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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-29-22 Public Comment - K. Powell & S. Griswold - Re_ UDC Text Amendment - Fraternities and SororitiesFrom:KPowell & S Griswold To:Jeff Mihelich; Agenda Cc:Anna Bentley; Tom Rogers; Mike Maas; Dani Hess; Chris Saunders Subject:Re: UDC Text Amendment - Fraternities and Sororities Date:Wednesday, June 29, 2022 2:21:23 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. June 29, 2022 Good Afternoon City Manager Jeff Mihelich, Mayor Cyndy Andrus, Deputy Mayor TerryCunningham, Commissioners I-Ho Pomeroy, Jennifer Madgic & Chris Coburn As you know, over 140 concerned neighbors in the University Neighborhood Association have signed a petition asking the City Commission to: 1. Put an Interim Ordinance on the City Commission agenda to temporarily halt the expansionof fraternity and sorority houses in all residential zoning districts. 2. Reinstate Fraternities and Sororities back into the UDC Authorized Uses in Residential Zoning Districts as it was prior to 2018 (allowed in R5, RO and conditional use R3) None of these neighbors had any idea that the UDC code was changed in 2018 to delete thecategory of fraternities and sororities from the UDC Residential Use Table that prohibited them in most residential neighborhoods. Nor did they know that the City would later take theposition that the category of fraternities and sororities would be merged into “Group Living”. This change was not shared back in 2017 with the Inter-neighborhood Council (INC) or in theBozeman Code Update Neighborhoods Deep Dive (May 23, 2017) The neighbors are NOT requesting a text amendment to the UDC to place additional limitations on Fraternities and Sororities, as Jeff stated in his recent email (June 23,2022). Weare simply asking the City to put back in place the requirements that existed prior to what we feel was a flawed code revision process. It is not just neighbors in UNA but also other neighborhoods that are concerned aboutunrestricted Greek houses locating in former single family residences. Greek organizations have their own culture and can fit well into certain areas. In fact their organizations can add alot to our community in the right circumstance. However, noise, partying, events with large volumes of members (often 40-80 + guests), and parking congestion really affect the livabilityof a single family/small rental unit neighborhood. Specifically in response to City Manager Jeff Mihelich email of June 23, 2022: Yes, we will submit a formal application for a text amendment to the UDCregarding fraternities and sororities as stated above. Thank you Jeff for conveying the City Commissions receptiveness to considering this issue.Thank you also for discussing this issue with Interim Community Development Director Anna Bentley and determining that Tom Rogers will handle this case.We will contact Senior Planner Tom Rogers very soon to help us with the formal application process. Application Fee - 10-20 neighbors are pooling funds to cover the $2,232 textamendment application fee - a sort of local “Go Fund Me”. We are all doing this for our neighborhood and for the whole city to get the text amendment process moving ASAP. However, we will be asking the City Commission to specifically consider refunding this fee. These neighbors are not developers, or trying to change a specific location in thecity. We are concerned citizens that recognize the unique cultures of Fraternities and Sororities and their impact on the livability of single family/small rental neighborhoods. To date, the City has not addressed our request for an Interim Ordinance to be puton the City Commission Agenda. This request is independent from the Text amendment request. This Interim Ordinance wouldtemporarily halt the expansion of fraternity and sorority houses in all residential areas until the text amendment to reinstate Fraternities and Sororities back into the UDC Authorized Uses can be reviewed WHY an Interim Ordinance? 1. There are 2-3 Fraternities currently at MSU looking to lease or buy a house for theirorganization. There are several properties coming up for sale around Bozeman that could be of interest to Greek organizations. 2. The MSU Assistant Dean of Students, Amber King, has shared that they get weekly callsand emails from fraternities and sororities around the country asking how to affiliate with MSU. Guess the word is out that MSU is a “Mountains and Minds” place to be. Because a new school year will be starting soon, there is a pressing need to put an Interim Ordinance in place ASAP to preserve neighborhood livability and reduceconfrontational challenges. 3. The City estimates a text amendment to the UDC can take 6-12 weeks - a lot can happen in neighborhoods in 3 months. We ask the City Commission to address our Interim Ordinance request directly andopenly by including this issue on a City Commission agenda ASAP. This same type of Interim Ordinance was used to “tap the brakes” for Short Term Rentals togive time to review and update rules before more STRs opened up. We feel that this UDC issue has a similar timely impact on livability. The heart of Bozeman is in its neighborhoods. We know the City cares about neighborhoodsbecause they created, staffed and funded the Neighborhood Association Program and the City asks for communication from neighborhoods to the CIty.Well, neighbors in UNA and other parts of the city are communicating. Kathy Powell powellgriz@icloud.com (406) 600-1164 Tonya Stevens tonyastvns@gmail.com ‭(406) 209-7592‭ Greg Garrigues greggarrigues@gmail.com Kathy Rich kathysrich@gmail.com Susan Hinkins hinkins@mcn.net On Jun 23, 2022, at 1:27 PM, Jeff Mihelich <jmihelich@BOZEMAN.NET> wrote: Good Afternoon Kathy: We haven’t chatted in a long time. I hope all is well with you. Thanks to you and others in your neighborhood for attending the City Commission meeting and for submitting written comments regarding fraternities and sororities. We understand that it is the desire for a number of property owners in your neighborhood for there to be an amendment to the Unified Development Code placing additional limitations on Fraternities and Sororities. I’ve discussed your request with each member of the City Commission. The Commission will consider your petition following the city code and all of our typical rules and procedures that govern all petitions for a code amendment. This includes the formal submittal of an application through our on-line portal, the payment of all fees, and the facilitation of public hearings before the Community Development Board and City Commission. Interim Community Development Director Anna Bentley and I have determined that Tom Rogers will handle this case. I think you know Tom. He is a seasoned and knowledgeable Senior Planner and will help you with the process. Please reach out to Tom at your convenience and he can help you with the formal application submittal and the payment of all fees. Take care Kathy. JM Jeff Mihelich | City Manager ICMA-CM City of Bozeman 406-582-2306 jmihelich@bozeman.net City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. 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