and author, and represents mein his writing. I will quote from his editorial here to make some points that he articulates soeloquently.
Please let’s avoid any more “misadventure’s” as Mr. Wilkinson refers to them, and he continues“both city officials and the planning department have been callous and tone deaf in refusing toheed the concerns of citizens” and he continues “I believe the voices of citizens who have livedhere for years, contributing sweat equity, valuable time and insight, ought to be treated withgreater respect that fly-by-night or recently arrived developers claiming we are going to grow ourway out of growth-related problems….Never in my wildest dreams did I think…neighborhoods…needed protection from naïve-thinking government officials peddling unproven claims that “infill”and more atrocious apartments sited in residential areas will solve an affordable housing crisis…”
Todd is absolutely correct. Please listen. Please.
Standing by,
Patty McGown