HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-25 Public Comment - D. Buck - Application #24570, Public CommentFrom:Darius Buck
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application #24570, Public Comment
Date:Monday, July 7, 2025 6:00:46 PM
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To the City Commission of Bozeman,
I grew up in Bozeman, and my dream is to build a life here, and at some time
own a home. Not rent an apartment for the rest of my life. I oppose the
annexation and zone map amendment of 5211 Baxter Lane, application #
24570.
All of the building in this city seems to be high rise apartments that are also
unaffordable.
Not only is this land a large wetland and riparian area, it is an active wildlife
corridor that supports dozens of species. Bozeman’s own long term Community
Plan is to preserve, protect and enhance wetlands; and to preserve open space.
Approving this would violate the very plan that so much effort, research, and
community input wrought.
This annexation and zoning to R5 would also violate the long term Community
Plan (from the Bozeman City website), “A City of Unique Neighborhoods:
Promote a diverse supply of quality housing units.”
Since 2018, 66% of building permits have been multi-family, with only 17% being
single family
homes. We now have a redundant number of high density, 3-4 story apartment
buildings, most of which look as though they have used the same architectural
plans. They are not unique, and are not diverse.
There is a 17.5% vacancy rate in these residences, with 1550 units to be
competed by the end of 2025, and 3,000 more approved and/or in the planning
pipeline. Creating a low inventory single family housing market serves to
increase housing prices, which landlords then raise rents accordingly. By over
building these units, Bozeman has inadvertently created a more expensive
housing market, with
a increasingly difficult path to single family homeownership. According to
Bozeman Realty’s website, 75% of property buyers in Bozeman are looking for
single family detached homes (violates growth policy R-2.3; potential for
economic benefit to the broader community).
The areas surrounding this plot of land that have been annexed are largely
zoned R3, R5,
and REMU. No single family neighborhood has been approved in this ‘donut
area’ since 2016. That is not balanced. It is time for the city commission to pivot
and start approving and stop actively discouraging single family home zoning.
This will increase affordability and inventory in our housing market, dropping
rental prices over time, and moving economic benefits into the hands of our
community members, and out of the pockets of Florida developers and
investors. My American Dream is to own a home. Not to RENT for the rest of my
life (violates growth policy R-2.3; potential for economic benefit to the broader
community, and R-2.9; long term gains that are sustainable).
Please reject this annexation and zoning, and consider the long term economic
benefits to increasing the supply of single family homes for the future
generations.
Sincerely,
Darius Buck