HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-25 Public Comment - S. Coffield - Opposition to Expansion of B-3 Zoning District to E. CurtissFrom:Sarah Coffield
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer; Emma Bode
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Opposition to Expansion of B-3 Zoning District to E. Curtiss
Date:Wednesday, November 19, 2025 1:51:17 PM
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Dear City Staff, Community Development Advisory Board, City Commissioners;
I am writing to formally express my opposition to the proposed expansion of the B-3 zoning
district south to E. Curtiss. As a resident of this community, a full-time working mom, alandlord, and an owner who has improved and is currently improving multiple properties in
this district, I have serious concerns about how this zoning change will impact ourneighborhood and its residents. My hopes with my investments are to provide single families
with rental options in the downtown area that have access to great public schools in a safe,quaint historic neighborhood.
Our community has already faced challenges with the presence of the Black Oliveestablishment, including the loss of privacy in our backyards due to its expansion, the
increased parking demand that has spilled onto our streets, and the lack of affordable housingit offers. We have seen this over and over with B-3 zoning developers who now offer
downtown luxury apartments in their multi-unit complexes that inflames the rising vacanyrates, which are twice the national average here. Black Olive and the many others have
highlighted the negative consequences of commercial development in primarily residentialareas.
Additionally, many of us have invested heavily, including our time, money, labor, advocacy,in keeping our homes aligned with historic district standards. We are proud of our
commitment to preserving the character of our neighborhood and enhancing our community’sappeal. This effort reflects our deep connection to our homes and our dedication to
maintaining the unique charm of our area.
The proposed expansion threatens to further alter the character of our community, which has
maintained a residential focus that promotes family living and community cohesion.Introducing more commercial activities in this area will likely lead to increased traffic, noise,
and congestion, detracting from the peaceful environment that many families and individualscherish. Furthermore, such changes could negatively affect local property values and
exacerbate the parking issues we are already experiencing, as our neighborhood is notequipped to handle the additional commercial traffic and the strain it would place on our
infrastructure.
I urge the decision-makers to reconsider this proposal. It is essential that the voices of the
residents are heard and that we protect the integrity of our community. The expansion of theB-3 zoning district is not in the best interest of our neighborhood, and I believe that preserving
our residential character should be the priority.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Sincerely,
Sarah Coffield
219 S Bozemansarahkcoffield@gmail.com
406-595-2116