HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-25 Public Comment - S. Dabney - July 14 Special MeetingFrom:Susan Dabney
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]July 14 Special Meeting
Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 3:08:36 PM
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Dear Commissioners,
My name is Susan Burrows Dabney and I have lived at 522 South 6th Avenue for 31 years. Bozeman has been a
wonderful nurturing place to raise my family and we adore Bozeman. But these past many years with the rampant
growth, no attention to what is built where, and total building over entire site so there is no space for grass or trees
or landscaping that softens and enhances all buildings, we are loosing the very integrity of our city. Our historic and
charming neighborhoods are being destroyed by these overly high and large structures that DO NOT FIT IN with
the charm that Bozeman holds in the past anyway. Please stop ruining what makes Bozeman so special. We need
more trees, normal size craftsman houses with large front porches. We do not need any more condos with 3 and 4
stories. The 3 story condos that were built a few years ago on 8th and Alderson sat on the market for TWO years and
even now, I believe there is only one occupant. These were built directly across from Irving School and DO NOT fit
in with our neighborhood. Commissioners, what you are choosing to do right now WILL directly influence how
Bozeman keeps OR DOES NOT KEEP all that is special about it.
Many years ago, Ed McMahon came to speak at The Museum of the Rockies. He is a renowned urban planner and
both of my children in college had been reading his books for their studies. he is known for his expertise in regional
and urban planning, land, conservation, smart growth, and historic preservation. He was adamant and his advice to
us as a city was to make sure we did not build big roads and to identify all the things that everybody in Bozeman
believed were the most special things so that we would never lose those. He cautioned about fast, paced growth and
outsiders coming to build just to make money. He also urged the importance of protecting trees and planting trees
for shade and many other things. It seems all of his caution and advice went by the wayside as we built, larger and
bigger roundabouts with no trees, no shade all big asphalt streets and now big big buildings that go from cement to
cement many without even parking.
I have gone on too long, but I urge you each one of you commissioners to take your responsibility really seriously. I
believe we are at a major crossroads for Bozeman-either we keep the integrity and charm of Bozeman or completely
ruin it, and lose all that is special and become just a giant city that people can move in and out of quickly.
please listen to the people at Bozeman. We really care about our city. We want to be a place where our children
walk freely, bike freely and continue to love being here and love making a difference for our city. Thank you for
your time and please listen to the people of Bozeman.
With Hope and gratitude,
Susan Burrows Dabney
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