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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-15 Groth Downtown Urban Renewal District Plan Terry L. Groth December 14, 2015 8416 Lake Park Trail Helena, MT 59602 City of Bozeman Economic Development Department P.O. Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 I am writing this letter to convey my strong opposition to the updating and revision of the Downtown Area Urban Renewal District Plan. My father, Chad Groth, purchased the property at the corner of North Church and East Main in the year 1974. 1 owned and operated a sign shop, Gallery Signs, at that location for 35 years. Due to my Father's death last June I have inherited the property. ) was shocked to learn that annual property faxes on this property are already just shy of$9,000 a year. I remember the city tried a trick in the 70's to have this entire area of town declared "blighted".The business and residential owners fought hard against this and made the proposal go away. I truly believe downtown Bozeman is currently very vibrant and healthy just as it is.There's no need to fix something that isn't broken. I attended the December 7th commission meeting involving this matter and some of the commissioners even asked "What is this?" and "Why do we need it?" The proponents of this ordnance are saying we need miles of new conduit buried up and down the alleys of this business area for all the fiber optics they want to provide for existing and future nt back in the 80's. Everything is now wireless and satellites are businesses. Fiber optics came and we utilized for any necessary networking. It would be comparable to rushing out to buy a box full of 8-track tapes aftercassette tape players came along.A new improvement plan is not needed. The acceptance of this ordnance is promised to be painless and prudent. I don't consider a substantial increase in taxes to be painless. I don't know how many of the commissioners are native to Bozeman or if any of them have,any business experience, but a tax increase to a small business owner means a giant cut in their bottom line. It means not being able to make any improvements. It means not being able to increase inventory. It means not being able to hire a few new employees. It means letting employees go because you can't make payroll. I feel the vote to accept this ordnance should be tabled until a questionnaire is sent out to the 280 plus property owners asking what they really feel about the effects of such an increase in their taxes. I predict the resGl',ts would be.a reakeyd.Gpener.to the entire commission.. I deeply feel any amendments, revisions or future changes to=Urban Renewal District should not occur. We are lucky to have a strong and healthy business environment in downtown Bozeman. Let a sleeping dog lie. Sincerely, Tern Gr-oth;.