Residents Oppose Foxland Harbor Marina Development Over Traffic and Environmental Concerns

The Gallatin City Council meeting held on July 9, 2025, focused on significant community concerns regarding the proposed Foxland Harbor Marina project. Residents expressed strong opposition to the development, citing potential negative impacts on their neighborhoods and the environment.

The meeting began with public comments from residents, including concerns raised by Ms. Chavamas about the financial implications of demolishing city buildings to make way for the project. She emphasized that citizens would bear the costs and called for a referendum to allow public input on such significant changes.

David Shearer, a resident of Foxland, highlighted the potential imbalance the project could create in the community, transforming a residential area into a commercial hub. He criticized the traffic impact study associated with the marina, arguing it failed to account for existing traffic conditions and would exacerbate congestion on Douglas Bend Road. Shearer urged the council to reject the study and conduct a more thorough evaluation.

Nick Meador echoed these sentiments, expressing his opposition to the scale of the marina and its deviation from the original vision for the neighborhood. He raised concerns about traffic, building heights, and the potential for short-term rentals, urging the council to uphold the community's original plans.

Britney Clapp presented a broader critique of the marina's benefits, questioning its alignment with Gallatin's core values of safety, community health, and environmental preservation. She argued that the marina would not provide meaningful economic benefits and could introduce health risks, such as increased tick-borne diseases and traffic hazards.

Tim Weeks, representing the Sierra Club, urged caution regarding the implications of short-term rentals in the proposed condominiums, warning that they could lead to disruptive party environments in the residential area.

The meeting concluded with a clear message from residents: they seek more transparency and thorough evaluations of the proposed marina project. The council faces pressure to consider the community's concerns seriously as discussions continue.