HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-25 Public Comment - T. Lonner - Second Application 25238 for Lot 2 Sundance Springs.£nner
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3602 Goocl /Vied/cine Way o Bozeman, MT 59715 o (c) 40(J.!J3£MJ065 ° (h) 40fM187-9600 ° flonner@omal/.oom O ma1thalo11ner@gmail.com
The Second Application (#25238) for Lot 2 Sundance Springs, Neighborhood Ser vices still DOES NOT Follow the PUD, Master Plan, Covenants and Development Guidelines
To: Erin George, Director of Community Development November 17, 2025
Since 1970, we have been postal residents of Bozeman, MT for 55 years. Fifty
two of those years we've lived at 3602 Good Medicine Way, which is part of the
Sourdough Creek Properties Subdivision and adjacent to the Sundance Springs PUD
approved by the City Commission in 1996.
When we first moved to Good Medicine Way, we were about amilefrom
Bozeman's City limits and surrounded by agricultural operations. We've enjoyed living in a
quiet, safe and well established family neighborhood that is envied by many. Homes for
sale here are not on the market for long. We have experienced the expanding
development of South Bozeman and have remained vigilant in maintaining a quality of
development around us. None of the current Bozeman City Commissioners and staff were
around in the 1990s when we fought to maintain the integrity of our neighborhood after
development proposals and annexations were made near or next to our
neighborhood.
We do not live directly in the city of Bozeman, so we only find out indirectly about
proposed land use change such as the Sundance Springs commercial parcel of the original
PUD signed into law by the Bozeman City Commissioners in 1996. We have and continue
to be involved with the final requirements of this PUD and Master Plan, which are the
basis for the Covenants and Development Guidelines, which again are not being considered
in this second application to develop this lot. These legally binding documents specifically
prohibit:
•Two, two story buildings (only one, one level building of 5,000 is allowed)• A patio with extensive outdoor seating (prohibited)•All outdoor activities (prohibited)• A large restaurant or businesses designed to be city-wide attractions
(neighborhood size and scale are required)
There are two very important development criteria that must by clarified by the
City Planning Department and Commission before proceeding any further with
approval of this development. They are:
1.What constitutes a "Neighborhood Services" land use designation?
2.What legally defines "Complementary to Adjacent Neighborhoods" when
annexations and/or developments are approved by the City Commission?
Believe us, we have reasons for concern involving the details when you designate
the use of a plot of land. As you know, there are many things that have to be considered
and many legal loopholes, misinterpretations and/or violations that often end up m
lawsuits and/or the courts.
Therefore, we are requesting that the Second Application (#25238) be denied for
the 1.3 acre parcel (Lot 2) of land in the Sundance Springs PUD and that it
remains commercial as designated by the original final approved master plan and
PUD signed by the City Commission in 1996. This designation was for one QUIET 2
commercial building not to exceed 5,000 square feet to be built on Lot 2. Our
expectations were not to draw unreasonable, unsafe commercial traffic and
parking through the heart of South Bozeman Neighborhoods adjacent to
designated open space, which could negatively change our neighborhood's
peaceful and safe existence. If these designations are not adhered to, then some legal
issues will have to be resolved, because as usual "The Devil is in the Details."
(SEE ATTACHED SPECIFIC CONCERNS OF OUR REQUEST.)
We firmly believe that HISTORY DOES MATTER, and the credibility of
government decisions be based on policies and laws while not compromising or
contradicting expectations of its citizens, and not based on the whims of developers. We
sure don't want to destroy our safe, quiet, enjoyable and well established
neigh.borhood with an unexpected noisy and noncomplementary commercial type of
development.
Thank you for considering our request, concerns and comments.
Sincerely,
��OL� Terry N. Lonner Martha A. Lonner
tlonner@gmail.com marthalonner@gmail.com
406-539-9065 406-539-9065
cc: Bozeman City Commissioners and the Sundance Springs Homeowners Association
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Here are the main issues we are concerned about:
1.) TOO MANY BUILDINGS AND ACTIVITIY ON TOO SMALL OF A LOT: As noted, Application #25238 proposes two, two story buildings totaling 10,000 square feet. Those buildings include a restaurant/bar with over 100 seats for patrons, nearly half of which are outdoors. Such outdoor seating is forbidden by the Master Plan. The proposal also suggests a 2,500-square-foot health gym, a 1,200 square foot retail space and a total of 4 second-story office suites in the two buildings.
2.) ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED: The proposed plan shows extensive outdoor seating for a restaurant/bar. Even more seasonal seating is possible in the grassy area adjacent to the proposed patio. This is a direct violation of the Master Plan which states that there should be no outdoor business allowed
3.) NOT ENOUGH PARKING: The proposed uses include businesses in two large buildings that -as designed -may at times need 150 or more parking spaces, and yet there
are only 51 spaces provided on site. The PUD prohibits on-street parking. This proposal creates major safety issues because our narrow streets will become one-lane alleys,
restricting our safe access to our homes and endangering us all with increased traffic, constricted traffic lanes and poor access for emergency vehicles.
4.). NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ARE REQUIRED; NOT CITYWIDE DESTINATIONS: The proposal of two oversized buildings will flood destination traffic into our neighborhood from all over town. The intention of the Master Plan was just the opposite. The neighborhood commercial lots at the western entrance to our neighborhood are meant for neighborhood businesses.
5.) TWO BUILDINGS ARE NOT ALLOWED: The PUD and Master Plan allow only one, single story building of less than 5,000 square feet. This proposal asks for two, two story buildings totaling nearly 10,000 square feet. The city should follow the legally binding Master Plan.
6.) PARKING LOTS ABUT THE TRAILS, SETBACKS AND BLOCK FRONTAGE STANDARDS CODES ARE VIOLATED: The proposed plan gobbles up setback space and damages the character of designated open space. Sundance Springs homeowners own the open space surrounding this commercial lot. The relevant building code does not allow parking to lap over into the bordering setbacks that are meant to buffer our open space.
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