HomeMy WebLinkAboutz02-03-26 Public Comment - J. Moffat - 5532 Fowler Annex – File # 24-492 (RMF)From:Jennifer Moffet
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]5532 Fowler Annex – File # 24-492
Date:Tuesday, February 3, 2026 4:06:57 PM
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To the Planning Commission and Mayors:
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed Rocky Mountain Flats
Development. It has become increasingly clear that the Planning Commission is prioritizingdeveloper interests over the actual needs and safety of Bozeman residents.
For years, the city has justified "rubber-stamping" developer projects under the guise of
"attainable" housing, a practice that reflects a significant failure of leadership. By splittingvacancy data between "old" and "new" construction, the Commission is masking an overall
vacancy rate likely exceeding 25%—creating a real estate glut that rivals Austin, Texas. Whiletrue affordable housing is treated as a secondary "pet project," the city continues to approve
reckless developments that lack the necessary infrastructure and planning to succeed.
- Failed Infrastructure: This site is over three miles from essential services like grocery stores,
schools, and medical facilities. Any promise of public transportation is a decade away;building high-density housing in such an isolated area is a recipe for failure.
- Parking & Safety Risks: The project’s lack of planned parking will inevitably forceoverflow into the Meadow Creek neighborhood, which is already expected to bear the brunt of
the city’s poor planning as the main egress. This influx, combined with an unsustainablevolume of traffic on local streets like Meah Lane, creates a direct safety hazard for the many
children who play in the park abutting that road.
- Infrastructure Neglect: The proposed "improvements" to Stucky Road are superficial and
inadequate. Without a comprehensive upgrade—including dedicated bike and pedestrian lanes—the city is either setting the project up for failure or preparing to burden taxpayers with the
inevitable bill for future repairs.
- Inexperienced & Unreliable Builder: The developer selected for this project lacks the
experience required for the development of this magnitude. Their past projects have quicklydegraded, becoming eyesores and nuisances to their respective communities. Entrusting a
project of this scale to a builder with a track record of poor maintenance and decliningproperty standards is a risk Bozeman cannot afford.
The lack of transparency surrounding this project is unacceptable. A development of thismagnitude demands a rigorous public hearing and a thorough reevaluation of its long-term
viability, rather than an expedited vote that sidesteps community input. We urge theCommission to pause this process and reevaluate the project that fits the existing
infrastructure. The citizens of Bozeman deserve a transparent accounting of the taximplications and a planning strategy that prioritizes the safety, quality of life, and fiscal health
of our existing neighborhoods over hasty expansion and continuous poor planning.
Sincerely,
Douglas & Jennifer Moffet
3409 S 27th Ave
Bozeman, MT