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BOZEMAN
MIDTOWN
URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT
DECEMBER 2015
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview ........................................................ 1
Chapter 2. Description of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District 7
Chapter 3. Documentation of Blight .......................................................... 20
Chapter 4. Planning Consistency ............................................................... 26
Chapter 5. Goals and Strategies ................................................................. 32
Chapter 6. Project Evaluation Criteria ..................................................... 39
Chapter 7. Implementation ......................................................................... 42
Appendix A. Public Meeting Summaries ................................................... 53
Appendix B. Planning Consistency Review ............................................... 57
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 1
Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview
In February 2005, the Bozeman City Commission directed city staff, pursuant to the provisions
of the State of Montana Urban Renewal Law, to examine conditions along North 7th Avenue and
adjacent lands, in the midtown area of the City of Bozeman and report to the City Commission
as to “the need for, desirability of, and feasibility of creating an urban renewal program”.
The area examined was largely comprised of automobile oriented, strip commercial development
built on and adjacent to North 7th Avenue in the 1960’s and 70’s, in response to transportation-
related improvements to Interstate 90 and Oak Street. These improvements have significantly
influenced the platting of land and land-use, access, traffic and circulation, and development
patterns in the area. In addition to the primary commercial corridor, portions of the residential
neighborhoods that adjoin the North 7th Avenue to the east and west were also examined. These
areas were included in order to assure that any proposed urban renewal activities in the North 7th
Avenue corridor would carefully consider issues associated with these well-established residential
areas.
More particularly, the area that was studied in 2005 included “the commercially zoned property
between North 5th Avenue and North 8th Avenue from Main Street north to the city limits, vacant
R-4 zoned parcels between Tamarack Street and Oak Street from North 5th Avenue to North 3rd
Avenue right of way extended, and a commercially zoned parcel north of Oak Street between North
3rd Avenue right of way extended, and a commercially zoned parcel north of Oak Street between
North 3rd Avenue right of way extended and the North Black Avenue alignment. Between West
Main Street and West Lamme Street, the original study area extended east only as far as a point
roughly mid-block between North 7th and North 5th Avenues.”
The information gathered in the 2005 investigation indicated that the area was eligible for
designation as an urban renewal district (URD) under 7-15-4201 et. seq MCA (the Montana Urban
Renewal Law), primarily due to:
• the defective or inadequate street layout identified within the study area
• instances of known deterioration
• inadequate provisions and/or age obsolescence of the following public improvements
within the study area: storm drain, streets and sidewalks
• instances of age obsolescence of buildings within the study area
• inappropriate or mixed uses of land or buildings
• deterioration of site; and improper subdivision or obsolete platting
Based on these findings, the City Commission adopted Resolution 3839, a Resolution of Necessity,
in August of 2005 and subsequently approved Ordinance 1685, on November 27, 2006. The
ordinance created the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and adopted the North
Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District Plan with a provision for tax increment financing, to be
calculated using a base year of 2006. The Commission established a North Seventh Avenue Urban
Renewal Board (NSURB) to serve in an advisory capacity to the Commission in planning for,
implementing and administrating a program of rehabilitation and revitalization for the District.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 2
The 2006 Plan notes that the North 7th Avenue is a vital part of the City of Bozeman and is an
established entryway corridor that extends from I-90 south to Main Street. In the city's rating
system, this is a Class II corridor, which is automobile-oriented; however, it has the potential to
become more pedestrian-oriented while serving its arterial function. It serves as a major
circulation corridor and is home for a variety of businesses that contribute to the vitality of the
community. Historically, it served as the first north-south corridor for automobiles in the City and
was the community’s first connection to Interstate 90. Visitors and residents alike recall a lovely
tree-lined avenue that served as a gateway to Montana State University.
However, important as it is today, North 7th Avenue’s full potential has not been fully realized.
While the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal program has supported revitalization activities
in the district, some issues remain. These include the lack of connection to other parts of the city
and the failure to diversify the types of uses and achieve the degree of intensity of development
that could occur. A key objective of the Plan was to establish a district identity for the corridor
and the subareas within it. This objective has been partially met through the installation of trees,
boulevards and other elements in a portion of the corridor in recent years, but the area remains
without a unifying identity.
In March of 2015, the City Commission provided funding for the NSURB to examine several areas
adjacent to the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District, to determine whether the district
could be expanded in order to better meet its goals and objectives. The NSURB had become
concerned that the failure to address blighted conditions in these areas had stymied rehabilitation
and redevelopment within the existing district. In addition, the existing North Seventh Avenue
Urban Renewal District was, in some places, only one block from the Downtown Area Urban
Renewal District, further exacerbating the lack of connectivity between the two areas. While the
area in between was characterized by the same conditions that were present in both districts, it
could not take advantage of ongoing urban renewal programs.
The NSURB directed that seven areas, adjacent to the existing urban renewal district, be evaluated
as to whether it would be appropriate to expand the district to include all or some of these areas.
These areas are as follows:
1. Southern Boundary Area, North Side of
West Main Street - An area on the east side of
the southern boundary of the urban renewal
district was reviewed. It is bounded by Lamme
Street on the north, West Main Street on the
south, North 3rd Avenue on the east and North
6th Avenue on the west. This area is located
between two existing urban renewal districts,
the North Seventh Avenue and the Downtown
Urban Renewal Districts. The conditions of
blight in this area are similar to those found
inside each of these districts.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 3
2. Southern Boundary Area, South Side of West Main Street – An area located just south of
the southern boundary of the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District was examined. It is
bounded on the north by West Main Street, on the south by West Babcock Street, on the west by
South 9th Avenue and on the east by South 5th Avenue. This area exhibits conditions of blight
similar to the two adjacent urban renewal districts and exclusion has resulted in limited
reinvestment.
3. The Whittier School Remainder – While some of the Whittier School property is in the
original district, a portion of the property owned by the School District was not included. The area
is directly south and southwest of the Whittier School and includes the playground and the school
parking lot.
4. East Side Property – This area is located to the east of the existing urban renewal district and
is bounded on the north by Tamarack Street, on the south by Peach Street, on the west by North
5th Avenue and on the east by North 3rd Avenue. The area includes an improved BMX Park that
has seen significant use and public investment in recent years. However, the overall area of the
East Side Property exhibits a number of blighted conditions.
5. West Side Property – This parcel of land is
bounded on the north by Oak Street, the south by
Durston Road, on the east by what would be 8th
Avenue and on the west by the future 11th Avenue,
excluding Royal Vista, Royal Vista Addition, Royal
Court and the west end of Birch. It directly abuts
properties that front on the west side of North 7th
Avenue. It is largely vacant and lacks adequate
infrastructure and provides no access to areas to the
west. In effect, it forms a barrier between the urban
renewal district and the neighborhoods to the west.
This in turn negatively affects revitalization efforts.
6. Northwest Site – This site is bounded on the south
by Patrick Street, on the north by Baxter Lane, on the
east by 11th Avenue and on the west by 15th Avenue.
It is adjacent to several area hotels, but is largely vacant, and underutilized.
7. Murdoch’s Annexation Property – This site is comprised of 3.889 acres located on the north
side of Murdoch’s, and addressed as 2507 and 2511 North 7th Avenue. This area is located
between the existing North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and an existing tax increment
financing industrial district. Its exclusion has made it ineligible to benefit from various urban
renewal and infrastructure programs.
The investigation’s findings revealed that these areas exhibited conditions of blight as defined in
the Montana Urban Renewal Law and that the improvement of these areas would benefit the
overall North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal program. On September 14, 2015, the Bozeman
City Commission, with support from the NSURB, adopted Resolution 4639, a Resolution of
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 4
Necessity, finding that “the rehabilitation, redevelopment, or both of an area or areas are necessary
in the interest of the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the residents of the municipality.”
(7-15-4210 MCA) This in turn, provided the basis for amending the existing urban renewal plan
and district boundary to include any or all of these areas which were identified in the Resolution.
