HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-15 VanDeWalle Zakovi Public Comment February 18, 2015
Re: Zak Zakovi Conditional Use Permit Application Hearing at the Monday, February 23, 2015 Bozeman City Commission
Meeting
Since our last letter to the city commission in regards to Zak Zakovi's previously scheduled hearing, we have had
the opportunity to read the staff report dated January 6, 2015.We are aware that Tom Rodgers has been in the process
of updating his report, but have not seen those revisions as of today.
We were taken aback when we read the report to find out Zak Zakovi's CUP is all about expanding his business
and the rights of industrial use of his land into perpetuity. Expanding Zak Zakovi's business to include a metal casting
foundry just seems to go against all the goals of the city's growth plan. Foundries,even small, backyard artist foundries
come with toxic exhaust and noise. Those plumes of metal dust settle into urban gardens, sandboxes and soil;creating
potential health issues for surrounding neighbors. If the foundry expansion is approved, it will not only allow Zak to
have a foundry, but whoever has his property in the future. This does not fare well for a growing neighborhood or the
development of a vibrant urban community.
We also hope you do not lose sight of the fact that Zak Zakovi has made sure that his surrounding neighbors
comply with codes on issues that support his annoyances. As a retaliation to being asked to move his rocks off the edge
of the road, he sent an entire page of frivolous compliance issues against us to the city planning department that had no
effects on him. We complied with the city on making sure we were in 100%compliance last fall. Unfortunately,we
complied quickly in hopes that it might ease Zak Zakovi's reprisal against us and put things back into perspective so he
would just move his rocks back off the right-of-way and move on with life. It is now nearly 6 months since we have
complied and not one rock has been moved from the edge of the road, nor has he acknowledged any attempts by
concerned citizens and neighbors (like us)who have tried to compromise,support,and help mediate the sculpture
garden issue with Zak Zakovi, but he does not want to compromise because of his larger plans to expand his business
and industrial use of the land.
Whatever you do approve,we hope that it will come with the burden of enforcement being on the city and not
relying on Zak Zakovi's word or the responsibility being put upon the neighbors to complain.
And last, if you asked our two boys: Should Zak Zakovi be shown 'Heart, Leniency or Flexibility'? They would
ask you why he is more special than two boys and the neighborhood kids that played in the tree fort? It was in our
backyard; not in his view shed; and fine with all the other neighbors it would have impacted, but it inadvertently
encroached 18" into the rear yard setbacks and was torn down last fall, right after the neighborhood kids had built on a
lookout tower.
Thank you for your time,
Ken & Kristin VanDeWalle
408 North Plum Ave.I Bozeman, MT 59715 406.581.6149 vandewalle@bigsky.net