HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-22 Public Comment - C. Dayton - Public comment UDC & NEHMUFrom:Chandler Dayton
To:Agenda
Subject:Public comment UDC & NEHMU
Date:Friday, November 18, 2022 2:48:50 PM
Attachments:UDC-NEHMUcomment.pdf
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Please submit the attached letter for Commission packet.
Thank you,
Chandler Dayton
November 18, 2022
To: City Commission
From: Chandler Dayton, 716 E Peach St, Bozeman
RE: UDC updates/NEHMU
I would like to thank staff and commission for their ongoing work on the UDC
update.
I would like to comment on the history of the NEHMU district, a unique code that
was created in 2004 to address the actual uses within the boundary, allowing the
residential uses to exist as primary, rather than non-conforming industrial uses.
Zoning and the M-1 designation came to this rail and brewery district in the 1960’s.
At that time it was thought that the housing stock would eventually erode and give
way to more industrial uses. That erosion never happened. Instead the entire
northeast neighborhood became affordable starter homes for new families and
housing was preserved. A number of development proposals perfectly suited to M-1
but not to residential were proposed, prompting homeowners in the area to lobby
for their survival via a new code that would allow both industrial and residential
uses. Residents worked directly with the planning director and the Assistant City
Manager for a successful resolution to the problem of non-conforming historic uses.
It naturally met with opposition from the industrial uses, especially the distribution
and lumber concerns. The boundary was drawn to exclude the lumber businesses,
but did include the two uses with the biggest traffic impacts, the bus barn and the
beer distributor, likely to their dismay. The 40% rule for housing, based on the R-2
zone was written partially to allay fears of losing manufacturing potential to high
density residential, which would threaten the current distribution and transportation
businesses.
Times have changed and we are at a new juncture. The beer distribution is moving
to a new location in the county, and the lumber businesses are planning to relocate
in the near future as well.
The need for more housing is enormous, but as many people have pointed out, real
estate investment is about maximum ROI, and investor control of housing
production in today’s market will not make more affordable housing, no matter how
much deregulation you legislate.
Rather than resorting to zone changes to accommodate more housing, I encourage
you to consider meaningful changes to the NEHMU that will both preserve its
unique character, and achieve greater density of housing along with the variety of
uses that make this a truly vibrant neighborhood - a variety of housing and small
commercial uses, live/work artisan manufacturing other small community services.
Imagine indoor vegetable production as has been developed by the Netherlands!
This area has blossomed into an artisan manufacturing and arts district that
combines residential and commercial in a unique way. We have a wonderful
opportunity to re-envision the NEHMU zone with the RUDAT report and sustainable,
livable principals guiding those changes.