HomeMy WebLinkAboutG.1a Staff Report - Pole Yard Planning Board Review 09-17-20Resolution of Recommendation on the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan Page 1 of 5
Staff Report for Resolution of Recommendation on the Pole Yard Urban Renewal
District Plan Application
Public Meeting Date: Planning Board meeting is October 5, 2020.
Public Hearing Date: City Commission hearing October 27, 2020.
Project Description: The urban renewal plan for the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District (URD).
Project Location: The Pole Yard urban renewal area includes an area of approximately +/-
145 acres located within the northeast quadrant of the City of Bozeman in
portions of Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, Township 2 South, Range 6 East,
PMM, City of Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana. The core area is
located between the Interstate 90 and railroad rights-of-way on both sides
of L Street. Beyond the core, the western extent of the URD is North
Rouse Avenue, the eastern extent ends before Big Gulch Drive, the
northern extent is Bond Street, and the southern extent is south of the
intersection of East Peach Street on the east and North Broadway Avenue.
Recommendation: Approval of the Resolution of Recommendations
Recommended Motion: Having reviewed and considered staff and consultant materials, public
comment and all the information presented, I move to approve the
Resolution of Recommendation recommending to the Bozeman City
Commission that the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan is in
conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan and that the area of the
Pole Yard Urban Renewal District is zoned for uses in accordance with the
Bozeman Community Plan.
Report Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2020
Staff Contacts: Brit Fontenot, Director of Economic Development
Shawn Kohtz, Development Review Engineer
Agenda Item Type: Action (Legislative)
Resolution of Recommendation on the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan Page 2 of 5
Summary
The Pole Yard Urban Renewal District (URD) Plan (Plan) furthers the visions of the Strategic Plan,
adopted by the City Commission on April 16, 2018, for an innovative economy and a well-planned city.
The Pole Yard Plan supports the City’s economic development priorities to facilitate mid- and high
wage job growth and industry diversification. Community partners work together in support of the
primary tenets of the City’s recently adopted 2016 Economic Development Strategy:
1. Retention and growth of existing businesses, while welcoming and encouraging new
businesses;
2. Investment in infrastructure to drive economic development; and
3. Education and workforce development initiatives to provide businesses with
qualified workers. (Bozeman Economic Development Strategy Update, 2016)
The Pole Yard Plan aligns with the 2020 Draft Bozeman Community Plan themes for 1) a city of
neighborhoods; 2) a city bolstered by downtown and complementary districts; and 3) a city powered by
its creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial economy.
Background
The Pole Yard area is within the urban core, but the Interstate 90 corridor and the Montana Rail Link
line, which border the property, serve as physical barriers to the desired development and uses. The
Pole Yard area can be described as blighted under the Montana Urban Renewal Law, because its
geographic isolation “substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth” of the municipality per §7-15-
4201 MCA, making it eligible for designation as a URD.
Lack of appropriate infrastructure, including water, sewer, stormwater, transportation and
communication networks, lack of access, inappropriate uses of land or building, and faulty lot layout
in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness, can be remedied by investment in
infrastructure using tax increment financing in a URD.
City Commission action to create the Pole Yard URD would occur in subsequent steps in the process
when the City Commission adopts the urban renewal plan by ordinance.
On September 15, 2020, with the adoption of a resolution of necessity (Resolution #5145), finding that
conditions that contribute to blight exist, and establishing the necessity of rehabilitation and
redevelopment of the Pole Yard area, the Commission took the first step in the process of creating a
URD and establishing the boundaries of the Pole Yard URD per 7-15-4210 MCA.
Following this decision, the City has developed the Pole Yard Plan, and has consulted with the affected
taxing jurisdictions including Gallatin County and Bozeman School District #7. After the Planning
Board review and recommendation as to the conformance of the Plan and accordance of the zoning
within the area of the URD with the Bozeman Community Plan, notice of the public hearing before
the City Commission with be given. This notice will include a letter to all property owners, and a
Resolution of Recommendation on the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan Page 3 of 5
formal notice to meet and consult to the affected taxing jurisdictions.
