HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Public Comment - L. Jay - Rocky Mountain Flats Application 25296From:Lorre Jay
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Rocky Mountain Flats Application 25296
Date:Monday, February 2, 2026 11:00:17 PM
Attachments:Rocky Mountain Flats Comment Letter LFJ.pdf
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.
Please see attached public comment on Rocky Mountain Flats Application 25296
Feb. 2, 2026
Dear Director of Community Development:
I submit this letter as formal public comment regarding Application 25296 – Rocky Mountain Flats Site
Plan, located at 5532 Fowler Lane, during the public comment period.
I am a resident who lives three doors down from the proposed development site. I have serious concerns
regarding both the public noticing process and the substantive impacts of this application as currently
proposed.
Although the application indicates that adjacent owners were mailed notice on January 9, 2026 and that a
site post was installed, very few received notice as the City Park was considered a “resident” within 200
feet of the development. This avoided notification to those within close proximity to the project on the other
side of the Meadow Creek Park.
In addition, no signage was posted on the East side of the project (Meah Lane and Meadow Creek Park) as
required by law.
Bozeman Municipal Code 38.220.430 states, “ …The notice must be posted in a conspicuous place on the
site before any construction begins and may be removed when the project is substantially complete. The
notice must specify the name of the owner of record, the address of the property, a description of the
scope of work approved and the date of city approval.”
Therefore, residents were not properly notified and need to have additional time to comment on this
development action.
Bump-outs need to be consistent in Project Site Plans
The Project’s Traffic Impact Report indicates that Rocky Mountain Flats will add 1,995 new daily vehicle
trips /day at full buildout.
https://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=311710&dbid=0&repo=BOZEMAN
Traffic from RMF needs to slow as it filters into Meadow Creek. Inconsistent site plan information indicates
that one site plan drawing includes bump-outs to slow traffic into Meadow Creek (006-1C3.2 Site Plan
East) which is good, but another site plan for the same road does not have this bump-out (006-C3.1 Site
Plan East).
Recommendation: Include a bump-out as indicated in 006-1C3.2 - Site Plan East where Meah Lane crosses
into Meadow Creek. Alternative would be to change Meah Lane when it enters Rocky Mountain Flats such
that it jogs south along the property line to create a natural slowing down of traffic between Meadow Creek
and Rocky Mountain Flats.
See details from site plan documents filed with the City below.
Note: no bump out at Meadow Creek/Meah Lane 006-C3.1-Site Plan East
https://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=311737&dbid=0&repo=BOZEMAN
Note: there is a bump-out at Meadow Creek/Meah Lane in 006.1C3.2-Site Plan East
https://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=311738&dbid=0&repo=BOZEMAN
Lack of parking creates unresolved spillover and needs city services to resolve and avoid potential
conflict.
Parking is slim for Rocky Mountain Flats as they are building 0.75 parking space per unit (not per
bedroom).
Based on the site plan, RMF will have a total of 752 bedrooms and only 243 parking spaces, as follows:
Source: Site Plan Docs, Alpine Surveying email 5/21/25
https://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=311711&dbid=0&repo=BOZEMAN
This means that there will likely be parking pressure on Meadow Creek (and Fowler). Current Meadow
Creek HOA rules do not allow overnight parking on the street. Parking signage and police enforcement
needs to be planned by the City and communicated to local residents to avoid community conflict created
by this development. What is the plan to manage this parking overflow and potential conflict?
Overflow parking will inevitably burden surrounding roads, including Meah Lane and Fowler Lane, neither
of which are designed to accommodate spillover parking or increased traffic volumes. Additionally, Stucky
Road, a primary access corridor, is not built to handle the traffic that already uses it with ditches on either
side. The application does not adequately demonstrate how increased traffic volumes will be safely
managed, raising concerns under BMC 38.230.050 related to safe and efficient circulation.
The site lacks meaningful access to public transportation, schools, employment centers, grocery stores, and
medical services. Reducing vehicle parking in an area with no viable transportation alternatives places an
unreasonable burden on both future residents and existing neighbors.
This site has historically functioned as a wildlife corridor and habitat, regularly used by elk, deer, and
cranes, including for breeding and nursery purposes. It is unclear what analysis or mitigation has been
undertaken to address wildlife displacement or long-term environmental impacts associated with this
development.
This development’s scale and intensity appear incompatible with existing infrastructure and surrounding
conditions and also creates an environment that doesn’t integrate differing socio-economic populations into
communities with walkable neighborhoods. This is contrary to successful neighborhood design, ecological
considerations and community neighborhoods that the City represents as its primary objectives.
Given that this development will not pay property taxes, how will the City pay for the necessary
infrastructure required to make it successful?
Sincerely,
Lorre Jay
Bozeman Resident