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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12-26 Public Comment - H. Higgs - Fowler Avenue Housing Project Position PaperFrom:Heather Higgs To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fowler Avenue Housing Project Position Paper Date:Thursday, March 12, 2026 11:02:54 PM Attachments:image.png HCHOA_Position_Paper_March_11_2026.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. 3701 Trakker Trail Suite 1B, PMB 55 Bozeman, MT 59718 March 12, 2026 The Honorable Mayor Joey Morrison, Deputy Major Douglas Fischer, and Commissioners Emma Bode, Jennifer Madjic, and Alison Sweeney City of Bozeman Bozeman, MT Sent via email: comments@bozeman.net Re: Fowler Avenue Housing Project Position Paper Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Commissioners, Presented with this letter is a Position Paper adopted by the Harvest Creek Owners’ Association Board of Directors relating to the proposed Fowler Avenue Housing Project. This Position Paper captures our neighborhood’s concerns and provides an approach to a resolution. Please be advised that Heather Higgs, Harvest Creek Owners’ Association Vice President, has been designated as the contact for liaison with you and City staff. Her contact information is: HOA Email: heatherhiggs@harvestcreekmt.org Personal Cell: 406-853-3870 Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in this process. Sincerely, Hudson J Hart President Attachment: Harvest Creek Owners’ Association Position Paper dated March 11, 2026 1 of 3 HARVEST CREEK OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Bozeman, MT 59718 POSITION PAPER Re: The Proposed Fowler Housing Development in the City of Bozeman annexing and zoning 5 acres of the 10-acre land owned by the City (Geocode: 06-0798-02-3-01-05-0000) as R-3 high-density housing (Fowler Parcel). March 11, 2026 Harvest Creek Owners’ Association (HCHOA) presents the following in an attempt to resolve the concerns regarding the Fowler Housing Development. Preamble. HCHOA does not oppose affordable housing, nor do we oppose the construction of the Fowler Ave. Connector road. Our position takes into consideration the environmental, health, and quality of life harm the proposed development imposes on 100+ adjacent property owners, 21 of whom are directly next to the proposed 84-unit complex, as well as the sale conditions of the prior owners of the Fowler Parcel regarding the use of the land. It is a perceived view of some that there is insufficient affordable housing in Bozeman. A development equivalent to 18 units per acre with 168 cars will negatively affect the property rights of the adjacent homeowners. Other members of the public will not bear these burdens; this development shifts all of the burden of solving affordable housing on this one group of City residents. HCHOA proposes all this for discussion and resolution simultaneously. Therefore, HCHOA proposes that prior to any annexation, zoning or development action, the City encumber the Parcel with the equivalent of a covenant that sets out the result of the consensus process, which will include the scope of development on this particular Parcel as set out below. Terms of ordinance/covenant: 1. Annexation to be done separately of the Fowler Ave. road improvement and to commence after adoption and recording of 2 of 3 an Ordinance by the Commission mentioned above. 2. Density shall not to exceed eight (8) units per acre, with no more than two (2) dwelling units per building. Dwelling units may be comprised of detached single-family residences (1- and 2-story) and/or townhomes (1- and 2-story). Units will be distributed in the development to allow appropriate setbacks of 20’ for both 1- and 2-story units. Only 1- and 2-story units shall be built. Development shall be to a master plan similar to Bridger Views with 1- and 2-story single-family and duplex units along with 50% greenspace. 3. No road will connect Fowler Housing Development with HCHOA. The existing streets in Harvest Creek cannot be any ingress or egress for this development. If a walking/bike path is to be installed for use into Harvest Creek neighborhood from Fowler Ave. at Farmall St. or Caterpillar St., or any other roadway through Harvest Creek, its location shall be as agreed by HCHOA. 4. No roads or parking lots to be placed against HCHOA property owners' backyards, even with a 20’ setback. 5. On-site parking shall be for at least two (2) vehicles per unit and only carports - no garages. 6. Any Covenants, Conditions or Restrictions for the proposed development will be reviewed and approved in the consensus process and included in any resulting ordinance and shall provide for adequate regulation of use of streets and parking in the project. 7. The City will irrevocably dedicate at least 50% of the developed area in greenspace to comply with Paragraph 6 of the purchase agreement between the City of Bozeman and the Trustees of the William H. and Betty Anne Sippel Trust (Sippel Trust), prior owners of the Fowler Parcel, and the provisions of Montana Constitution Article II, Section 3 –the inalienable right of Montanans to a clean and healthful environment. 8. The Fowler Project shall have ADA compliant units or units which can be readily convertible to ADA use by owner. 3 of 3 9. The ordinance shall define the mechanism for eligibility for ownership, including public and private grants and sponsorships to support ‘affordable’ home ownership, and include provisions regarding ethical considerations of eligibility of City Commission members and/or City staff for ownership. The foregoing is proposed to be reduced to an ordinance, adopted by the Commission after the consensus process ends and prior to the initiation of any sale, transfer, annexation, zoning, or development of the Fowler Parcel. The ordinance would then be required to be recorded against the Fowler Parcel before any action is taken and would be in addition to any other development conditions the City is contemplating. All developments would then be required to comply with the recorded ordinance. HCHOA invites discussion of these and all other issues which may arise in the consensus process. HCHOA reserves the right to modify, withdraw, or introduce new conditions of development in the course of the consensus process, without prejudice to positions it may have taken or may take.