HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-16, Silve, Pine Meadows Subdivision April 3, 2016
Q 4 IN
City Of Bozeman i
Department of Community Development
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
RE: Pine Meadow Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Application Number 16-041
Planning Board Members and City Commissioners:
First of all I'd like to thank you, especially the volunteer members of the planning
board, for their time and effort in striving to create a community we can all still
abide to reside within and enjoy. My main purpose in writing is to protect my
family's personal property, retain our enjoyment of our personal space and
harmonious neighborhood and dissuade the acceptance of a development based
solely on density expectations.
We chose to purchase our home on Valley Drive last summer based on the
following criteria: school district, large lot size resulting in higher property value,
dirt road, county zoned, privacy, mature trees and country feel. The majority of
these criteria are now threatened by the proposed Pine Meadows subdivision and
the so-called improvements now forced upon us. We understand development is
a necessity in a growing community and we don't dispute that however we do ask
that you strive to maintain our quality of life and the harmonious neighborhood in
which we now live.
Granting the developer a variance to establish 12 lots instead of the 18 proposed
will have a definite impact on the value of our neighborhood. Please ask
yourselves why you are seeking to further destroy our neighborhood by forcing
six extra houses upon us.
For those of you who have taken the time to drive by, I thank you, and I hope you
recognize that 18 lots is a squeeze at best and honoring our covenants which
were made and served with the intention of running with the land is a very
reasonable request.
Also mention is made in the staff report of installation of what is essentially an
asphalt drainage ditch (a road paved without proper curbs and drainage) affecting
our properties and our water wells which I believe to be a very serious matter of
public concern. This might also be seen as a form of manipulation in order to
effect annexation. Accountability for the health, well-being and safety of us and
our children should be upheld for approval of the installation of what I will now
and continue to refer to as the asphalt drainage ditch, without requiring the
recommended curbs and gutters on both sides of the road to correctly dispose of
polluted waters.
There needs to be a serious city and countywide discussion as to annexation and
the costs associated. The City is now in the uncomfortable position of requiring
annexation at an unbearable cost thereby creating concern of foreclosures and
abandoned homes while at the same time tying our hands with red tape rules and
invented measurements to block proper maintenance of the infrastructure of our
homes. Asking us to meet reasonable environmental health standards with our
current systems is understandable; essentially forcing annexation is not.
We are not in need of a developer's city improvements which at this time includes
the installation of an asphalt drainage ditch (a paved road without the
recommended curbs and drainage gutters) and which may be viewed as a
manipulation tactic to effect annexation. Over-developing what is now a
harmonious neighborhood skews our personal space and affects our property
values.
Please take the time to consider each of these matters of grave concern and rising
anxiety to us as you proceed with the development of what is currently a
beautiful and harmonious neighborhood.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Rachel Silve
535 Valley Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718