HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Public Comment - D. Carty - Fowler Hosing Project_ Public CommentFrom:Daniel Carty
To:David Fine
Cc:Emily Kiely; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fowler Hosing Project: Public Comment
Date:Friday, January 30, 2026 9:19:36 AM
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January 30, 2026; 9:20 a.m.
David:
Thank you for taking time to discuss the Fowler Avenue Community Housing Project (FHP)
with me on January 29, 2026. I appreciated that a facilitator was present to guide thediscussion and that two other City staff members (Emily Kiely and Brian ?) were present to
listen. Also, I think it important for the FHP to be on the Economic Vitality Board's 2026work plan and possibly on the Sustainability Board's 2026 work plan as well.
Based on the talking points I brought to yesterday's meeting, I am submitting the following
suggestions, comments, and questions about the FHP as it moves forward:
(1) The FHP footprint should not be bumped out to the west where it would encroachon the irrigation ditch and its riparian area. I note that the local grassroots group,
Friends of Fowler Connector, worked with the City for 3 years (2022 - 2025) to protect thisopen, free-flowing, irrigation ditch and its riparian area, which are ecologically important
habitats (especially for native trees and birds) and which provide many beneficial,nonconsumptive, ecosystem services to the Bozman community as a whole. For more
information on the ecological importance of this area see the report, Habitat and WetlandAssessment: Section Line Ditch Corridor, Bozeman, MT, which was published in 2001.
(2) The FHP project should transition in a "neighborhood-friendly way" (aka gently)
into the Harvest Creek subdivision. In other words, the footprint, mass, and scale of theFHP should not overwhelm the Harvest Creek subdivision. In part, neighborhood-friendly
transition is important because the FHP will be built immediately to the west of the HarvestCreek subdivision, and thus the FHP has the potential to adversely affect existing property
owners' viewsheds and adjacent property owners' solar access.
(3) Design and build the FHP in such a way that people will want to live there. Thissuggestion can be taken to mean that the design should be compatible with the Harvest
Creek neighborhood to the east and the natural environment to the west. Also, constructionmaterials should be high quality, and all of the dwelling units should be built to last.
(4) Ensure adequate onsite parking so that any offsite parking will not unduly burden
adjacent neighborhoods. If necessary, build fewer total units in the FHP to ensureadequate onsite parking.
(5) Require affordable units to be owner-occupied by fulltime Montana residents. In
other words, do not allow someone to purchase an affordable unit and then rent it out as aninvestment property.
(6) Question: Will all units in the FHP be for-sale units at 120% AMI? Will some units
be for sale at <120% AMI? Will it be necessary to include for-sale market-rate units to
help subsidize the affordable units?
(a) If it becomes necessary to include for-sale market-rate units in the FHP, ensure that all
affordable units are built to the same size and quality as market-rate units and that theaffordable units are evenly distributed among and within all buildings in the development.
(7) The FHP's affordable units should be deed-restricted in perpetuity.
(8) Questions about qualification criteria: What will be the maximum allowable
income/assets combination to qualify to purchase a unit for sale at 120% AMI or less? Willthere be any non-income-based entrance qualification requirements (e.g., an essay as was
required for Bridger View)? What will be the ranking criteria used for applications if thenumber of applications exceeds the number of affordable units? Will there be a limit to the
number of years an owner can live there if their income increases well past 120% AMI?
(9) Will the annual appreciation of the affordable units be capped?
Thank you again for meeting with me to discuss the FHP and for the opportunity to followup that discussion with written public comment.
Sincerely,
Daniel Carty
213 N. 3rd Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715