Residents raise concerns about proposed Fowler‑Avenue housing and recent ditch tree removals at Bozeman City Commission meeting

Several residents used general public comment at the March 24 Bozeman City Commission meeting to press the city on separate local development issues.

Laurie Wallace, representing the Harvest Creek Homeowners Association, read a HOA press release that objected to a city proposal to use about 5.5 acres adjacent to Fowler Avenue for higher‑density housing and asked the city to create covenants limiting future development to eight units per acre and a maximum of two stories. "Our HOA does not oppose affordable housing or the construction of the Fowler Avenue connection," Wallace said, but requested covenants and a traffic and parking plan that would prevent overflow into the subdivision. The speaker said mediation discussions with the city were underway.

Daniel Carty, a Bozeman resident, asked the commission to investigate a contractor’s removal of willows or cottonwoods along an irrigation ditch managed by Middle Creek Ditch Company near Urban Farms. "Somewhere along the line there's a failure of process," Carty said, and asked staff and the mayor to determine responsibility and establish a process so similar removal does not recur.

City Manager Wynne told the commission staff would follow up: he said he had not previously been aware of the tree removals and would find out what happened and report back. Several commissioners agreed the consent‑agenda process and public‑comment instructions could be clarified; online commenter Mary Frances McHugh recommended adding advisory language on the agenda about the public’s right to comment on consent items.

Next steps: the city manager committed to investigate the ditch‑tree incident; the Harvest Creek HOA indicated mediation is underway and said it will present a position paper to the city. No formal action was taken at the meeting on either concern.