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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-22 Public Comment - V. Owens - Fowler Connection ProjectFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Monday, June 27, 2022 12:29:57 PM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:06/27/2022 1:29 PM Response #:1607 Submitter ID:51179 IP address:63.153.7.237 Time to complete:24 min. , 59 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 First Name Virginia Last Name Owens Email Address jneownz@hotmail.com Phone Number 5862423361 Comments Dear City Commission, As a home owner who lives along Fowler directly across from the park at Bozeman Pond, I am concerned by the proposed expansion for this road. I understand that Bozeman has long planned to expand Fowler into a significant traffic-bearing vein, requiring even the expansion of the existing Fowler length between Babcock and Huffine. However, I do not see why Fowler, rather than Ferguson, ought to bear this strain. I understand that the expansion of Fowler is meant to mediate some of the traffic burden on Ferguson, but what I do not understand is why the city would re-direct traffic flow from a road that merely runs between two neighborhoods (from Huffine to Oak) onto a road that borders not only a park (that is often accessed by foot traffic) but also a baseball field which is used mainly by small children and their families. I saw in the proposal that the City is considering expanding Fowler to up to 5 lanes around Bozeman Pond park. I understand that if this project goes forward, the Babcock to Huffine section of Fowler might need some updating, but I would like to see the city remain conservative in their expansion. A 3 lane Fowler in that area would preserve safe access to a much-used park, in addition to protecting the young children who access the ball fields in the summer. That section of Fowler is already a 15 mph park zone for this very reason; increasing the lanes on this road seems to invalidate the caution and concern the city rightly shows already for this area. It is odd to me that Ferguson, which is an already-existing road that runs the length of the proposed Fowler expansion, and which has easement space for an added lane, is not being considered for expansion rather than Fowler. Apart from the County Park off Oak, Ferguson does not border a park nor a ball field. It also does not run through people's existing back yards, nor does it require significant changes to ecosystems, trails, parks, and even people's potential safety as they access trails and parks. It seems like the City is set on pursuing the Fowler expansion nonetheless. I ask that the City remain conservative in its changes, particularly in the area around Bozeman Pond, so that the many residents who access the park, trails, and ball fields aren't endangered by significant traffic and lane increases. Thank you, Virginia Owens If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure receipt of all information. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.