HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-07-25 Public Comment - J. Carlson - Protest of 5211 Baxter Lane, App 24570 Jeffrey A Carlson
Michele A Buda-Carlson
4665 Danube Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: 612-819-7220
Email: je ica -Isori 9( %gr;;aii.coi-n
Date: July 05, 2025
Bozeman City Clerk
121 N Rouse Ave
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Re: Protest of annexation and zone map amendment, application #24570, 5211
Baxter Lane
To Whom it May Concern,
As the legal owners of real property located at 4665 Danube Lane, Bozeman, MT,
we hereby submit this formal written protest in opposition to A negation and Zone
Map Amendment Application #24570, as noticed for public hearing before the city
commission.
We submit this protest pursuant to Montana Code Annotated 76-2-305 as we
qualify as adjoining property owners.
Statement of protest
We oppose the zoning changes and the annexation described in application
#24570 for the following reasons:
- Ignores the Long Term Community Plan to preserve agricultural business
operations, preserve valuable open space, and to preserve, protect and
enhance wetlands.
- Displaces large numbers of wildlife which call this wetland and riparian
area home. This is also a wildlife corridor, development of which would
have lasting impacts on habitat health and availability. It violates Bozeman
Zoning Regulations, Article IV, Section 21.01, #3 (minimize adverse
environmental impacts).
- Violates the Long Term Community Plan to address climate change, as
this annexation and large scale development would take a wetland that
acts as a natural sponge during flooding, that cleans water and regulates
surface temperatures, to a large blacktop surface, which increases
temperatures, does not mitigate or clean flood waters but rather allows
debris and pollutants to migrate into surrounding areas. It violates Growth
Policy R-2.9, long term gains that are sustainable.
- Violates Bozeman City Zoning Regulations Article IV, Section 21.01, #3
(minimize adverse environmental impacts) and #5 (ensure adequate
provision of public services) as we are currently in a water crisis, as our
own water prices have doubled in the last few years and we are on
permanent water restrictions, yet the City is considering zoning yet
another large scale, high density apartment complex, which uses 4-7
times more water per acre than single family housing.
Ignores Long Term community Plan "A city of Unique Neighborhoods:
Promote a Diverse Supply of Quality Housing Units". 66% of building
permits since 2015 have been multi-family, with only 17% being single
family homes. As the need for temporary housing has been met, it is time
to pivot and build more single family homes, as more supply will bring
down prices. 75% of property buyers in Bozeman are looking for single
family homes. This one sided planning for only approving high density
residential is making the single family housing market more expensive
and less attainable. Continuing to support the economic benefits of out
of state developers and investors, without an opportunity for locals to
buy a property, does a disservice to the community you are elected to
represent. It violates Bozeman City Growth Policy R-2.3 (Potential for
economic benefit to the broader community).
- Violates Bozeman City Zoning Regulation, Article IV, Section 21.01 #5
(ensure adequate provision of public services). There is no pump station,
and a temporary solution is not sustainable. There re not enough police
to serve the current needs of the community, let alone more high density
housing and unenforceable traffic at the outskirts of the city. There are
not enough first responders and the fire station and police station
expansions that have been proposed out of need for more services were
rejected by the voters. Therefore a pause on further annexation makes
sense until our public safety sector can catch up to growth.
We respectfully urge the City Commission to reject this application.
Qualifications of protestors:
Jeffrey A Carlson
Michele A Buda-Carlson
4665 Danube Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
Jeff ! son
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Lae-
Michele A Buda-Carlson