HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-26 Public Comment - R. Gorsuch - STOP THE SPRAWL From: Royce Gorsuch
To: Bozeman Public Comment
Subject: [EXTERNAL]STOP THE SPRAWL
Date: Monday,July 6,2026 3:41:38 PM
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I strongly oppose expanding Bozeman's growth boundary farther into the Gallatin Valley
through the proposed Northwest Area Plan and other annexations. Decisions made today will
shape our community for generations, and we should not accelerate sprawl at the expense of
the very landscapes, agricultural lands, and rural character that make this region special.
The approximately 3,000 acres under consideration are not empty land waiting to be
urbanized. They are productive agricultural fields, open spaces, wildlife habitat, and an
important part of the Gallatin Valley's identity. Once these lands are paved and developed,
they are gone forever. We cannot reclaim fertile farmland after it has been converted into
subdivisions and commercial development.
Expanding development farther from Bozeman's existing urban core also creates long-term
costs that are often overlooked. New roads, water and sewer lines, emergency services,
schools, and other public infrastructure require enormous public investment, while sprawling
development is frequently more expensive to maintain than compact, infill growth. Taxpayers
ultimately bear much of that burden.
Sprawl also increases traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. As
housing,jobs, shopping, and services become more spread out, residents are forced to drive
longer distances for nearly every daily activity. Rather than reducing congestion, expanding
outward often creates more vehicle miles traveled and more pressure to widen roads and build
costly infrastructure.
The new wastewater lift station should not become a justification for opening thousands of
additional acres to development simply because the infrastructure now exists. Infrastructure
should support thoughtful, sustainable planning—not drive expansion into undeveloped parts
of the valley.
Sprawl is a choice. We can choose to accommodate new residents while protecting the
landscapes that define the Gallatin Valley. Bozeman should focus on protecting the Last Best
Place, investing in housing where infrastructure already exists, and preserving the open spaces
and working farms that make Montana the Last Best Place.
I urge the City Commission and planning staff to reject policies that encourage expansion into
the northwest valley and instead adopt a plan that protects agricultural land, limits costly
sprawl, and directs future growth inward rather than outward. The decisions made today will
determine whether future generations inherit a thriving valley or simply another landscape
consumed by unchecked development.