Therefore this urban renewal plan amends the existing North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal
District to incorporate these additional areas. The ordinance adopting the amended plan and
district boundary will also establish a new name for the District. It will be known as the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District, to more accurately reflect the size and location of the areas
included.
Statement of Purpose – Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan
To address blighted conditions in the Midtown area, the City of Bozeman is continuing its program
of redevelopment and revitalization within and adjacent to the North 7th Avenue corridor through
the expansion of the urban renewal district. The new district boundary and amended plan will be
adopted by ordinance, which will provide for a new name for the district – the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District. The Plan includes a provision to use tax increment financing, as funds
become available, in addition to other resources in implementing its goals and strategies.
The Plan provides a context for activities that will be undertaken by a variety of public and private
entities. It recommends a series of programs and projects that may be undertaken by the local
government to encourage reinvestment in the district, which will in turn address conditions that
have diminished the environmental, economic and cultural well being of the area over time.
Although the Montana Urban Renewal Law recognizes that eliminating the conditions that are
referred to as urban blight is a matter of general public interest, this Plan has been developed, based
on the underlying principle that it is the citizens who work, reside and own property in the area
who will be engaged directly in the revitalization effort.
Guiding Principles
This Urban Renewal Plan is a reflection of sound public policy and thoughtful planning. To this
end the following principles, further described in Chapter 6, will guide revitalization and
redevelopment efforts in the URD.
✓ Readiness
✓ Leveraging
✓ Design
✓ Public-Private Partnerships
Tax Increment Financing
The City of Bozeman will continue to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in conjunction with
other funding sources to help foster revitalization within the Midtown URD. The base year for the
purposes of measuring any incremental value within the original district boundaries will continue
to be 2006, while the base year for the expanded portions of the district will be 2015.
Tax Increment Financing is a state authorized, locally driven funding mechanism that allows cities
and counties to direct property tax dollars that accrue from new development, within a specifically
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 5
designated district, to community and economic development activities. In Montana, TIF districts
are authorized in parts 7-15-4201 and 4301, et. seq Montana Code Annotated (MCA), the State’s
Urban Renewal Law.
TIF districts are typically characterized by conditions that are defined as blight and/or
infrastructure deficiencies that have limited or prohibited new investment. A base year is
established from which "incremental" increases in property values are measured. Virtually all of
the resulting new property tax dollars (with the exception of the six mill state-wide university levy)
can be directed to redevelopment and economic revitalization activities within the area in which
they are generated.
Taxpayers located within a TIF district
pay the same amount as they would if the
property were located outside the district.
TIF only affects the way that taxes, once
collected, are distributed. Taxes that are
derived from base year taxable values
continue to be distributed to the various
taxing jurisdictions – local and state
government entities and school districts.
Taxes derived from the incremental
increase in taxable value are placed in a
special fund for purposes set forth in an
Urban Renewal Plan.
Tax Increment Financing Districts are
authorized for 15 years, but may be
extended for up to an additional 25 years if
TIF revenue bonds are sold any time during
the first 15 years. Funds may be used for a variety of purposes as provided for in 7-15-4288 MCA
and include improvements to vehicular and pedestrian transportation infrastructure, streetscapes,
parks and landscaping, water and sewer lines and for connecting to infrastructure outside the
district. While funds are typically used for public infrastructure investments, there are instances
where local governments have used TIF funds to partner with private property owners to make
improvements to historic buildings, to address life-safety issues and to enhance landscaping. The
statutes also provide for the establishment of a TIF revolving loan program that can support private
investment in the TIF District. Loan funds can continue to “revolve” beyond the life of the District.
In order to proceed with the expansion of the district, formerly known as the North Seventh Avenue
URD, the City of Bozeman was required to provide documentation that blighted conditions exist
within the district and pass a Resolution of Necessity to address blighted conditions. The Montana
Urban Renewal law states in 7-15-4210 MCA, that a municipality may not exercise any of the
powers authorized by part 42 and 43 until after its local governing body has adopted a resolution
finding that:
(1) one or more blighted areas exist in the municipality as documented by the presence of at
least three blighted conditions; and
Tax Increment Financing Schematic
BASE Declining Property Values
TIF Start Date Increment for Development
TIF End Date
Tax Value for Distribution
Tax Value for Distribution Taxable Value Time
How a Tax Increment Finance Provision (TIF) Works
Base + Increment
TIF Workshop - June 2012
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 6
(2) the rehabilitation, redevelopment, or both of an area or areas are necessary in the interest
of the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the residents of the municipality.
As noted above, the Resolution of Necessity – City of Bozeman Resolution 4639 was adopted on
September 14, 2015.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 7
Chapter 2. Description of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
The Setting
The City of Bozeman is the county seat of Gallatin County located in southwest Montana. The
City is named for John M. Bozeman who established the Bozeman Trail and was a key founder of
the town in August 1864. The town became incorporated in April 1883 with a city council form
of government and later in January 1922 transitioned to a city manager/city commission form of
government. Bozeman residents approved a City Charter in the November 2006 general election.
Bozeman was elected an All-America City in 2001 by the National Civic League. Bozeman is
home to Montana State University and is served by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
(Wikipedia)
Demographic and Economic Information
The City of Bozeman is growing. According to 2014 Census estimates, there are 41,660 people
living in the City of Bozeman, significantly higher than the 2010 Census figure of 37,280. The
county’s population is projected to experience continued growth through 2060, from 97,197 in
2015 to 145,389 in 2060, an increase of nearly 50% (Montana Economic and Information Center).
Census information, recorded over a one hundred year period, beginning in 1910, indicates that
the City’s population has grown rapidly since 1950. The following figure presents population data
for the City from 1910 to 2010, based on the decennial census.
Source: Montana Census and Economic Information Center
However, despite rapid growth, the City’s poverty rate at 21.2% is significantly higher than the
poverty rates for Gallatin County, Montana and the nation, which are 14.1%, 15.2% and 15.4%
respectively. (American Community Survey – ACS, 2009-2013).
Median Household Income for residents living in Bozeman is $44,615, lower than the County’s
median, which is $52,833 and somewhat lower than the state, at $46,230 and the nation, at $53,046
(ACS, 2009-2013). The following table shows employment in the City of Bozeman by industry.
The “Educational services, health care and social assistance” sector employs the most people,
followed by “arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services” and
“retail trade”.
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
City of Bozeman Population -1890 to 2010
Population
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 8
EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
CITY OF BOZEMAN
SOURCE: ACS 2009-2013
ESTIMATE
MARGIN
OF
ERROR
PERCENT
PERCENT
MARGIN
OF ERROR
Civilian employed population 16 years and over 21,647 +/-580 21,647 (X)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 499 +/-138 2.3% +/-0.6
Construction 1,247 +/-244 5.8% +/-1.1
Manufacturing 1,369 +/-298 6.3% +/-1.3
Wholesale trade 484 +/-154 2.2% +/-0.7
Retail trade 2,951 +/-415 13.6% +/-2.0
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 485 +/-168 2.2% +/-0.8
Information 293 +/-125 1.4% +/-0.6
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and
leasing 1,132 +/-309 5.2% +/-1.4
Professional, scientific, and management, and
administrative and waste management services 2,613 +/-609 12.1% +/-2.7
Educational services, and health care and social
assistance 5,544 +/-439 25.6% +/-2.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation
and food services 3,385 +/-472 15.6% +/-2.1
Other services, except public administration 895 +/-210 4.1% +/-1.0
Public administration 750 +/-306 3.5% +/-1.4
Urban Renewal Area Description
As noted above, the original North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District includes the North 7th
Avenue corridor and portions of adjacent neighborhoods to the east and west. The following brief
history of the area is taken from a 2013 article in Bozeman Magazine written by Courtney Kramer,
entitled Wrapping Signal Boxes In History.
