HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-22 Public Comment - P. Dickerson - Fowler Avenue Connection Road ProjectFrom:Patty Dickerson
To:Agenda
Subject:Fowler Avenue Connection Road Project
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 11:53:31 AM
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The Bozeman Climate Plan, adopted by the City of Bozeman
December 22, 2020, states the City’s goal is to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and create a more equitable, resilient, and
sustainable community, while maintaining the wonderful quality
of life here in Bozeman.
The plan for Resiliency Goals, it states: “Conserve natural
resources, increase social cohesion, mitigate property and
economic losses and to protect human health.”
The 2019 City Climate and Vulnerability Assessment &
Resiliency Strategy identifies extreme heat, more frequent and
intense. Drought, more frequent and intense. Continuing the
City’s legacy of climate action and progress, the City
Commissioners passed a resolution in 2017 to join Climate
Mayors, a partnership of over 400 United States Mayors
committed to upholding the goals of the Paris Climate
Agreement.
According to the Paris Climate Agreement, “It’s not enough to
put less carbon into the atmosphere - we’ve also got to take more
out.” And “…one of the most powerful carbon-scrubbing tools
available is something you can probably find in your backyard or
neighborhood park.” Trees. Trees capture and store carbon, and
tree cover in urban areas reduces the heat-island effect, helping
protect cities’ most vulnerable residents.
With respect to to the Fowler Ave Connection (FAC) road
project, removing the existing trees and trail and constructing a
paved road system next to more than 130 homes, other dwellings,
city parks and a kids’ ball field go against the city’s Climate
Plan. Also, the FAC road project will severely decrease the
value of all of the homes adjacent to the new road, while
increasing the health risks for all residents, including health risks
such as asthma, neurological diseases and cancers. By taking out
the trees and replacing them with asphalt and concrete, the FAC
road project will increase the incidences of heat related stress and
illness, which puts lower income families, the elderly and
children are at greater risk.
Christine Roberts, a member of the City’s Transportation
Advisory Board (TAB), stated at the July 27, 2022, TAB
meeting, that the pre-design Fowler Staff Report needed more
detailed explanation. There seemed to be a disconnect with
public involvement. Ms. Roberts stated that the report was
general and vague. Earlier that week is when the plan for 3 or 5
lanes, dropped to 2 lanes plus turn lanes as needed (i.e., 2 lanes
plus a median). Ms. Roberts went on to say that opposition to the
project should be heard and that the public should have had more
that 2 minutes per person to offer oral public comment at the
TAB meeting. The field site the TBA visited was at a completely
different area than where the FAC road project will be built. Ms.
Roberts visited the Fowler site on her own time. To date, Ms.
Roberts is the only one of the TAB to vote NO to the FAC road
project.
After the TAB meeting on July 27, I asked two of the TAB
members who had voted for this project if they had been on the
trail. They said yes. I then asked if they had been on the entire
trail. They said no. These two TAB members have the power to
impact the quality and health of many people’s lives, and I find it
appalling that they did not even have the courtesy to visit the
entire area before voting to go forward with the FAC road
project.
During the open house, the public had no input as to options such
as a car free zone. Drawings of what the road would look like
were not accurate. For example, it looked like they took our
boulevard with all of our trees, and no house were shown to
exist. At the second open house, when I brought this to the
attention of Dani Hess, she said the City was just focusing on the
road. At the third open house, I again brought the inaccurate
drawing to Ms. Hess’ attention. She told she would have to get
the approval of her co-workers before she could do that. There
wasn’t another opportunity for us to see the drawings. At the
TBA meeting on July 27, the houses still did not exist on the
drawing. In fact, it looked like park space on either side of the
road.
At the second open house, Nick Ross told me that this project
was going to go through. So, was Mr. Ross telling me that public
input doesn’t matter? When I asked if Federal funds would be
used for this project, Mr. Ross answered no, so therefore they
would not need to do an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). Why
wouldn’t you do an EIS? What is the real cost to the City Tax
payers? If we do head into a recession, is this the right time to
burden the tax payers?
Supposedly, there were road studies on the surrounding
roads. Someone from Sanderson-Stewart told me they had that
information, but it wouldn’t be available until the July 27, 2022
TBA meeting. At that time, I was unaware that I would not be
able to ask this question at the meeting. That information about
the road study was not available to the public. I suspect that the
results do not reflect that the road is needed at this time, nor in
the near future.
During the comment period of the TBA meeting, I asked if the
City had done a survey of how many people use the trail. No
questions are allowed during this meeting, so I am going to
assume there wasn’t a study done on the trail.
Making this area a green space corridor, allowing all of the trees
to remain, connecting the trail from the 100 acre park to the
Bozeman pond, the dog park and the kids ball field will be
committing to a more sustainable future for our community and
would help to maintain the wonderful quality of life. There isn’t
another opportunity like this on the west side of
Bozeman. Putting the FAC road project through goes against
your climate change commitment.
Sincerely,
Patty Dickerson
482 Fowler Ave
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