HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-15-25 Public Comment - W. Kilian - L Street Annexation and ZMA #25360From:Wren Kilian
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]L Street Annexation and ZMA #25360
Date:Sunday, December 14, 2025 10:10:42 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Cunningham and Bozeman City Commissioners,
In regards to the application #25360, the L Street
Annexation and Zone Map Amendment (ZMA). I share the same concerns thatSacajawea Audubon Society (SAS) submitted on November 18, 2025, and fully support their
letter and recommendations to ensure the future developer protects the important naturalfeatures of this property.
Development of the parcel needs to protect:
1) the stand of maturecottonwoods on the north end adjacent to Story Mill Park,
2) the largest stands of aspen on the south half of the property and 3) riparian vegetation on the site.
Additionally, anydevelopment of this parcel should occur outside of the City’s recently updated and
approved wetland and watercourse setbacks and isolated wetland buffers.This will be an opportunity for staff to ensure conformance to UDC Standards 38.410.010
and the Updated Wetland and Watercourse Ordinance 2025-xxx replacing 38.410.100 and38.610. The Wetlands and Watercourse Ordinance 2025-xxx designates a minimum 100 ftsetback along the length of the East Gallatin River and a minimum 25 ft buffer from theisolated wetland on this site.
Protections for these natural features are further supported by City policy in the Gallatin
Valley Sensitive Lands Protection Plan, the Bozeman Community Plan 2020, and the 2023Parks, Recreation, and Active Transportation Plan–all of which recommend protection ofnative vegetation, wildlife corridors, and bird habitat. This parcel contains all three. This area has been documented as rich bird habitat, and is also
an important wildlife corridor that is used by black bear, moose, fox, deer and more betweenthe Story Hills and Bridger Mountains. Maintaining this wildlife corridor would be best served
by enforcement of the stated minimum watercourse and wetland setbacks and isolated wetlandbuffers.
The City should be able to add conditions to ZMAs , and I
urge you to require future development of this property be clustered andconcentrated in the existing open areas while requiring, to the maximum extent possible,
avoidance, thereby protection, of riparian vegetation, and mature tree groves–including thecottonwood tree with the historical and still active redtail hawk nest.
To optimize natural resource protection,
I support Commissioner Jennifer Madgic’s suggestion made on December 1, 2025 at theCommunity Development Board meeting:
That this parcel be zoned R-2 (R-A) instead of R-3 (R-B) as the applicant proposes.
In closing, I encourage you torequire the developer to preserve these important natural features: the stand of mature
cottonwood trees on the northend of the property; the largest stands of aspen in the south half of the property; and the
riparian vegetation along theriver with proper wetland and stream setbacks determined by the best available science.
As you are aware, Bozeman has lost many stands of mature trees to development in recentyears. We don't have to keep allowing this to happen. We must speak out for all of the living
things that also call this area home and take action to protect those that cannot speak or protectthemselves.
We depend on our elected officials to take this into consideration with each and every decision
you make, and urge you to do the right thing.Thank you for your time and consideration,
Wren Kilian
-- Wren Kilian
Valley of the Flowers Project, Director406-577-6320
www.valleyoftheflowersproject.org