“North Seventh Avenue became an entryway to Bozeman during the mid-20th century, when
automobile transportation eclipsed streetcars and trains. First as the road to Belgrade, then as a
connection to Interstate 90, North Seventh Avenue developed as a car-oriented commercial area.
In fact, for a short time in the early 1960s, travelers had to detour from I-90, south on Seventh
Avenue, then East on Main and back onto I-90 while the road section between the North Seventh
and East Main interchanges was under construction. As a result, motor court hotels (later
shortened to “motels”) like the Rainbow Motel, the Royal Seven and the Rambler Motel (now
known as the Bozeman Inn) developed to provide lodging facilities for travelers. Across I-90 the
Starlight Drive-In provided a venue for movie-viewing from the comfort of the family car.”
(bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2013/12/31/22635_wrapping-signal-boxes-in history)
As noted above, today the corridor is a key community entryway, connecting Interstate 90 with
Bozeman’s core, particularly the downtown and the Montana State University Campus. While
North 7th Avenue originally featured street trees along most of the corridor, road reconstruction
and the building of off-street parking required the removal of the trees over time.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 9
Land Use in the Urban Renewal Area
Generally, the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District is characterized by a mixture of strip
commercial (including big box stores, fast food restaurants, and motels), adjacent residential and
some light industrial uses. As noted above, the core of the area is largely comprised of automobile
oriented, strip commercial development built on and adjacent to North 7th Avenue in the 1960’s
and 70’s, in response to transportation-related improvements to Interstate 90 and Oak Street.
These improvements have significantly influenced the platting of land and land-use, access, traffic
and circulation, and development patterns in the area. Residential properties include a mix of
single- and multi-family dwellings. The Whittier School is located in the eastern portion district
and serves area neighborhoods. The expansion areas include large vacant parcels, some park /
open space lands and properties excluded from other TIF districts. Development of these areas
has been limited by the lack of connectivity in the road system as well as other public infrastructure.
Map of the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and Expansion Areas
The existing North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal area is shown in blue on the map below with
each expansion area shown in yellow on the same map below. An enlarged map of each expansion
areas is found starting on page 13.
These maps are intended for visual display purposes and to assist the Montana Department of
Revenue with certification. The accuracy of these maps shall not affect, impair or nullify this plan
or the adoption process for this Urban Renewal District.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 10
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 11
Legal Description of the Original North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District
Beginning at the point of the southeast corner of Lot 7 Block 1 of the Springbrook Addition thence
westerly approximately 270 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 17 Block 1 of the Springbrook
Addition, thence westerly approximately 30 feet to the centerline of North 8th Avenue, thence
northerly approximately 1,292 feet to the centerline of West Villard Street thence easterly
approximately 30 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 8 of the Durston Subdivision, thence northerly
approximately 665 feet, thence westerly approximately 4 feet, thence northerly approximately 214
feet to the centerline of West Peach Street, thence westerly approximately 65 feet to the southwest
corner of Lot 18 Block 1 of Durstons Second Subdivision, thence northerly approximately 1980
feet to the southwest corner of Lot 3 Block 2 of the Vista Addition, thence easterly approximately
150 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 2 Block 2 Vista Subdivision, thence northerly
approximately 645 feet to the northwest corner of Lot 14 Block 1 Vista Addition, thence westerly
approximately 1246 feet along the southern boundary of the Oak Street right-of-way to the
northwest corner of Tract 1 of C.O.S. 2082, thence northerly approximately 1706 feet down the
centerline of North 11th Avenue to the south boundary of the Baxter Lane right-of-way, thence
northerly approximately 70 feet across the Baxter Lane right-of-way, thence northerly
approximately 170 feet across the MDOT right-of-way for Interstate 90 to the southwest corner of
Lot 2 of the Wheat Commercial Subdivision, thence northwesterly approximately 1000 feet along
the southern boundary of Tract A of C.O.S. 391A to the westernmost point, thence easterly
approximately 800 feet to the northwest corner of Lot 1 of the Wheat Commercial Subdivision,
thence easterly approximately 789 feet to a point approximately 25 feet from the northeast corner
of Lot 12 of the Wheat Commercial Subdivision, thence northerly approximately 965 feet to the
northwest corner of Lot 3 of the Gordon Mandeville School Section Subdivision, thence easterly
approximately 440 feet to the west boundary of the North 7th Avenue right-of-way boundary ,
thence northerly approximately 1760 feet to a point where the west boundary of the North 7th
Avenue right-of-way intersects the Burlington Northern right-of-way, thence southeasterly
approximately 1,408 feet along the Burlington Northern right-of-way to the southeast corner of
Lot 18A of the Amended Plat of the Gordon Mandeville State School Section Subdivision, thence
westerly approximately 200 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 17 of the Gordon Mandeville School
Section Subdivision, thence southerly approximately 481 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 20 of
the Gordon Mandeville School Section Subdivision, thence southwesterly approximately 107 feet
to the southeast corner of Lot 16 of the Gordon Mandeville School Section Subdivision, thence
westerly approximately 260 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 15B of Minor Subdivision #49,
thence southerly approximately 686 feet to a point along the north boundary of Lot 20 of the
Industrial Park Subdivision approximately 20 feet west of the northeast corner of said lot, thence
westerly approximately 340 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 22 of the Industrial Park
Subdivision, thence southerly approximately 698 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 14 of the
Industrial Park Subdivision, thence southeasterly approximately 100 feet to the northwest corner
of Lot 3A of the Industrial Park Subdivision, thence southerly approximately 550 feet along the
east boundary of Lot 3A of the Industrial Park Subdivision across the MDOT right-of-way of
Interstate 90 to a point along the north boundary of Lot 1 of Minor Subdivision #109 approximately
486 feet from the northeast corner of said lot, thence southeasterly approximately 486 feet to the
northeast corner of Lot 1 of Minor Subdivision #109, thence southeasterly along the MDOT right-
of-way for Interstate 90 S72°17'38"E a distance of 324.41 feet and along a non-tangent curve to
the right having a radial bearing of S17°44'19"W and a radius of 22,795.00 feet a distance of
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 12
1096.81 feet to the northwest corner of Tract 2 of Certificate of Survey No. 2128B; thence along
the westerly line of said Tract 2 S01°26'44"E a distance of 372.92 feet and S47°04'50"W a distance
of 207.62 feet to a point on the north right-of-way line of West Oak Street, thence westerly
approximately 1111’ to the centerline of North 3rd Avenue, thence southerly approximately 1523
feet to the centerline of West Tamarack Street, thence westerly approximately 776 feet to a point
approximately 30 feet north of the northwest corner of Lot 11 Block 2 of the 7th Addition, thence
southerly approximately 1443 feet along the west side of the right-of-way for North 5th Avenue to
the southeast corner of Lot 6 Block 1 of the Violett Addition, thence westerly approximately 401
feet to the centerline of the alleyway intersection of West Short Street, thence southerly
approximately 522 feet to the centerline of West Villard Street, thence easterly approximately 249
feet to a point approximately 30 feet north of the northwest corner of Lot 6 Block 2 of Border Tract
13, thence southerly approximately 30 feet to the northwest corner of Lot 6 Block 2 of Border
Tract 13, thence southerly approximately 556 feet to the southeast corner of Lot 7 Block E Tracy’s
3rd Addition, thence southerly approximately 30 feet to the centerline of West Lamme Street,
thence westerly approximately 85 feet to a point approximately 30 feet north of the northeast
corner of Lot 33 Block E Tracy’s 2nd Addition, thence southerly approximately 68 feet to the
southeast corner of Lot 10 Block E Tracy’s Addition, thence westerly approximately 368 feet to
the southeast corner of Lot 7 Block 1 of the Springbrook Addition, the point of beginning.
Descriptions and Maps of the Expansion Areas. This information is intended to assist the
Montana Department of Revenue with certification. The accuracy of this information shall not
affect, impair or nullify this plan or the adoption process for this Urban Renewal District.
