Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board 04-18-17 Minutes City Planning Board Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 7:00 PM City Commission Chamber – 121 N. Rouse Avenue A. 07:03:32 PM (00:00:08) Call meeting to order Present Were:  Paul Spitler  Commissioner Chris Mehl  Lauren Waterton  Jordan Zignego  George Thompson  Chair Paul Neubauer  Brianne Dugan  Henry Happel  Jerry Pape B. 07:03:58 PM (00:00:34) Changes to the Agenda C. Minutes for Approval (continued to future meeting)  3/7/2017 D. 07:04:11 PM (00:00:47) Public Comment – Please state your name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record. This is the time for individuals to comment on matters falling within the purview of the Committee. There will also be an opportunity in conjunction with each action item for comments pertaining to that item. Please limit your comments to three minutes. E. 07:04:28 PM (00:01:04) Action Items 1. Continue Discussion of Bozeman Growth Policy Update 07:07:44 PM (00:04:20) Board member Henry Happel asked where the City Management was in developing the Strategic Plan so that the board could ensure that the Growth Policy and Strategic Plan align with each other. 07:08:49 PM (00:05:25) Commissioner Mehl summarized the strategic plan and how it would work in accordance with the Growth Policy. He stated that the community plan could be shorter to move back to a land use document and to prevent overlap with the Strategic Plan. 07:13:30 PM (00:10:06) Board member Paul Spitler commented on the existing growth policy, stating that it is too long, too vague and too broad, covering too many issues. He argued that it relegates many decisions to future plans. He continued that it lacked specificity in regards to Planning and recommended that it include specific, measurable objectives. Spitler added that he felt it would be helpful to do some scenario planning to map out some if / then situations to see how decisions on projects will affect surrounding areas. 07:20:02 PM (00:16:38) Board member Lauren Waterton agreed with Spitler’s comments and added that she felt the growth policy should include a plan that focused on the future in regards to transportation, technology, climate change, etc. – other things that affect growth rather than focusing on population growth. 07:24:50 PM (00:21:26) Board member Jordan Zignego agreed that the document needed to be quantified to be more specific. He recommended adding some focus to walkability in addition to preventing re-zoning areas meant to be commercial to residential in order to encourage neighborhood nodes. 07:27:14 PM (00:23:50) Board member George Thompson brought up MSU’s expansion and the need for them to assist in providing affordable housing for the student population. He pointed out that other universities play a larger role. He also brought up annexation, pointing out that the agricultural land within the city is no longer agricultural. In regard to re-zoning to convert to residential, he recommended sticking to original zoning to send a consistent message to developers and builders. Thompson also addressed density, pointing out that it can be spread outside of the Downtown district, and the need for an in-depth economic study to assist in long term planning. 07:37:00 PM (00:33:36) Chair Paul Neubauer commented that the land north of Baxter and west of S. Cottonwood is considered rural and does not have a land use designation, but should. Neubauer recommended that the Gooch Hill area be identified as a node for commercial use. Neubauer also stated that he felt that nodes would be strengthened by creating another layer on land use maps that identified future annexation areas so that developers can see what the City’s vision is for that area. He also addressed preventing changing commercial zones to residential zones in order to promote nodes that would reduce commuter traffic. He recommended incentives such as reducing impact fees, completing road buildouts through those areas, etc. 07:47:11 PM (00:43:47) Board member Brianne Dugan supported making the growth policy more focused with an overarching vision. She recommended addressing annexation, commercial nodes, sustainability and economic development in the new growth policy. 07:48:11 PM (00:44:47) Board Member Henry Happel addressed some items he thought needed to be changed in the discussion so far. He felt the language in the existing plan to be too vague and said he hoped the new document would be more specific in order to provide guidance where they’d like to provide guidance. He’d like to narrow the issues to develop a plan that interested the members of the community. 07:51:59 PM (00:48:35) Board member Jerry Pape discussed economic development and its importance in the growth policy. Pape argued that the city’s current plan for economic development is at odds with the current growth policy. Pape stated that he felt infrastructure, land use and annexation will make the biggest impact. He recommended that the commercial nodes should be encouraged through incentives such as no impact fees, and assistance with foundations, etc. Pape pointed out that the rules set forth should have some provisions that allow an exit if an economic situation changes. 08:01:23 PM (00:57:59) Commissioner Mehl thanked the board and stated that he agreed with most of the comments made. He thought the growth policy could set a tone and direction that is important. F. FYI/Discussion 07:06:08 PM (00:02:44) Paul Neubauer announced his withdrawal from the Growth Policy sub- group. George Thompson, Paul Spitler, Brianne Dugan and Henry Happel will be stepping in to assist. Henry Happel will spearhead that group. 07:37:13 PM (00:33:49) If there is no Zoning Commission meeting held, Planning Board will meet at 6 pm rather than 7 pm. 08:03:04 PM (00:59:40) Tom Rogers reviewed the UDC adoption plan and announced that there will be some joint planning and zoning meetings so that the boards are able to make a recommendation to the Commission. In addition to the PB/ZC meetings, he announced that there would be 5 additional workshops as well as going in front of various other boards prior to any formal adoption steps. 08:06:34 PM (01:03:10) Board member Pape asked if it would be possible to look into a Planning Board calendar to keep track of meetings, etc. Board member Thompson seconded this suggestion. Commissioner Mehl stated that he would look into it in addition to ensuring that all members received board emails. Chair Neubauer formally asked Tom for an agenda item to address the idea of a joint calendar. 08:09:54 PM (01:06:30) Chair Neubauer provided an update on the RFP for the consultant for the Community Plan. The consultant will be looking at how Bozeman’s commerce will be changing. This will be primarily for land use forecasting. Board member Lauren Waterton will be a sub-consultant on this project and will not be attending the Planning Board meeting while the consultant is presenting. 08:16:14 PM (01:12:50) Board member George Thompson provided the board members with a list comparing the cost of living across different cities. Thompson argued that where you live is an economic choice. G. 08:19:35 PM (01:16:11) Adjournment For more information please contact Tom Rogers at TRogers@bozeman.net This board generally meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm Committee meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability and require assistance, please contact our ADA coordinator, Mike Gray at 582-3232 (TDD 582-2301).