HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-04-16 Public Comment - J. Wilkinson - UDC UpdateFrom:Jeanne Wilkinson
To:Agenda
Subject:Comment Dec. 5 Commission Meeting - UDC Update
Date:Sunday, December 04, 2016 9:25:43 PM
To Mayor Taylor and the Bozeman City Commissioners:
The City of Bozeman has been courting the current level of downtown development for some
time. The problem is, the residents who live here have not been equally engaged. Even
though creation of the Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan was a public process, many of
us just were not aware the degree to which it impacted surrounding neighborhoods.
Now, I am aware of the multitude of proposed projects and policy changes that profoundly
impact core neighborhoods. One of them, the Unified Development Code update regarding
infill, is on the Commission agenda Monday night. I urge you to please slow down the UDC
re-write process enough to afford residents the opportunity to give real and authentic input.
There are several items included in Senior Planner, Tom Rogers’, summary under Action Item
5 that warrant in depth public consideration. For example, the question, “Should the City
augment existing code provisions to generally increase allowable density in residential zoning
districts?” is a good one. The answer, however, should be context sensitive and well thought
out. The suggested UDC changes address encouraging such infill by liberalizing ADU
requirements, but do not take into account those neighborhoods, like mine, that are already
at infill capacity.
Another topic that you have heard extensive public comment about recently, is transitions.
How do we mitigate transitions between districts and general adjacency issues? Tom Rogers
included some thoughtful options that deserve immediate consideration. One very relevant
and common sense option for core neighborhoods included in the summary: consider
transition requirements that are more stringent next to a historic district. Please consider
creating transition requirements a priority for the UDC update.
It has become increasingly clear that the existing complex combination of City guiding
documents, code, and guidelines, needs more clarity. In deciding priorities, I encourage you
to consider UDC changes that address transition requirements, high on the list.
Regarding updates concerning ADUs , please make sure they are context sensitive and
residents are given the opportunity to be part of the solution.
Thank you,
Jeanne Wilkinson
415 South 3rd Ave.