HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-17 Public Comment - P. Jacobs - UDC Update Subchapter 4B
PO Box 4836
Bozeman, Montana 59772
www.ARCHtrio.com
317 - 917 – 9042
A Women Business Enterprise
September 18, 2017
PUBLIC COMMENT
RE: Affirm and Readopt Resolution 4598, as Amended by Resolution 4623, adding Sub-Chapter 4B into
the Design Guidelines for the NCOD
Dear Mayor Taylor, Deputy Mayor Andrus, and members of the Bozeman City Commission:
I am pleased to hear that you have sought the position of the Design Review Board and the Historic
Preservation Advisory Board regarding the affirmation and re-adoption of Resolution 4598 adding Sub-
Chapter 4B into the Design Guidelines for the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District adopted as
an amendment to the NCOD Guidelines back in 2015. The input of these board is very valuable to this
critical decision for our community.
I also ask you to please consider the following:
The added language to address concerns regarding the B-3 zoned area wrapping the Main Street
National Register Historic District was a very limited process with little public input or thorough
understanding of the potential ramifications to the surrounding historic buildings and remaining
historic context.
Changes within this highly significant area are very important and have the potential to have
significant impact on various historic districts and individual resources.
Public participation in a process should be encouraged by including the DRB, BHPAB,
leadership from various impacted historic districts, and others, in the development of
appropriate, well considered and vetted guidelines.
As a co-writer of the NCOD analysis prepared a couple of years ago, I would encourage the
Commission to revisit the recommendations provided in that document and propose a game plan
and timeline for implementing the best and most appropriate ideas. Recommendations regarding
the Design Guidelines are included in that document.
Parking issues as a result of the recent Sub-Chapter 4B Guidelines can be addressed - parking
garages built, and new public transportation implemented. The hardest, most detrimental, and
B-3 Comment
September 18, 2017
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most challenging impact of the affirmed Sub-Chapter 4B Guidelines with no consideration for
changes will be the impact on the overall historic context of the downtown.
This is by no means a suggestion that development is bad. I am all for appropriate development as long
as it doesn’t have a negative impact on individually significant historic buildings or neighborhoods (and
this doesn’t necessarily limit the definition to buildings or districts that are already listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. We need to also consider those resources which are potentially eligible). I
have the seen the results of hasty demolition. I have seen the negative impact of inappropriate design.
Once the historic fabric and the cultural context is lost, it is gone forever. In some instances that is okay
as long as the replacement matches the goals and character we desire for our City. In other instances,
however, we have compromised the historical significance which makes Bozeman special.
Bozeman is a perfect example for understanding the architectural progression of styles and history. The
architecture embodied in the designs of Fred Willson demonstrates that a variety of styles and building
scales can co-exist successfully. His use of materials and details and scale and massing reflect a
sensitivity to the context in which he designed and built. His work and the work of others creates a rich
melding called “character.”
We must capture that essence in our design guidelines so that we may continue to responsibly address
our local historic assets, encourage innovative, compatible new design and continue the tradition of a
rich community character. This is hard work and requires everyone’s best thinking in a collaborative
approach.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Patricia L. Jacobs
Principal/Architect
ARCHitecture trio, Inc.
CC: Design Review Board
City Commissioners
Martin Matsen, Director of Community Developement