1. Southern Boundary Area, North Side of West Main Street – This area is bounded by Lamme
Street on the north, West Main Street on the south, North 3rd Avenue on the east and North 6th
Avenue on the west.
Description: The Southern Boundary Area, North Side of West Main Street includes:
Lots 35-36, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition
Lots 1-7, and 10A, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition
Lots 1-21, Block D, Tracy’s 2nd Addition
Lots 22-33, Block D, W.H. Tracy’s Addition to Bozeman (Tracy’s 1st Addition)
Lots 1-9, plus east ½ of Lot 10 and Lots 39-48, and vacated alley adjacent to lots 3-9 and Lots 40-
46, Block E,W.H. Tracy’s Addition to Bozeman (Tracy’s 1st Addition)
2. Southern Boundary Area, South Side of West Main Street – This area is bounded on the
north by West Main Street, on the south by West Babcock Street, on the west by South 9th Avenue
and on the east by South 5th Avenue.
Description: The Southern Boundary Area, South Side of West Main Street include all of the
parcels bound by West Main Street, 7th Avenue South, West Babcock Street and 9th Avenue South,
including a vacated street; and Lots 1–21, Block E, Story Addition.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 13
Map of Expansion Areas 1. and 2. Southern Boundary Area
3. The Whittier School Remainder – While some of the Whittier School property is in the
original district, a portion of the property owned by the School District was not included. The area
is directly south and southwest of the Whittier School and includes the playground and the school
parking lot.
Description: Lots 1 and 2, Block 3 of the Violett Addition, and Lots 1 and 18 and the north 26 feet
of Lots 2 and17 of the Violett Addition plus the adjacent vacated alley.
4. East Side Property – This area is located to the east of the existing urban renewal district and
is bounded on the north by Tamarack Street, on the south by Peach Street, on the west by North
5th Avenue and on the east by North 3rd Avenue.
Description: Parcels found in the block, located in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 5 East, which is bordered on north by West Tamarack Street,
on the south by West Peach Street, on the east by North 3rd Avenue, and on the west by North 5th
Avenue.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 14
Map of Expansion Areas 3. The Whittier School Remainder and 4. East Side Property
5. West Side Property – This parcel of land is bounded on the north by Oak Street, the south by
Durston Road, on the east by what would be 8th Avenue and on the west by the future 11th Avenue,
excluding Royal Vista, Royal Vista Addition, Royal Court and the west end of Birch. It directly
abuts properties that front on the west side of North 7th Avenue.
Description
Parcels located within that portion of the west half of the southeast quarter of Section1, Township
2 South, Range 5 East described as follow: Beginning at the South ¼ corner of Section 1, Township
2 South, Range 5 East, P.M.M., City of Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana: thence northerly
along the midsection line of said Section 1 a distance of 1999. 67 feet to the southwest corner of
Tract 1, C.O.S. 2082; thence easterly along the south line of said Tract 1 and the south line of
Royal Vista Addition a distance of 940 feet more or less the southwest corner of Lot 3 Block 2 of
Royal Vista Addition, thence southerly a distance of 2000 feet more or less to the south section
line of Section 1, thence westerly to the point of beginning.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 15
Map of Expansion Area 5. West Side Property
6. Northwest Site – This site is bounded on the south by Patrick Street, on the north by Baxter
Lane, on the east by 11th Avenue and on the west by 15th Avenue.
Description
Parcels described as Lots 1, 2, and 3 of Block 3, Phase 2, and Lot 6(6a), Phase 1 PT Land
Subdivision located in Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 5 East.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 16
Map of Expansion Area 6. Northwest Site
7. Murdoch’s Annexation Property – This site is comprised of 3.889 acres located on the north
side of Murdoch’s, and addressed as 2507 and 2511 North 7th Avenue.
Description: Tracts 5, 6, 9 and 10 of the Gordon Mandeville State School Subdivision, in Section
36, Township 1 South, Range 5 East.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 17
Map of Expansion Area 7. Murdoch’s Annexation Property
Legal Description of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
Beginning at the South ¼ corner of Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 5 East, P.M.M., City of
Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana: thence northerly along the mid section line of said Section
1 a distance of 1999. 67 feet to the southwest corner of Tract 1, C.O.S. 2082; thence easterly along
the south line of said Tract 1 and the south line of Royal Vista Addition a distance of 1034.42 feet
to the centerline of the alley in Block 2 of Royal Vista Addition; thence northerly along said alley
centerline a distance of 646.50 feet to the north line of Royal Vista Addition; thence westerly along
said north line of Royal Vista Addition and the north line of Tract 1 of C.O.S. 2082 a distance of
1095.87 feet to the northwest corner of said Tract 1; thence northerly along the centerline of N.
11th Avenue a distance of 858 feet to the intersection of the centerline of N. 11th Avenue and the
centerline of Patrick Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Patrick Street to the southwest
corner of Lot 6, PT Lands Subdivision Phase 1; thence northerly along the west line of said Lot 6
a distance of 1644.04 feet to the northwest corner of said Lot 6; thence northeasterly across the
right-of-way of Baxter Lane and Interstate Highway 90 a distance of 491 feet more or less to the
northwest corner of Tract A, C.O.S. 391A; thence easterly along the north line of said Tract A a
distance of 905.89 feet to the north ¼ corner of Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 5 East; thence
easterly along the north line of said Section 1 a distance of 707.03 feet; thence northerly along the
west line of Flora Lane a distance of 1485.41 to a point; thence easterly across Flora Lane and
along the north line of Lots 6 and Lot 9 of Gordon Mandeville State School Section Subdivision a
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 18
distance of 440.0 feet to the west line of N. 7th Avenue (also known as U.S. Highway 10); thence
northerly along said west line of N. 7th Avenue extended to a point on the southerly right-of-way
of the Burlington Northern Railroad; thence southeasterly along said railroad right-of-way a
distance of 254 feet more or less to the north corner of Tract 19B, Amended Plat E-38-D, Gordon
Mandeville State School Section Subdivision; thence southeasterly along said railroad right-of-
way a distance of 1119.74 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 20 of Gordon Mandeville State School
Section Subdivision; thence westerly along the north line of said Lot 20 a distance of 198.88 feet
to the northeast corner of Lot 17 of Gordon Mandeville State School Section Subdivision; thence
southerly along the east line of Lots 17 and 16 of Gordon Mandeville State School Section
Subdivision a distance of 609.35 feet; thence southwesterly along the east line of said Lot 16 a
distance of 82.30 feet; thence southerly along the east line of said Lot 16 a distance of 25.00 feet;
thence along the south line of said Lot 16 a distance of 247.35 feet; thence southerly along the
west line of Lots 28 and 27 of Gordon Mandeville State School Section Subdivision a distance of
609.35 feet to the southwest corner of said Lot 27; thence southerly across the right-of-way of
West Griffin Drive a distance of 85 feet to a point on the south line of West Griffin Drive, said
point being 28.14 feet west of the northeast corner of Lot 20, McChesney Industrial Park
Subdivision; thence easterly along the north lines of Lots 20, 21A, and 22 of McChesney Industrial
Park Subdivision a distance of 328.14 feet to the northeast corner of said Lot 22; thence southerly
along the east lines of Lots 22 and 15 of McChesney Industrial Park Subdivision a distance of
707.75 feet to the southeast corner of said Lot15; thence southeasterly across the right-of-way of
Nikles Drive a distance of 100 feet more or less to the northwest corner of Lot 3A of McChesney
Industrial Park Subdivision; thence easterly along the north line of said Lot 3A a distance of 100
feet to the northeast corner of said Lot 3A; thence southerly along the east line of said Lot 3A a
distance of 362.86 feet to the southeast corner of said Lot 3A; thence southerly across the right-
of-way of Interstate Highway 90 a distance of 288 feet more or less to the north corner of Lot 1A
of Minor Subdivision 109C, said point also being on the south right-of-way of Interstate Highway
90; thence southeasterly along said right-of-way a distance of 1942.55 feet to the northwest corner
of Tract 2, C.O.S. 2128B; thence southerly along the west line of Tract 2, C.O.S. 2121B a distance
of 372.92 feet; thence southwesterly a distance of 292.6 feet more or less to a point on the east-
west mid-section line of Section 6, Township 2 South, Range 6 East, said point being 1117 feet
east of the west ¼ corner of said Section 6; thence westerly along said mid-section line 1117 feet
to the west ¼ corner of said Section 6; thence southerly a distance of 2663.4 feet to the southwest
corner of Section 6, Township 2 South, Range 6 East, said point also being on the centerline of
Peach Street; thence westerly along the centerline of Peach Street a distance of 777.35 feet to the
west line of N. 5th Avenue; thence southerly along the west line of N. 5th Avenue a distance of
523.6 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 3, Block 4, Violett Addition; thence westerly along the
north line of Lots 3 and 16 of Block 4, Violett Addition, a distance of 242.98 feet; thence
northwesterly across the right-of-way of N. 6th Avenue a distance of 52 feet more or less to the
southeast corner of Lot 2, Block 3, Violett Addition; thence westerly along the south line of said
Lot 2 a distance of 117 feet to the centerline of the alley in Block 3, Violett Addition; thence
southerly along said alley centerline a distance of 386 feet to the centerline of W. Villard Street;
thence easterly along the centerline of W. Villard Street a distance of 253 feet; thence southerly
along the extended west line of Block 6, Karps Addition a distance of 388 feet to the south line of
