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Home My WebLink About09-28-15 Schlauch 624 S. Willson CUP # 15380From:Heather Davis To:Pearl Michalson Cc:Stacy Ulmen Subject:FW: 624 S. Willson CUP # 15380 Date:Monday, September 28, 2015 2:31:40 PM I just received the public comment letter below…for your records. Thanks, Heather Davis From: Harris, Amanda [mailto:Aharris@BakerRisk.com] Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 1:14 PM To: Heather Davis <HDavis@BOZEMAN.NET> Subject: FW: 624 S. Willson CUP # 15380 Fyi Thanks Heather. Amanda From: Mike Schlauch [mailto:Mike.Schlauch@purewestproperties.com] Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 2:11 PM To: jkrauss@bozeman.net; ctaylor@bozeman.net; cmehl@bozeman.net; candrus@bozeman.net; ipomeroy@bozeman.net Subject: 624 S. Willson CUP # 15380 Dear Bozeman City Commissioners, RE: Tonight’s meeting, agenda item CUP # 15380 My name is Mike Schlauch. I am a longtime Bozeman resident. I was born in Bozeman and have spent most of my life and business career in this community. I co-founded SBC, Inc., Schlauch/Bottcher Construction here in 1996 and am currently working in the real estate arena here with Pure West Christies. I am writing this letter on behalf of Bob and Amanda Harris, owners of 624 S. Willson Ave. with regards to their request for a Conditional Use Permit to utilize the residence as a vacation rental property. I would like to make the following points in favor of granting the Harris’s this CUP. 1. I worked closely with Bob & Amanda, who are from Texas, over the course of several months to locate a property here in the Bozeman area that they could eventually call home following their careers. They ultimately chose the home at 624 S. Willson, as opposed to other properties outside of town, due to its proximity to downtown, which they love, but also for the architectural significance and restoration challenge that the property presented, as Bob is an architect by trade. During their several trips to Bozeman, they enjoyed renting homes (vacation rentals) close to the downtown area, to experience what downtown and Bozeman has to offer, which I believe in the end, led them to select a property in the immediate area. 2. Bob & Amanda then spent the next year completely renovating the home. Although I do not believe the home is on the historic register for Bozeman, it has significant architectural history for its non-traditional style, and the integrity of its original build. They spent months researching archives to locate original drawings and for photos for original exterior colors and details. They then spent several months and several hundred thousand dollars renovating the property inside and out while keeping and preserving as many of the original home details as they could, while bringing the home up to modern standards and code. I believe they have invested close to $1 million dollars into the property to date. A substantial investment here in Bozeman while also showing a commitment to the property and neighborhood. 3. In my business here in real estate and construction, concentrating on mostly the upper end market here in the valley, it unfortunately takes this kind of financial commitment or more to own, renovate and maintain an iconic historic home in our south side neighborhood. It is also unfortunate, but a large majority of our local residents cannot make that kind of financial commitment, and many of the folks that can, chose not to take on such a renovation project. Ultimately, many of these properties are purchased by folks from out of state. Unlike many of my clients that do arrive from out of state, Bob & Amanda are not wealthy people. They are both hard working in their individual careers, raising a family, and have chosen Bozeman for so many of the reasons we chose to live here. They plan to spend as much time as they can here, including holidays with their family and several trips throughout the summers. Bob is also currently making inroads with his business into the Bozeman area, and currently has projects here. They eventually will spend more and more time here, however, the expense of owning and maintaining the home when it is not your primary residence, is high. Having additional income from renting will help offset some of those costs. Choosing the vacation rental alternative allows them to set the schedule to maintain their consistent use of the property. 4. An option for the Harris’s is to find a long term renter which does not require a CUP. I do not believe this is in the best interest of the property or the neighborhood for the simple fact that it does not allow the Harris’s, the folks who have made this commitment to the property and the neighborhood, the ability to utilize the property and become involved in our community. As a vacation rental, it will be larger, higher end option for the downtown area utilized by folks and families visiting our community. Contrary to several properties in our downtown area that are purchased by investors each year, then rented to other folks that have no real commitment to the property and may or may not maintain it to the level it deserves, or its neighbors deserve. 5. The lodging available close to the downtown area is extremely limited. The new Lark and Element properties will help, but the majority of Bozeman’s lodging is away from the downtown area. Also, I have had several clients and friends who have traveled to Bozeman in the last two months and were not able to find a hotel room anywhere in Bozeman, let alone downtown. When MSU goes back into full swing, with students families visiting frequently, it puts definite pressure on the availability of rooms in Bozeman. Having another option for students families close to downtown and MSU helps. The comments by some neighbors to the commission via a letter that this property, as a vacation rental, will attract “transients”, “sexual predators” and endanger local students is absurd. At the weekly rental rate that this property will command, I do not believe this will be the types of folks renting this property. A few existing motels on east main provide those kinds of accommodation and are just as close to grade schools. Thank-you very much for reading this letter, your consideration for this CUP and for your service to our community. Sincerely, Mike Schlauch Mike SchlauchSales Agent, SU Platinum Properties Mobile 406-580-8380 mike.schlauch@purewestproperties.com mike@suplatinum.com Pure West | Christies International Real Estate 1612 West Main Street | Bozeman, MT 59715 Office 406-586-9418 | Fax 406-586-5889 www.purewestproperties.com www.suplatinum.com The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential, proprietary, and/or legallyprivileged. 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