HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-16 Public Comment - H. Davis - Ordinance 1964, B1 ZoningFrom: Heather Davis [Hdavis@intrinsikarchitecture.com]
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2016 4:46 PM
To: Chris Mehl
Subject: UDC Update- B1 Footnote
Hi Chris,
I was hoping to edit my comments a bit more but ran out of time. So, below is my presentation notes
from planning board.
RE: Ordinance No. 1964 Revision to Table 38.10.020 – B1 Zoning Residential prohibited on the ground
level
As we all know, B-1 is a vital commercial zoning for the City of Bozeman as it is the small-scale
commercial use in a variety of residential neighborhoods. This allows people to walk down the street for
a gallon milk or a cup of coffee rather than having no choice but to get in the car and drive.
As proposed, the addition of a footnote to only allow residential on the second or subsequent floor is an
inflexible, one-size fits all development standard. While it is simple, it has unintended consequences.
Having looked at a variety of projects with varying size and scope, if this footnote is applied to all B-1,
then this will extremely limit and potentially stop important development projects that would have
otherwise provided good mixed-use development to the adjacent neighborhood.
B-1 should allow residential uses integrated with commercial whether it’s above, next to, and evaluated
as part of a comprehensive site plan.
As you know, the key to good zoning is flexibility:
- Like applying zoning in appropriate places where the market is supportive (residential!)
- Development standards should be flexible for when the market needs time to catch up (allow
convertibility or projects with built in adaptability or phasing)
- Integrate residential, commercial, employment, and civic uses
- Transition properties toward lower density residential development
As possible alternatives to the proposed language there a few potential alternatives:
(1) Residential uses shall not exceed 50 percent of the ground floor building space per lot or parcel.
(2) require ground floor commercial uses at least on certain street frontages- collective/arterial but not
local
(3) B-1 should be allowed to have residential on the first floor with future convertibility and/or - not
forcing folks to live in a storefront – headers, portion of the property
(4) Residential uses are permitted on upper stories and on ground floors when they do not use
storefront space.
(5) Like B-2, a more intensive commercial zoning, allow residential on the first floor with Conditional
Use Permit
While the proposed language is simple, it is imperative to not require commercial on the ground floor all
the time, for every building on due to the variety of properties
The solution could be as simple as changing the footnote to state- residential allowed on the ground
floor when not less than 50% of the building foot print is commercial and as approved through a
comprehensive site plan.
As we all know, by increasing the number of people and residents, we increase the success rate of the
neighborhood commercial.
Thank you for your consideration and time to comment.
Thanks, Heather
Heather Davis, AICP
intrinsik architecture, inc.
111 north tracy avenue
bozeman, montana 59715
t. 406.582.8988 f. 406.582.8911
www.intrinsikarchitecture.com<http://www.intrinsikarchitecture.com/>