HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-26 Public Comment - A. Craighead - UFMP meeting-Bikefill comments BTCFrom:April Craighead
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Addi Jadin; Mitchell Overton; Alison.Sweeney@bozeman.gov
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UFMP meeting-Bikefill comments BTC
Date:Thursday, February 26, 2026 11:08:19 AM
Attachments:UFMP ltr-BTC_DC1.docx
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Dear Urban Forest Management Plan Advisory Board,
I am submitting comments prior to tonight's meeting regarding Bikefill from the Bozeman Tree
Coalition.
Thank you,
April Craighead (BTC cofounder)
April Craighead
Executive Director
Wildlife Biologist
Craighead Institute
201 So. Wallace Ave
Suite B2D
Bozeman, MT. 59715
406 585-8705
april@craigheadinstitute.org
Urban Parks and Forestry Advisory Board Meeting-Bikefill Suggestions by the Bozeman Tree Coalition (BTC)
Date February 26, 2026
Dear Urban Parks and Forestry Board (UPF) members, Addi Jadin, Mitch Overton and Alison Sweeney (City Commission liaison),
The Bozeman Tree Coalition (BTC) would like to make comments regarding the Bikefill project prior to tonight’s meeting. BTC would like to applaud GVLT and the City’s efforts in building the new Bikefill park. We would also like to thank the UPF for listening and acknowledging our earlier comments regarding wildlife and habitat needs from previous Bikefill meetings.
The land for the proposed Bikefill Park has been highly degraded in the past, and new bike trails will be a great benefit to the cycling community; however we have some reservations about some of the trails proposed within the park. While this is a relatively small parcel of land, it abuts undeveloped land that wildlife use for daily and seasonal movements (to the North and East of
Story Mill Rd). Areas adjacent to the Bikefill area have been highlighted in Gallatin Valley’s
Sensitive Lands Protection Plan (GVSLPP) as important habitat for wildlife. The GVSLPP maps incorporate riparian setbacks on both Churn Creek and portions of the intermittent creek on the northern portion of the park. Trails placed in close proximity to these riparian areas are likely to have detrimental consequences for wildlife. It is well documented that development of high-
density trails disrupts wildlife movements and habitat usage.
We would like to provide some input on these issues, and we hope that GVLT and the UPF board will consider these mitigation options:
• Conduct bird surveys of the area prior to development
• Conduct surveys of wetlands area to determine future mitigation options to improve them
• Delay construction of trails until after bird nesting season as per Montana State Law
MCA 87-5-201
• Refrain from developing any trails south of Churn Creek to the fenced boundary
• Refrain from developing a trail closest to the unnamed northern intermittent stream and
the western boggy area
BOZEMANTREECOALITION@GMAIL.COM
• Include maximum setbacks around Churn Creek and the intermittent stream (best
practices 100-150 ft setbacks), (City = 50 feet from creek, 25 feet from wetland)
We trust that the city and GVLT will adhere to the City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation, and Active Transportation Plan (PRAT), GVSLPP, the Wetlands Code Update, and the Bozeman Community Plan 2020. All of these documents provide guidance for the incorporation of required setbacks and buffer zones for wildlife, watercourses, and wetlands.
Thank you for your consideration, Bozeman Tree Coalition Co-founders
April Craighead Marcia Kaveney Daniel Carty Angie Kociolek Christopher McQueary
Lara Schulz