HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-26 Public Comment - N. Lopez - Concern over Agenda Item 12 (9_15 Meeting)From:Noah Lopez
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:contact@harvestcreekmt.org
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Concern over Agenda Item 12 (9/15 Meeting)
Date:Sunday, September 13, 2026 7:57:03 AM
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.
Commissioners,
I am a homeowner in Harvest Creek and am writing to express my concerns with the proposed
changes to the Linear Park in Harvest Creek as part of the Cattail Creek Corridor and AnchorRoute 2026 Park Master Plan (Agenda Item 12 of the 9/15/26 meeting).
First, I strongly oppose the proposal to widen and pave the existing trail. The current graveltrail is functional, well-used, and fits the character of the neighborhood. Residents enjoy the
gravel surface, and I do not believe there is a compelling reason to replace it with a 10-footpaved pathway. Many other parks and trails throughout the Bozeman area successfully use
gravel or other natural surfaces. I would encourage the City to preserve the existing characterof this trail rather than unnecessarily paving it.
More broadly, I am concerned about the lack of meaningful engagement with the homeownerswho will be directly affected by these changes. The Parks and Recreation Department has not
sought input from the affected Harvest Creek residents before developing this plan. That isparticularly troubling given the City's stated commitment to community engagement.
Public engagement should mean more than presenting residents with a largely completed planand asking for feedback at the end of the process. Residents who live directly adjacent to a
City park should have an opportunity to help shape decisions that will materially affect theirneighborhood. Unfortunately, this appears to be part of a broader pattern in which affected
residents are not meaningfully consulted until after significant decisions have already beendeveloped. That should not be acceptable in a City that takes pride in public engagement.
I also have concerns about the proposed conversion of portions of the existing irrigated lawnto natural grasses. The Master Plan does not clearly identify which areas of turf will remain
and which areas will be converted. It also does not adequately explain how these naturalizedareas will be managed, including whether and how frequently they will be mowed.
This is important for the homeowners whose properties directly border the park. If naturalgrass areas are allowed to become tall and unmanaged, I am concerned about the potential for
noxious and invasive weeds to spread from City property into adjacent residential yards.Homeowners should not be forced to incur additional weed-abatement costs because of a
change in how the City manages its property.
At a minimum, I believe the City should establish a clearly defined and regularly maintained
buffer between naturalized areas and neighboring residential lawns. The City should alsoidentify the areas that will remain irrigated turf, the areas that will be converted to natural
grasses, and the maintenance standards that will apply to each area before these changes areimplemented.
I support thoughtful improvements to Bozeman's parks, including appropriate efforts toincorporate natural landscaping. However, those improvements should not come at the
expense of the character of existing neighborhood amenities, nor should the costs andmaintenance consequences be shifted onto adjacent homeowners.
I respectfully ask the Commission to:
Reject the proposal to widen and pave the existing Harvest Creek gravel trail.
Require meaningful engagement with affected Harvest Creek homeowners beforeimplementing significant changes to the park.
Clearly identify which turf areas will remain and which will be converted to naturalgrasses.
Establish maintenance standards, including mowing requirements, for naturalizedareas.
Create a maintained buffer between naturalized areas and neighboring residentiallawns.
Ensure that the City's landscaping decisions do not create additional weed-abatementburdens or costs for adjacent homeowners.
As a homeowner and community member who uses this linear park nearly everyday with hisfamily, I request that you consider these concerns. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Noah J. Lopez
(530) 867-3353