HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-25 Public Comment - B. Caldwell - Support for Project 24-147 – In Defense of Thoughtful DesignFrom:Brian Caldwell
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Support for Project 24-147 – In Defense of Thoughtful Design
Date:Monday, August 4, 2025 7:40:12 AM
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Subject: Support for Project 24-147 – In Defense of Thoughtful Design
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing in support of Project 24-147, particularly the proposed patio
within the watercourse setback.
This is exactly the kind of project Bozeman should be encouraging—one
that goes beyond minimum code compliance and instead asks: How can we
do this better? The patio in question is a modest yet meaningful gesture
toward community access, ecological restoration, and elevated design
thinking. Rather than fencing off this sensitive area, the team has proposed
something that benefits the public realm and reimagines how we engage
with our natural corridors.
Unfortunately, too many projects in our city scrape through with the bare
minimum. They follow the “paint-by-number” approach—technically
compliant but uninspired, often resulting in disconnected and
underwhelming environments. When a team dares to do more—to pursue
design that challenges convention and brings public benefit—it deserves
not only consideration but support.
A rejection of this proposal would send a clear and demoralizing message
to the broader design community: that thoughtfulness and ambition will be
penalized, while mediocrity remains the safe path. That’s not the Bozeman
I know, nor the one I hope we continue building together.
I strongly urge you to approve this project and its modest request. Let’s
reward efforts that raise the bar, not punish them.
Sincerely,
Brian Caldwell
Principal – Thinktank Design Group INC.
Owner – NEU-BAU LLC
bcaldwell@neu-bau.com
406-580-9750
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