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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-26 Public Comment - N. Page - Re_ Attn_ Erin George Project #25238From:Norm Page To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re: Attn: Erin George Project #25238 Date:Monday, February 16, 2026 2:17:25 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. Erin, Are we still talking about putting commercial buildings into the open public trails of the Sundance Springs HOA aka The Second Application (25238)?? You *must be kidding me*. This is a terrible idea for the neighbors, the neighborhood, the public who use our open grails, and for the applicants themselves. To say nothing about the fact that the proposal is entirely in absolute and direct violation of the PUB and Master Plan. I don't get it - really I don't: What is the point of the PUD and Master Plans if a developer can push them aside and assuage the City to develop smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood surrounded by public trails and rolling public meadows? What in the world are the Planning and Development people of the City of Bozeman thinking? This whole plan is in violation of so many city codes it's amazing it's even in consideration. Most importantly (even more important than the true lunacy of this entire proposal) is the fact that the area in question is virtually guaranteed to fail: there's very little foot traffic, or motorist traffic, or recreational traffic. There's "no there there" other than a quiet neighborhood surrounded by GVLT public walking/hiking/biking trails. Much better idea: move the project over to the commercial/residential strip along 19th Avenue anywhere between Goldenstein and Stucky *where all the people live and commute*. That would be a welcome addition to those neighborhoods and all who live there along 19th Avenue - and here in and around the Sundance Springs HOA. Have you actually visited the proposed location to get a sense of how insanely invasive this proposal is? I beseech you to do so. You'll find it ridiculous too. PS: more comments below in this ridiculous history. thanks! norm page** 22 mathew bird circle bozeman mt 59715 **m: +1 406 404 6420 On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM Norm Page <norm.page@gmail.com> wrote: Erin,This note is to reiterate my continued disapproval of Project #25238 in Bozeman MT. The reasons are a multitude of issues, most of which are a). legal in nature and b). appear to not matter to the City of Bozeman and Community Development who continue to disregard established andhistorical legal requirements of the area in question. Perhaps more than the obvious disregard for a). the law, and b). the impacted residents of the community, I simply think the plan is a sure-fire failure. As a local Bozeman businessman, I cannot fathom why anyone would want to develop the proposed area: there's not nearly enough population density, almost (0) foot traffic, and far better commercial options are not far away on the South 19th Avenuedevelopment corridor where the #25238 development would be additive to the surroundings, not detrimental. Along 19th Avenue, there are no shortage of mixed use areas that will be far better suited for the proposed planned development. It boggles my mind why the City andthe Community Development team and the Developer do not see this obvious fault in the plan. If the development is approved, no one from the small community population will patronize the business on a year- round, consistent basis which is what we all know is required for localbusinesses to succeed. Then what? The neighborhood is completely overhauled by the greedy building & development desires of the Developer and Community Development; the business fails and ultimately closes; and the neighbors are stuck with illegal, unlawfullydeveloped structures smack-dab in the middle of our painfully carefully developed open trails and meadows that were thoughtfully put into place - and protected by law - by the original HOA developer(s). In addition, I specifically ask the city and the Director of Community Development to reject this plan entirely. Legally, the developers and the city must follow the PUD and Master Plan, which call for a single, one- level building with less than 5,000 square feet of interior space and withno outdoor business use. Simply stated, this proposed plan is for two times the space allowed by our Master Plan, and almost all the noted problems flow from those violations. Additionally, 1.) TOO MANY BUILDINGS AND ACTIVITY ON TOO SMALL OF A LOT: Asnoted, Application #25238 proposes two, two story buildings totaling 10,000 square feet. Those buildings include a restaurant/bar with over 100 seats for patrons, nearly half of which are outdoors. Such outdoorseating is forbidden by our Master Plan. The proposal also suggests a2,500-square-foot health gym, a 1,200 square foot retail space and a total of 4 second-story office suites in the two buildings. 2.) ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED: The proposed planshows extensive outdoor seating for a restaurant/bar. Even moreseasonal seating is possible in the grassy area adjacent to the proposed patio. This is a direct violation of our Master Plan which states that there should be no outdoor business allowed 3.) NOT ENOUGH PARKING: The proposed uses include businesses intwo large buildings that - as designed - may at times need 150 or more parking spaces, and yet there are only 51 spaces provided on site. Our PUD prohibits on-street parking. This proposal creates major safetyissues because our narrow streets will become one-lane alleys, restricting our safe access to our homes and endangering us all withincreased traffic, constricted traffic lanes and poor access for emergency vehicles. 4.) NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ARE REQUIRED; NOT CITYWIDE DESTINATIONS: The proposal of two oversized buildings will flooddestination traffic into our neighborhood from all over town. The intention of the Master Plan was just the opposite. The neighborhood commercial lots at the western entrance to our neighborhood are meant for neighborhood businesses. 5.) TWO BUILDINGS ARE NOT ALLOWED: Our PUD and Master Planallow only one, single story building of less than 5,000 square feet. This proposal asks for two, two story buildings totaling nearly 10,000 square feet. The city should follow our legally binding MasterPlan. 6.) PARKING LOTS ABUT THE TRAILS, SETBACKS AND BLOCK FRONTAGE STANDARDS CODES ARE VIOLATED: The proposed plan gobbles up setback space and damages the character of our open space. SundanceSprings homeowners own the open space surrounding this commercial lot. The relevant building code does not allow parking to lap over into the bordering setbacks that are meant to buffer our open space. My disapproval cannot be simply dismissed as NIMBY. This is the wrongplan for the wrong neighborhood. Simply move it to another local area - such as the South 19th Avenue development corridor - that can support it and allow it to flourish. norm page ** 22 mathew bird circle bozeman mt 59715 **m: +1 406 404 6420