The City Commission action to create the Pole Yard URD would occur with the City Commission’s
final adoption of the ordinance.
Analysis and Findings
Analysis and resulting recommendations are based on the entirety of the application materials, municipal
codes, standards, and plans, public comment, and all other materials available during the review period.
Collectively this information is the record of the review. The analysis is a summary of the completed
review.
The purposes of this Planning Board review of the Pole Yard Plan and all relevant materials are:
to determine whether the plan is in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan;
and
to determine if the land is zoned for uses in accordance with the Bozeman
Community Plan; and
to make a written recommendation on such to the City Commission.
Chapter 5 of the Pole Yard Plan describes the purpose and intent of the Plan to be implemented through
the goals and associated strategies of the Plan. The stated goals are:
GOAL 1. Promote Innovative Economic Development
GOAL 2. Enable Enhanced Connectivity and Mobility
GOAL 3. Invest in Efficient Delivery of Public Infrastructure
GOAL 4. Foster Urban Neighborhood Coherency
Chapter 4 includes a synopsis of the review of the conformance of the Pole Yard Plan to the
Bozeman Community Plan.
The Pole Yard Plan has been found to be in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan and the
area of the Pole Yard URD has been determined to be zoned for uses in accordance with the Bozeman
Community Plan.
Zoning and Growth Policy
Zoning Designation and Land Uses:
The project site is designated as “M-1 Light Manufacturing”, “M-2 Manufacturing and Industrial” and
“R-S Residential Suburban” zones. The intent of each of these zones is established in Chapter 38,
Unified Development Code, BMC and is excerpted below.
“M-1” and “M-2” zoning allows a variety of industrial uses and related support commerce as described
in the Bozeman Unified Development Code. The intent of the “M-2” manufacturing and industrial
district is to provide for heavy manufacturing and industrial uses, servicing vocational and employment
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needs of city residents. The intent of the “M-1” light manufacturing district is to provide for the
community's needs for wholesale trade, storage and warehousing, trucking and transportation terminals,
light manufacturing, and similar activities. The district should be oriented to major transportation
facilities yet arranged to minimize adverse effects on residential development, therefore, some type of
screening may be necessary.
The single dwelling and accompanying land off of L Street is zoned RS, Residential Suburban District.
The intent and purpose of the R-S residential suburban district is to commemorate and preserve existing
RS zoning only.
Adopted Growth Policy Designation:
The Bozeman Community Plan designates the majority of the future land use for the area included in the
Pole Yard Urban Renewal District as “Industrial”. The Bozeman Community Plan designates the single
dwelling and accompanying land off of L Street as “Residential”. A small piece of the
“Northside/Village" trail adjacent to the railroad rights-of-way is designated by the Bozeman Community
Plan as “Parks, Open Space and Recreation”.
The Bozeman Community Plan’s Table C-16 Zoning Correlation with Land Use Categories indicates
that:
The “Industrial” land use category can be implemented through one of the five
industrial type zoning districts, including M-1 and M-2.
The “Residential” land use category can be realized via one of the numerous
residential types zoning districts, including R-S.
The “Parks, Open Space and Recreation” land use category was created for a variety
of purposes under all zoning districts.
Noticing and Public Comment
Notice was published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle on September 20 and 27, 2020. Notice has been
provided at least 15 and not more than 45 days prior to the Planning Board public meeting. The City
Commission public hearing is scheduled on October 27, 2020. Notice will be mailed to all property
owners, and a formal notice to meet and consult to the affected taxing jurisdictions shall be provided at
least 15 and not more than 45 days prior to the City Commission public hearing
Owner Information and Reviewing Staff
Owners: Multiple
Applicant: Brit Fontenot, Director of Economic Development
Consultants: Lanette Windemaker, AICP; and Janet Cornish, Community Development Services of
Montana
Report By: Chris Saunders, Policy and Planning Manager
Tom Rogers, Senior Planner
Resolution of Recommendation on the Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan Page 5 of 5
Fiscal Effects
It is nearly impossible to assess the future increase in taxable value that may or may not occur in the
urban renewal district.
Attachments:
1. City Engineer Memo;
2. Resolution of Recommendation; and
3. Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Plan