HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-25 Public Comment - J. Kimble - Public Comment Regarding Fowler Housing ProjectFrom:Jill Kimble
To:Bozeman Public Comment; David Fine
Cc:Chad Kimble
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment Regarding Fowler Housing Project
Date:Monday, September 22, 2025 9:26:47 AM
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I am writing to follow up regarding the next steps for the Fowler Housing Project. I currentlylive in Harvest Creek Subdivision, I am an employee of Bozeman Public Schools, I was born
and raised in Bozeman. I am a proud resident of Bozeman. However, some of the recentmeetings I have attended regarding this subject have really made me question the direction of
the leadership of my hometown.
I really appreciate Commissioner Fischer's recommendation for consensus style meetingsregarding this subject. I work for the Bozeman Public Schools and have been a part of these
meetings. Although valuable and a way to get all voices in the room, they are very timeintensive and a labor of love. Through the schools we are paid to be a part of these meetings
because they impact our work. My concern regarding using this type of meeting to help solvethe issue of affordable housing on Fowler is who would be willing to give that much time to
this issue? If you are wanting this development to be for the "missing middle" we need tomake sure this population is represented. Unfortunately teachers, fire fighters, police officers
and nurses are working long hours and this may impact their ability to attend such timeintensive meetings. I am also very concerned about having people such as Nathan Stein (who
is on the Economic Vitality board) who works for a company who has an economic stake insuch developments. If we do move forward on using the consensus style approach regarding
the Fowler Housing Project, I would urge you to select a representative sample of thepopulation. This would include mainly people of the "missing middle" who are looking for
houses, realtors who are working to help find people houses, professionals financing housing,people whose daily lives will be impacted by this housing. Is this really what people of
Bozeman want? People who will really LIVE there, people who want to create roots, peoplewho are a part of our community, people who are a part of the current neighborhood these are
people who should be included in this consensus board. Not people pushing "affordable"development because it looks good on a resume (such as David Fine and Nathan Stein).
Comissionner Bode, I know you are spearheading this effort. I urge you to really question
how representative your consensus sample is of the people this project REALLY involves andimpacts. Not the people just supporting the "theory" of pushing affordable housing into
Bozeman.
I wanted to point out another interesting fact that Harvest Creek Subdivision has a highamount of rentals within the neighborhood. And for the most part they are full. This is
because people WANT to live in single family homes. People that are a part of the "missingmiddle" want homes, yards for their dog, and a garden. They want to live in a neighborhood
like Harvest Creek Subdivision. If they wanted to live in 12 foot wide housing where theyshare walls and live with limited green space they would live in the many condos, townhomes,
and apartments currently being built (and many vacant). Why can't the city of Bozeman usethis gift of land to create affordable opportunities for families within the "missing middle" to
have single family homes?
I have asked in previous public comment for a market analysis to be done of what is currentlyon the market to see if a development like the proposed Fowler Housing Project and see if it is
even needed. Has this been completed?
I also wanted to bring to your attention a hit and run accident that happened 2 weeks ago onNew Holland Drive. A neighbor had a car parked on the street and his car was totaled in a hit
and run at 5:50 in the morning. The impact was so loud it woke up our whole house eventhough the accident occurred several houses away. While the addition of Fowler Ave. will
reduce some of this high speed cut through traffic, it shows that even at its current capacity,due to parking and traffic New Holland is dangerous. There is no room for overflow parking
and traffic from the Fowler Housing Project to New Holland Drive.
Thank you for your time and consideration.Please feel free to follow up with any further questions.
Jill Kimble
Lifelong resident of Bozeman