HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-16, Stewart Pine Meadows Subdivision 3/29/16
City of Bozeman
Department of Community Development
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Regarding Application #16-041 Pine Meadows Subdivision vs (long
standing) Smith Subdivision Covenants.
To the Bozeman Planning Board & City Commission-
Normally, I would be attending the meetings scheduled for 4/5/16
and 4/18/16 but I will be out of town at an out of state
conference so I am writing to you instead to be on record.
Most people who have travelled on Valley Drive think the homes
and open spaces are within the same subdivision and are in city
limits. This is not the case! The long existing Smith and Pleasant
Valley subdivisions are 2 separate County subdivisions which
share Valley Drive...the subdivision demarcation line is literally
half way down Valley Drive. I know this because my husband,
Craig, and I are long time (24+ years) residents of Valley Drive, (in
the Pleasant Valley Subdivision section) PLUS our property abuts
up to the Smith Subdivision.
The homeowners, within the 2 subdivisions, have been good
neighbors to each other for decades. Each household contributes
monies for any needed *road maintenance (ie. snow removal,
additional gravel needed, grading), *neighbors have gone door to
door keeping each other abreast of current city/county issues, * in
addition, they have asked neighbors if they are okay with an out
building being built, prior to going to the County and getting the
needed paperwork.
I must say the landowners (Smith and French), who originally
subdivided the pastures/properties years ago, did a very good job
of blending them together. They literally created a flow from
Pleasant Valley Subdivision to the Smith Subdivision... even the
Smith Covenants, states that for future development the
subdivision would maintain a `Harmonious Neighborhood'.
The homes on Valley Drive vary in age, some were built in the mid
1960's and the newest was built within the last year. Each lot is a
minimum of %2 acre. That said and with the Smith Subdivisions
Covenants in mind, I am asking that The Bozeman Planning Board
& City Commissioners along with the Pine Meadows Subdivision
developer(s) be respectful and continue the `Harmonious
Neighborhood' feel by creating 12, 70' wide lots vs the 18, 50' lots
currently proposed. Much like when the property was annexed
and zoned in 2013 and the density went from R-2 and R-3 to the
current R-1 (Residential Single Household Low Density), I am
asking that the Smith Subdivision Covenants be upheld again by
the City.
Development has always been expected in this area but it should
be done with an eye for better blending and flow much like the
Butcher/Harrington properties did a number of years ago.
The Butcher/Harrington families subdivided and developed their
properties off of Babcock and Merriwether. They were cognizant
& sympathetic to their Valley Drive neighbors' concern(s) for a
need to transition by creating larger lots on the West side of their
new subdivision, which abuts up to the Pleasant Valley Neighbors
back yards, and then progressed to smaller lots on the East side of
their new subdivision. They had NO problem selling the larger
lots at a higher price within their new subdivision as the 'elbow
room' was more desirable by many buyers!
Finally, I know the neighbors in the Smith Subdivision appreciate
the efforts that Mr. Horne has put forth in trying to get them
accurate costs for annexation with and without sidewalks but
these costs are prohibitive!
***Question- shouldn't there be more than 1 bid for the
proposed improvement work to see if it can be done for less? I
know the university is required to get at least 3 bids.***
The Smith Subdivision homeowners have affordable housing now.
Please DO NOT make it unaffordable!! Many of the neighbors are
retired (or will be soon) and on fixed incomes. They do NOT want
to lose their homes and are right to be concerned about the
economical hardship(s) that annexation into the city will create
with all the additional fees/costs attached!! (ie. improvement
costs, increased taxes, payback district(s) costs...in SID form or
otherwise)
I sincerely thank you for your consideration and time,
Martha (Martie) Stewart
215 Valley Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718