W. Beall Street; thence easterly along the south line of W. Beall Street a distance of 27.5 feet to
the northwest corner of Lot 29, Block E, Tracys 3rd Addition; thence southerly along the west
lines of Lots 29, 25, and 5 of Block E, Tracys 3rd Addition to the southwest corner of said Lot 5;
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 19
thence southwesterly across the right-of-way of W. Lamme Street a distance of 66 feet more or
less to the northeast corner of Lot 36, Block E, Tracys 2nd Addition; thence southerly along the
east line of said Lot 36 to a point on the centerline of the alley in Block E, Tracys 2nd Addition;
thence easterly along the centerline of the alley in Block E and Block D of Tracys 2nd Addition to
the west line of N. 3rd Avenue; thence southerly along the west line of N. 3rd Avenue to the
southeast corner of Lot 1, Block D, Tracys 2nd Addition; thence westerly along the south line of
said Block D to the southwest corner of Lot 9 of said Block D; thence southerly across the right-
of-way of W. Mendenhall Street a distance of 56 feet more or less to the northeast corner of Lot
33, Block D, Tracys 1st Addition; thence southerly along the east line of said Lot 33 140 feet to
the north line of the alley in Block D, Tracys 1st Addition; thence westerly along said north line
of the alley 388 feet to the west right-of-way line of N. 5th Avenue; thence southerly along the
west right-of-way line of N. 5th Avenue 160 feet to the north line of W. Main Street; thence
southwesterly across the right-of-way of W. Main Street a distance of 93 feet more or less to
northeast corner of Lot 1, Block E, Storys Addition; thence southerly along the east line of said
Lot 1 a distance of 138 feet to a point on the centerline of the alley in Block E, Storys Addition;
thence westerly along said alley centerline a distance of 660 feet to the centerline of S. 7th Avenue;
thence southerly along the centerline of S. 7th Avenue a distance of 168 feet to the centerline of
W. Babcock Street; thence westerly along the centerline of W. Babcock Street a distance of 690
feet to the centerline of S. 9th Avenue; thence northerly along the centerline of S. 9th Avenue a
distance of 321 feet to the centerline of W. Main Street; thence easterly along the centerline of W.
Main Street a distance of 445 feet to the centerline of N. 8th Avenue; thence northerly along the
centerline of N. 8th Avenue a distance of 1373.8 feet to the north line of W. Villard Street; thence
easterly 30 feet to the southeast corner of Lot 14C, Kibbey Plaza Subdivision; thence along the
following courses along the east line of Kibbey Plaza Subdivision: northerly 665.1 feet, westerly
4.0 feet, and northerly 200.03 feet to the south line of Durston Road; thence westerly along the
south line of Durston Road a distance of 1052.91 feet; thence northerly 32 feet to the South ¼
corner, Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 5 East, the point of beginning.
Parcels
A list of parcels within the district was obtained from the Montana Department of Revenue to meet
the requirements for mail notice and certification. The list of parcels included identifying geocodes
and the following information.
• Property owners’ names, property address and mailing addresses of all properties with
geocodes for every property in the district.
• All centrally assessed properties and their geocodes within the district. An estimate of the
number of miles of railroad tracks.
• Personal property within the district and the corresponding assessor codes
• Mobile homes/manufactured homes not attached to real property within the district and
their assessor codes
This information is intended to help document notice requirements and assist the Montana
Department of Revenue with certification. The veracity of this information, obtained from the
Montana Department of Revenue, shall not affect, impair or nullify this plan or the adoption
process for this Urban Renewal District.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 20
Chapter 3. Documentation of Blight
Defining Blight
As noted above, according to 7-15-4210 MCA, a municipality may only adopt a Resolution of
Necessity to create an urban renewal district, if at least three conditions of blight, as defined in 7-
15-4206 MCA, exist in all or part of the area under consideration. Montana law sets forth the
specific conditions that constitute blight. In particular, state statute defines a blighted area as one
that substantially impairs or arrests the sound development of communities, or constitutes an
economic or social liability.
Per 7-15-4206(2), MCA, a “blighted area” may be identified as such by reason of:
(a) the substantial physical dilapidation; deterioration; defective construction, material, and
arrangement; or age obsolescence of buildings or improvements, whether residential or
nonresidential;
(b) inadequate provision for ventilation, light, proper sanitary facilities, or open spaces as
determined by competent appraisers on the basis of an examination of the building
standards of the municipality;
(c) inappropriate or mixed uses of land or buildings;
(d) high density of population and overcrowding;
(e) defective or inadequate street layout;
(f) faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness;
(g) excessive land coverage;
(h) unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
(i) deterioration of site;
(j) diversity of ownership;
(k) tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land;
(l) defective or unusual conditions of title;
(m) improper subdivision or obsolete platting;
(n) the existence of conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes;
or
(o) any combination of the factors listed in this subsection (2).” (Montana Laws)
Blighted Conditions in the Midtown area of Bozeman
Areas of blight as defined by 7-15-4206(2), MCA, exist within the Midtown area, which includes
the existing North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District, associated with some or all of the
following:
• physical dilapidation, deterioration, age obsolete structures and private improvements –
with respect to but not limited to such things as buildings, facades, signage, irrigation,
ADA compliance, parking facilities, paving, storm drainage, life safety and landscaping;
• physical dilapidation, deterioration, age obsolete quasi-public improvements – such as but
not limited to overhead electric lines, gas lines, lack of or limited communication lines and
services (broadband, dark fiber, etc.);
• physical dilapidation, deterioration, age obsolete public structures and improvements -
with respect to but not limited to such things as buildings, life safety, signage, storm
drainage, lighting, parks, landscaping, irrigation, playground equipment, fencing, parking
facilities, paving, fire hydrants, streets, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks;
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 21
• inadequate provision of ventilation, light, proper sanitary facilities, or open spaces based
on the building standards of the municipality – with respect to but not limited to such things
as adequate landscaped areas, green space, gathering areas, event venues, parks, use of
non-permanent sanitary facilities, street lighting, bike paths, and pedestrian trails;
• inappropriate or mixed uses of land or building - such as but not limited to low density or
vacant lands in the urban core, industrial uses in commercial areas, vehicular focused uses
in pedestrian centric areas, lack of connectivity to adjacent residential neighborhoods, and
uses which are not in conformance, accordance or compliance with current plans, standards
or codes;
• inappropriate density of population – such as but not limited to low density or vacant lands
in the urban core, and density of land which is not in conformance, accordance or
compliance with current plans, standards or codes;
• defective or inadequate street layout – including but not limited to dead end streets
and sidewalks, incomplete streets, and lack of street lighting, lack of curb, gutter, or
sidewalks;
• faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness – including but
not limited to large lots which need to be subdivided to be useful, lots that are too small to
be useful, poor drainage and lots with excessive or undeveloped accesses not in
conformance, accordance or compliance with current plans, standards or codes;
• inappropriate land coverage - including but not limited to low density or vacant lands in
the urban core, and land coverage not in conformance, accordance or compliance with
current plans, standards or codes
• unsanitary or unsafe conditions – including but not limited to uncontrolled accesses,
deteriorating improvements, barb wire fencing, inadequate storm drainage and broken
sidewalks;
• deterioration of site – including but not limited to broken or missing curb, gutter, sidewalks,
paving, fencing, irrigation, landscaping, and signage not in conformance, accordance or
compliance with a current plans, standards or codes;
• diversity of ownership – including but not limited to impediments to rehabilitation from
multiple owners of a single property, estate ownership, and impediments to parcel
consolidation for redevelopment due to ownership;
• tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land
• defective or unusual conditions of title – including but not limited to “no build” restrictions
on remainder parcels;
• improper subdivision or obsolete platting – including but not limited to remainder parcels,
small lots, unsubdivided lots, and lots that are not in conformance, accordance or
compliance with current plans, standards or codes;
• the existence of conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes – including
but not limited to buildings or properties that may not meet life safety standards such as
fire sprinklers, fire hydrants and ADA compliance; and
• any combination of the factors described above
Blighted Conditions in the Original North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District
The Statement of Blight prepared as a basis for the creation of the North Seventh Urban Renewal
District in 2006 specifically identified the following conditions of blight:
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 22
• The defective or inadequate street layout identified within the study area;
• Instances of known deterioration;
• Three inadequate provisions and/or age obsolescence of the following public
improvements within the study area: storm drain, streets and sidewalks;
• Instances of age obsolescence of buildings within the study area;
• Inappropriate or mixed uses of land or buildings;
• Deterioration of site; and
• Improper subdivision or obsolete platting.
