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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Public Comment - J. and E. Ansley - Application 25296 Public CommentFrom:Elizabeth and John Ansley To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Application 25296 Public Comment Date:Monday, February 2, 2026 4:57:58 PM 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 City of Bozeman,We are writing as residents of Meadow Creek Subdivision to express our strong opposition to the proposed Rocky Mountain Flats development near our neighborhood. We are concerned about traffic. The development appears likely to route a large volume of vehicles through Meah Ln, which runs beside our neighborhood park and through streets useddaily by families, children, and pets. If each of the proposed 296 units has even one vehicle, and units will be 1–4 bedrooms, so multiple drivers per unit are likely, our neighborhood streets will see a substantial and potentially dangerous increase in traffic. According to the traffic impact report, the development will add 1,995 new daily vehicle trips per day at full buildout. It is of critical importance to include a bump-out to slow traffic asindicated in 006-C3.2 where Meah Lane crosses into Meadow Creek. This bump-outwill help, but we remain deeply concerned about the significant increase in vehicle traffic through the neighborhood. Additionally, if units have multiple vehicles, on-site parking will be inadequate, resulting in vehicles being parked on neighborhood streets. Rocky Mountain Flats will have a total of 752 bedrooms and only 243 parking spaces. Meadow Creek does not permit on-street overnight parking; appropriate signage and enforcement must beconsidered. On-street parking will create challenges to snow removal and reduce visibility for children at play. We also believe the site is poorly suited to the density and income level proposed. Thelocation is roughly 3.5 miles from downtown, with no current bus service and limitedpedestrian and bicycle infrastructure on Stucky Road. This distance, combined with the lack ofsidewalks and bike lanes, makes the site neither walkable nor bikeable for residents who relyon transit and local amenities. Concentrating higher-density, 60% AMI housing so far fromservices risks isolating residents rather than connecting them to jobs, healthcare, and shopping. In addition, the proposed building scale is out of character with the surrounding development.Existing multi-unit buildings in this area do not exceed three stories (for example: BuffaloRun, Gran Cielo, South Rows, Talbach House, and 19th & Graf). Four- and five-storystructures are generally found in the city center; such heights here would change theneighborhood character and set a concerning precedent. We are worried about infrastructure capacity and long-term impacts on property values andneighborhood quality of life. This area is developing rapidly, but infrastructure (roads,sidewalks, transit, and safety measures) has not kept pace. As long-time Bozeman residents,we urge the City to consider locations that provide better access to transit and amenities, andto ensure new projects are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. We support responsible, affordable housing solutions in Bozeman, but we believe thisproposal, at this location, density, and scale, is not the right fit. We respectfully request that the City reconsider the proposal. Thank you for your attention to our concerns. We appreciate the City’s efforts to balance growth and community character, and we ask that the voices of neighborhood residents begiven careful consideration. Respectfully, John and Elizabeth Ansley