HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-25 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - Boutique Hotel deviation request #24147, CC mtng, 8_5_25From:Marcia Kaveney
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; Douglas Fischer; Joey Morrison; Emma Bode
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Boutique Hotel deviation request #24147, CC mtng, 8/5/25
Date:Monday, August 4, 2025 3:07:56 PM
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Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioners-
As you know, I found the reasoning for renewing the review process for the Boutique
Hotel unpersuasive. Even if Deputy Mayor Morrison had been present at the meeting andvoted in favor of it, it still wouldn't have passed that night. However, it is back on your
agenda for Tuesday, Aug.5th.
My opinion about upholding watercourse setbacks and the Boutique Hotel has not changed.As far as I can tell the application also hasn't changed and I again urge you to vote a
resounding NO on the deviation request for the following reasons.
1. Encroaching "about 30 feet into the watercourse setback" is functionally no setback at all,even if the building envelope is not part of the encroachment.
The city codes prohibit hardscape, fences, decks, etc. within watercourse setbacks. The onlyallowance is a gravel trail in Zone 2 (which is the 40% of setback furthest from thewatercourse) besides pedestrian bridges, public streets and sidewalks, and utilities. (See38.410.100. A. 2. e. Exceptions.)
2. Additionally, the 35 foot setback requirement is very outdated. According to the currentmunicode 38.410.100. A. 2.c. (2), since July, 2002, the watercourse setback for BozemanCreek has been 75 feet!
If the Boutique Hotel is held to the mere 35 foot setback, it is the equivalent of a generous(~50%) encroachment of today's standards. If we (the City) don't enforce the 25 year oldstandards, how will we (the City) manage the enforcement of the modern more protective andvisionary standards?
3. Hotels are plentiful in Bozeman, even if filled. They do not supply housing. Another newhotel along with the other 2 or 3 already approved hotels undergoing construction willarguably further stress the staffing, housing, and parking needs already in existence. I can seeno reason to bend the already outdated and minimal rules for another new hotel.
4. The often mentioned design of the hotel is subjective and irrelevant. Please do not weighyour decision on anything to do with how much you like (or do not like) the design of thehotel. I think the decision about application #24147 has to do with the City's environmentalintegrity and avoiding the mistakes of the past. Look to the future of Bozeman Creek andbegin with a NO vote on this deviation request.
5. Just because the hotel was approved in 2020 is not a good enough reason to approve it now.Bozeman is a different town now having been hit hard with growth over the last 5 years. We(the City as a whole) have learned a lot and I hope that includes better protection of our natural
resources and our stewardship of them in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Thank you for considering my comments and request to vote NO on application #24147.
Sincerely,
Marcia Kaveney