Blighted Conditions in the Expansion Areas
The review of the areas identified for inclusion in the existing North Seventh Avenue Urban
Renewal District revealed that these areas exhibited conditions of blight as defined in the Montana
Urban Renewal Law. Following is a description of some of the blighted conditions that were
identified in each of the areas examined.
1. and 2. Southern Boundary Areas – These areas, located between two existing urban renewal
districts, the North Seventh Avenue and the Downtown Urban Renewal Districts were examined.
The conditions of blight in these two areas are similar to those found inside each of these districts
and their exclusion has resulted in diminished
investment in parcels along this connecting corridor.
More particularly, the areas exhibit a number of
blighted conditions including but are not limited to the
following:
• Age obsolescence of buildings and improvements –
Physically, these areas are suffering from deferred
maintenance and deterioration of both buildings and
empty spaces. Many of the structures in these areas
are older and exhibit signs of deterioration. For
example, the hotel pictured here was recently closed,
is now vacant and building/fire code issues preclude it from re-opening. Alleys are of
particular concern, especially in cases where alleys provide primary access to parking
facilities. Alleys are unpaved and ungraded.
• Inappropriate uses of land – Although adjacent to two key commercial districts, the areas
are characterized by lower density development, which results in lower land values and
less efficient use of public infrastructure and services.
• Unsafe conditions – Parking lots and adjacent alleys, in some cases, have uncontrolled
access. The designs of parking lots, alleyways, and driveways create blighted conditions
that diminish the value of property in the area and present hazards for pedestrians. The
age obsolescence of some structures and aging public infrastructure may also endanger
life or property.
3. The Whittier School Remainder – A portion of the property owned by the School District
was left out of the original urban renewal district. The area is directly adjacent to the Whittier
School and includes the playground and the school parking lot. Conditions of blight in this area
include but are not limited to:
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 23
• Age obsolescence – The facilities on the site
are older and have been identified by the
School District as in need of improvements.
• Defective or inadequate street layout – The
alley adjacent to the school property is
unpaved.
• Unsafe conditions – Deteriorating sidewalks
in this area present hazards to pedestrians
4. East Side Property – This area is located to the east
of the existing urban renewal district and is bounded
on the north by Tamarack Street, on the south by Peach
Street, on the west by 5th Avenue and on the east by 3rd Avenue. The area includes an improved
BMX Park that has seen significant use and public investment in recent years. However, the
overall area of the East Side Property exhibits a number of blighted conditions including but not
limited to the following:
• Inappropriate uses of land – The land is
largely vacant and underutilized. Its value is
diminished by poor access.
• Defective or inadequate street layout – The
area lacks adequate streets, sidewalks, curbs and
gutters.
• Faulty lot layout in relation to size,
adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness – In addition to
poor access, the site has poor drainage.
• Deterioration of site/Unsafe conditions –
The overall area is not maintained and there are
rough areas that present hazardous conditions.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 24
5. West Side Property – This parcel of land is bounded on the north by Oak Street, the south by
Durston Road, on the east by what would be 8th Avenue and
on the west by 11th Avenue, excluding Royal Vista, Royal
Vista Addition, Royal Court and the west end of Birch. It
directly abuts properties that front on the west side of North
7th Avenue. It is largely vacant and lacks adequate
infrastructure and provides no access to areas to the west. In
effect, it forms a barrier between the urban renewal district
and the neighborhoods to the west. This in turn negatively
affects revitalization efforts. Specific blighted conditions
include but are not limited to:
• Inappropriate uses of land – Although adjacent to the
North 7th Avenue corridor, the area is characterized
by lower density development, which results in lower
land values and less efficient use of public
infrastructure and services.
• Defective or inadequate street layout – The area has
no transportation infrastructure – North 8th Avenue
ceases to exist here. There are no sidewalks, curbs or
gutters.
• Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness – As noted
above, there is no access to the site and the site exhibits drainage problems.
• The existence of conditions that endanger life – Much of the property is fenced using
barbed wire. There is no safe pedestrian access.
6. Northwest Site – This site is bounded on the south by Patrick Street, on the north by Baxter
Lane, on the east by 11th Avenue and on the west by 15th Avenue. It is adjacent to several area
hotels, but is largely vacant, and underutilized. Blighted conditions include but are not limited to:
• Inappropriate uses of land – the area is characterized by lower density development,
which results in lower land values and less efficient use of public infrastructure and
services.
• Defective or inadequate street layout – The road infrastructure is limited. Existing roads,
including the minor arterial North 15th
Avenue, “dead end” in several places
resulting in poor access to much of the
site.
• Faulty lot layout in relation to size,
adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness –
The site is characterized by poor
drainage, and no access to adjacent
properties. Sidewalks, curbs and
gutters are generally missing.
• The existence of conditions that
endanger – Much of the property is
fenced using barbed wire. There is no
safe pedestrian access.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 25
7. Murdoch’s Annexation Property – This site is comprised of 3.889 acres located on the north
side of Murdoch’s, and addressed as 2507 and 2511 North 7th Avenue. These lots were recently
annexed into the City of Bozeman.
This area is located between an existing urban renewal district and an existing tax increment
financing industrial district. Its exclusion has made it ineligible to benefit from various urban
renewal and infrastructure programs. Conditions of blight include but are not limited to:
• Age obsolete structures and improvements – Physically, these areas are suffering from
deferred maintenance and deterioration of both buildings and empty spaces. Many of the
structures in these areas are older and exhibit signs of deterioration.
• Inappropriate uses of land – These industrial uses result in lower land values and less
efficient use of public infrastructure and services.
