HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-23 Public Comment - S. Hinkins - Bozeman Community Development Advisory Board Jan 23, 2023 agendaFrom:Susan Hinkins
To:Agenda
Subject:Bozeman Community Development Advisory Board Jan 23, 2023 agenda
Date:Tuesday, January 17, 2023 6:44:13 PM
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To: Community Development Advisory Board
Subject: January 23, 2023 Agenda item on Fraternity/Sorority Zone Text Amendment
Due to a 2018 change to Bozeman’s Unified Development Code, City Planning now treats student
Greek houses as “Group Living.” This means that a fraternity or sorority can be housed in a single-
family house. For example, in February 2022 a fraternity leased a single-family, 4-bedroom home in
our neighborhood. The code for group living limits the number of individuals who can actually live
in the house to something like 6 individuals. Like most single-family homes, this house does not
have a parking lot and the house was not designed to hold large meetings. The fraternity includes
45+ members and many social occasions include guests. Therefore, the fraternity’s events are
generally held in the front and back yard, resulting in loud noise and litter.
We have lived with sororities and with other fraternities as neighbors for many years, with no
problems. But they all have facilities that house many of their members, and that accommodate
indoor meetings and parties for all their members. They have adequate parking lots. The fraternity
housed in a single-family house is different. It does not work.
Because Group Living use does not cover the needs or expected use by a fraternity or sorority, a
group of neighbors applied to the city for a Zone Text Amendment that reinstates fraternities and
sororities as an “Authorized Use in Residential Zoning Districts” with requirements that align with
the needs of a fraternity or sorority. We understand that a draft amendment has been written and
public hearings are scheduled for the Community Development Advisory Board on January 23. We
ask that you support a return to code that requires fraternity and sorority houses to have adequate
facilities, namely space for residents and adequate in-door space for social occasions. They should
provide adequate parking lots.
Thank you.
Susan Hinkins and Richard Gillette
1122 South 5th Ave
Bozeman