HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-25 Public Comment - M. McHugh - Re_ Fowler Housing Development Project EV BoardFrom:Mary McHugh
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Mary McHugh
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re: Fowler Housing Development Project
Date:Monday, August 4, 2025 11:24:45 AM
Attachments:8-4-25 Comment Letter to EVB.doc
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Please provide the attached written comments to the Economic Vitality Board for their
consideration at their review/meeting on August 6, 2025. Thank you.
Mary Frances McHugh
3144 Rose Street
Bozeman, MT 59718
Date: August 4, 2025
To: The Economic Vitality Board, City of Bozeman – meeting date 8-6-25
Re: The Fowler Housing Development proposed for development of the land between Durston and Oak along the Fowler Avenue extension and the Fowler Avenue connector
(Project)
From: Mary Frances McHugh, Owner, 3144 Rose Street, Bozeman, MT 59718
Comment on Action item F1: Consider a Zoning Recommendation for the Fowler Affordable Housing Project
This site cannot serve all needs. There is insufficient space. Zoning should not be greater than
R-1, which is the same as the abutting lands to the east in the Harvest Creek subdivision.
Avoid Spot Zoning. "Spot zoning" refers to the singling out of one lot or other small area for a
zoning classification that is different from that accorded similar surrounding land, usually for the
benefit of the owner and to the detriment of the community. The City is the property owner in
this project and is not exempt from these rules.
The Project will increase density without accommodating a transition. Uses on either side of
this Project are R-1 and R-2 (see attached City zoning map). If the project were zoned as R-3,
it would yield 84 units; the density increase would be from 6 units per acre to as much as 17
units per acre. The City map shows there is substantial R3 and R4 zoning in the area already.
The Fowler Avenue extension will become a natural boundary between the Harvest Creek and
Oak Springs subdivisions. The uses on either side of that boundary should be compatible with
existing uses, especially if there is no buffer between the Fowler project and Harvest Creek.
Comment on Action item F3: Trade-offs to Consider for the Fowler Affordable Housing Project
Avoid density. The project is not walkable and not rated highly for either transit or bikeabilitiy.
See: Zillow, score as of 8-4-25 for a similarly situated property on Annie in Harvest Creek
subdivision, two blocks from proposed project.
Denser housing typically has less onsite parking, it is designed to be more reliant on walkability
and transit. This area is not “transit-oriented”. The Brownline runs hourly. There are no stores
nearer than a mile. The parking proposed of 1.6 spaces per unit is clearly too few with the
inevitable consequence that Harvest Creek streets will serve to accommodate overflow parking
and vehicle storage from the Fowler project.