• Defective or inadequate street layout – Street improvements, including but not limited to
paving, curb/gutter and storm drainage facilities for North 7th Avenue, as well as for the
adjacent local streets are needed.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 26
Additional Findings
In addition to the findings addressed in the Statements of Blight prepared for the original North
Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and for the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal
District Expansion Areas, the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District also faces other
challenges. While the conditions described below are not specifically listed in the statutory
definition of blight, they do “substantially impair or arrest the sound development of communities,
(and) constitute an economic or social liability”. (7-15-4206 MCA)
Connectivity
The lack of critical transportation infrastructure results in poor multi-modal connectivity to area
neighborhoods, public facilities and other destinations.
Land Use
While the 2006 Urban Renewal Plan notes the importance of residential neighborhoods to the
health and well-being of the entire District, the current development patterns to not support live-
work opportunities. Mixed use development that meets both residential and commercial needs is
generally missing within the Midtown area. The Whittier School is within the District but its
potential to draw new residential development within existing neighborhoods has not been realized.
Pedestrian Infrastructure
The lack of pedestrian oriented transportation infrastructure makes it difficult to encourage live-
work settings, where employees are unable to walk or ride bicycles to their workplace. The current
design of intersections within the district presents obstacles to pedestrians attempting to cross
major thoroughfares.
Broadband Services
Portions of Bozeman and the District lack consistent, reliable area-wide high-speed Internet
services. This puts the Midtown area at a disadvantage when trying to retain and recruit businesses
that are increasingly relying on electronic communication for themselves and their customers as
well as requiring access to “the cloud” for data storage.
Streetscape
The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District lacks a unifying theme. It’s role as a key entryway
into the City has been diminished through the lack of adequate design features including but not
limited to landscaping, lighting, and associated pedestrian amenities.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 27
Chapter 4. Planning Consistency
Planning Consistency
Per Section 7-15-4213, MCA, prior to its approval of an urban renewal project, the local governing
body shall submit the urban renewal project plan to the planning commission of the municipality
for review and recommendations as to its conformity with the growth policy and the planning
commission shall submit its written recommendations to the local governing body. An extensive
review is found in Appendix B.
The efforts of local Planning Boards to prepare land use recommendations for the Bozeman area
began in 1955, when the first municipal Planning Board was formed. In April of 1958, S.R. DeBoer
& Company (planning consultants from Denver, CO) prepared Bozeman’s first Master Plan. It
included studies on transportation, street planning, zoning districts, parks and recreation, schools,
park roads, and sanitation and health.
The City made significant progress in comprehensive planning with the October 2001 adoption of
the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan (2020 Plan). The 2020 Plan wholly replaced all previous
comprehensive plans and complied with the new planning standards. The 2020 Plan recognized
the changing nature of the economy and expanding knowledge of community development
standards and consequences. The 2020 Plan also put a higher emphasis on coordinated land use
and physical infrastructure planning.
The Bozeman Community Plan was duly adopted as the current growth policy by the Bozeman
City Commission by City of Bozeman Resolution No. 4163, dated June 1, 2009. In addition,
Bozeman has completed many infrastructure and topic plans that have some influence on the area
included under the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan. Some applicable plans are:
• Design and Connectivity Plan for North Seventh Avenue Corridor.
• Design Objectives Plan for Entryway Corridors.
• Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay.
North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District Plan; October, 2006
In August of 2005, the Bozeman City Commission adopted Resolution 3839, a Resolution of
Necessity, and subsequently approved Ordinance 1685, on November 27, 2006, which created the
North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and adopted the North Seventh Avenue Urban
Renewal Plan with a provision for tax increment financing, to be calculated using a base year of
2006.
The following excerpts and specific statements were included in the 2006 North Seventh Avenue
Urban Renewal Plan demonstrating conformance with the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan and
describing the land uses and zoning in the area at that time.
“Growth Policy Land Use Designations
The Bozeman 2020 Community Plan designates the area along the N 7th Corridor as
Neighborhood Commercial, Regional Commercial and Industrial. Some of the area east of N
5th Avenue between Tamarack and Oak is designated Residential and the area east along Oak
Street contains Regional Commercial and Industrial designations.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 28
Zoning Classifications
The District primarily consists of “B-2 Community business District” zoned parcels. East of
the corridor, two large vacant parcels are zoned “R-4 Residential High Density District”, and
“M-1 Light Manufacturing” zoned parcels are located on the north end of the study area
Land Area
The District encompasses roughly 323 acres or approximately 30 of the approximately 10,763
acres which comprised the total area of the city of Bozeman in August, 2005.
Land Use
The District primarily includes areas of commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, and
public uses.
Commercial Activity
The District includes one of the city’s oldest auto oriented commercial strips. Much of the area
was developed more than fifty years ago and much has been developed or will develop largely
due to the influences of transportation features, particularly North Seventh Avenue, Interstate
90 and Oak Street. These transportation corridors shape many of the elements of the District
including platting of land and land use, access, traffic and circulation, and development
patterns
Residential Neighborhoods
Well established and well kept residential neighborhoods adjoin North Seventh Avenue
commercial development on both the east and west. A portion of these neighborhoods is
included in the District to assure that redevelopment of the Corridor includes careful
consideration of the issues associated with these established residential areas.”
Review of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan’s Consistency with the
Bozeman Community Plan
To comply with state statute, this Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan must be
reviewed by the Bozeman City Planning Board and found to be in conformance with the Bozeman
Community Plan. On October 20th, 2015 the City Planning Board reviewed the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District Plan as outlined in this chapter and found it to be in conformance with the
growth policy as required by 7-15-4213 MCA.
Growth Policy Review
The Bozeman Community Plan was reviewed in order to determine whether the growth policy
adequately supports the urban renewal project (per 7-15-4213 MCA). The Bozeman Community
Plan has been found to include:
• Goals and Objectives that support the urban renewal, economic development, and
development of infrastructure that encourages urban renewal and economic development
in the community.
• The inclusion of tax increment financing among the strategies to be implemented to achieve
the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
• The identification of land use through maps and/or text of lands.
An overall review of the goals and objectives of the growth policy indicates no conflicts for an
urban renewal project with the growth policy. The following selections from the Bozeman
Community Plan demonstrate conformance of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan
to the vision, goals and objectives of the Bozeman Community Plan.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 29
Specific Goals and Objectives in the Bozeman Community Plan furthering urban renewal
and economic stability for the prevention and the elimination of urban blight.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-1.4: Provide for and support infill development and redevelopment
which provides additional density of use while respecting the context of the existing
development which surrounds it. Respect for context does not automatically prohibit difference
in scale or design.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-2.3: Encourage redevelopment and intensification, especially with
mixed uses, of brownfields and underutilized property within the City consistent with the
City’s adopted standards. Using this approach rehabilitate corridor based commercial uses into
a pattern more supportive of the principles supported by commercial centers.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-4.4: Review and revise the City’s regulations to encourage and
support sustainability in new construction and rehabilitation or redevelopment of existing
areas.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.2: Coordinate the provision of infrastructure
necessary to support economic development.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.4: Encourage ongoing improvements in private
infrastructure systems, such as telecommunications, and promote state-of- the-art facilities.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.6: Utilize the City’s economic development and
urban renewal plans to stimulate investment and maintain a health and vibrant economy.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.8: Leverage local, state, and federal economic
development resources to enhance economic growth in Bozeman.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-2.4: Foster a diverse economy that will protect the
economic climate for existing businesses and maintain opportunities for business expansion.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-2.9: Create a more collaborative and effective
working partnership between the business community and the City of Bozeman and effectively
manage the City of Bozeman’s regulatory environment to accomplish goals without hindering
business expansion and economic growth.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for conformance with
Overall Principles and Goals of the Bozeman Community Plan.
➢ In conformance with the growth policy, the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan
seeks to provide long term economic stability and to use planning and the development of
public infrastructure as tools for well managed growth.
