HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-15 Minnich Public Comment From: Lindsay M
To: Tom Rogers
Subject: OPPOSE STUCKY PROJECT
Date: Sunday,July 26,2015 11:41:01 AM
Hello,
I'm writing to you in regard to the Stucky annexation project. I wholly oppose this
plan which takes arable land, and those who work it, out of consideration and
instead allows a developer out of Santa Fe to ravage farmland.
Bozeman (and the Gallatin Valley) has had its soil richness compared to that of the
Nile. It's that nutrient-packed and perfect for agriculture. To put up concrete and
sprawling wasteland of housing on top of this earth which begs to feed this
community, is to fulfill the song "pave paradise and put up a parking lot."
Not only will the land suffer, but those which live off of the land (farmers) are being
pushed out of the equation - creating an economic domino effect. By hurting the
local farming community, it is a hurt that cuts deeper: those who work for farms or
on them have less money to spend within the community, the food that they once
grew is no longer available which has an impact on places that vend or use their
products (the Co-op, caterers, notable private chefs who use only local ingredients,
restaurants who are farm-to-table, school outings which move toward a slow food
movement), the employees who work at the markets...the list goes on.
The impact will hit you.
The impact will be environmental, as well. The precarious life of the bee
(endangered already) will have much fewer areas to feed and pollinate. This affects
birds and larger fauna...the ripple grows. The waste from the construction of the
project will hurt the immediate land surrounding and the water below. The larger
impacts are enormous.
I'm sure you're seeing dollar signs. I'm sure the city of Bozeman is only looking at
"land for sale equals more places to put more people equals big money for the city."
This is rather unfortunate. The larger scope of taking away farmland and making it
into disposable housing is tremendous. And to look at it from such a short-sighted
economic scope is disturbing.
Stand up for the earth and those who work with it. Farming is a noble undertaking.
You wouldn't be alive without it, guaranteed.
Lindsay Minnich
Artist
LBMINNICH.com