The goals of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District as stated in the Urban Renewal
District Plan are:
Goal #1 Promote Economic Development
Goal #2 Improve Multi-Modal Transportation
Goal #3 Improve, Maintain and Support Innovation in Infrastructure
Goal #4 Promote Unified, Human Scale Urban Design
Goal #5 Support Compatible Urban Density Mixed Land Uses
Growth Policy Implementation
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 30
The following selections from the Bozeman Community Plan demonstrate conformance of the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan to the implementation strategies and tools of the
growth policy.
Identified implementation tools and strategies, including tax increment financing, which help
to achieve the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
➢ Provides a foundation for programs as well as more detailed plans, such as urban renewal
district plans with tax increment financing programs.
➢ Describes the use of alternative funding mechanisms when distinct beneficiary populations or
interest groups can be identified and more equitably served (such as tax increment financing).
➢ Encourages development within the City of Bozeman.
➢ Encourages infill and redevelopment.
➢ Continues programs which support adaptive reuse and reinvestment.
➢ Encourages commercial and residential development or redevelopment of identified infill areas
through the use of and publicizing of incentives, such as, but not limited to, public
infrastructure funding support
➢ Supports standards for infill development and redevelopment.
➢ Supports the creation and expansion of local businesses.
➢ Maintains and seeks to expand resources available through urban renewal districts.
➢ Increases awareness of existing economic and other benefits of and further develop incentives
for locating and operating within City limits.
➢ Recognizes sustainability as a component of economic development.
Evaluation of the conformance of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan with
the implementation tools and strategies in the Bozeman Community Plan.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan takes advantage of the urban renewal law
offered by the State of Montana Code.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides for the opportunity to use tax
increment financing to assist with redevelopment and revitalization activities, and encourage
the retention and growth of economic development.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports the development of
infrastructure that encourages urban renewal and economic development in the community.
Growth Policy Future Land Use
The growth policy provides a visual policy statement with the identification of the future land use
pattern through maps and/or text of lands to help achieve the goals and objectives of the Bozeman
Community Plan.
The Bozeman Community Plan designates the core area along the North 7th Avenue Corridor
starting from the north end as Industrial, Regional Commercial and Services, and Community
Commercial Mixed Use. The majority of the adjacent neighborhoods are designated Residential,
with a couple of small areas designated Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands and Public
Institutions.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 31
Future Land Use Designations of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal
District to help achieve the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
➢ The Bozeman Community Plan designates the core area along the North 7th Avenue Corridor
as Regional Commercial and Services, Community Commercial Mixed Use, and Industrial.
➢ The majority of the adjacent neighborhoods have a future land use designation of Residential,
with a couple of small areas designated Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands and Public
Institutions.
➢ Regional Commercial and Services will be implemented by B-2 or UMU zoning districts.
➢ Community Commercial Mixed Use will be implemented by the B-1, B-2 or UMU zoning
districts.
➢ Industrial land uses can be implemented by any one of the five industrial type zoning districts.
➢ Residential will be implemented by multiple zoning districts.
➢ Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands are functions which can occur in any zoning
district.
➢ Public Institutions can be implemented by the PLI zoning district, but is a function that can
occur in any zoning district.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for Conformance with
the Future Land Use Designations.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides a plan for redevelopment of the
existing commercially designated area to retain existing and attract new economic
development.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan does not suggest any revision to the
existing future land use designations.
Review of the zoning of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
for accordance with the Bozeman Unified Development Code
The City adopted its first zoning ordinance in 1941. The current zoning ordinance, the Unified
Development Code of the City of Bozeman, Chapter 38 of the Bozeman Municipal Code was
originally adopted in 2005, with the most recent extensive amendment by Ordinance Number 1769
effective on December 28, 2009. The zoning of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban
Renewal District must be found to be in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan. On
October 20th, 2015 the City Planning Board reviewed the zoning of the area included in the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District as follows in this section and found the zoning to be
in conformance with the growth policy. An extensive review of the zoning is found in Appendix
B.
The majority of the land within the area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District is zoned
“B-2 Community Business District”, with adjacent land north of I-90 zoned “M-1 Light
Manufacturing”, and the adjacent land south of I-90 classified for residential uses with districts
including “R-3 Residential Medium Density”, “R-4 Residential High Density”, and “R-O
Residential-Office”.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 32
In addition to the zoning districts listed above, portions of the Midtown area of Bozeman are also
covered by “Bozeman Entryway Corridor Overlay District” and the “Neighborhood Conservation
Overlay District”, and a couple of lots at the southeast edge are located within the Cooper Park
Historic District.
Zoning to help implement the Bozeman Community Plan.
• A purpose of the Bozeman Unified Development Code is to implement the goals and objectives
of the Bozeman Community Plan; the city’s adopted growth policy. • The majority of the land within the core area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
is zoned “B-2 Community Business District” to provide for a broad range of mutually
supportive retail and service functions.
• The land adjacent to the commercial core and south of I-90 within the area of the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District is zoned for a variety of residential uses and densities, with
zoning districts including “R-3 Residential Medium Density”, “R-4 Residential High Density”,
and “R-O Residential-Office”.
• The land adjacent to the commercial core and north of I-90 is zoned “M-1 Light
Manufacturing”.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for Accordance of Zoning
with Bozeman Community Plan.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports the purposes of the Bozeman
Unified Development Code.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports “retail and service use” as
described by the Bozeman Unified Development Code.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides a plan for redevelopment of the
existing commercially designated area to eliminate blight, and retain existing and attract new
economic development.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan does not suggest any revision to the
existing zoning classifications.
Conclusions
1. The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan has been evaluated against the relevant
goals and objectives of the Bozeman Community Plan, and the Bozeman Midtown Urban
Renewal District Plan is in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan.
2. The zoning in the area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District has been evaluated
against the Bozeman Community Plan, and the zoning in the area of the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District is in accordance with the Bozeman Community Plan.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 33
Chapter 5. Goals and Strategies
Introduction
This chapter presents the goals and strategies for addressing blight within the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District. They are drawn from public input (public meeting summaries are found
in Appendix A), the Bozeman 2009 Community Plan and other appropriate planning documents,
technical input from the City’s staff, and the Statement of Blight prepared in conjunction with the
expansion of the North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District. Public discussion addressed
economic development, sustainability, mixed use higher density development, live-work
opportunities, parking, multi-modal transportation infrastructure, pedestrian safety and access, and
urban design.
As stated above, this Urban Renewal Plan provides a context for activities that will be undertaken
by a variety of public and private entities. It recommends a series of planning and program
initiatives and capital projects that may be undertaken by the local government to encourage
reinvestment in the district, which will in turn address conditions that have diminished the
environmental, economic and cultural well being of the area over time.
The following are the Goals of this Urban Renewal Plan and associated strategies. It should be
noted that revolving loan programs are included as suggested strategies for achieving several of
the goals set forth. The City of Bozeman may choose to create one revolving loan program that
would incorporate all or some of these activities.
Goal #1 Promote Economic Development
Rationale: Economic vitality strengthens the community, provides for physical needs of the
citizens, opens reinvestment opportunities, and helps to eliminate the conditions that contribute to
blight.
Planning Initiatives
✓ Engage in area and issue specific planning efforts to further retention and/or increase in the
number of jobs and economic activity
✓ Prepare marketing plan that includes such things as targeted anchor businesses, marketing
strategies, branding and/or wayfinding
✓ Conduct a readiness study to examine opportunities and determine challenges associated
with targeted anchor business recruitment and retention, including due diligence,
infrastructure deficiencies and land and/or space needs
✓ Examine the potential for the fostering of activity centers including:
o Open Spaces
o Event Venues
o Conference Facilities
o Mixed-Use Developments
✓ Examine the usefulness of potential incentives (such as application or regulatory fee
mitigation, impact fee reimbursement, etc.)
✓ Consider the issuance of tax increment financing bonds, as revenues permit, in support of
Program Initiatives and Capital Projects, such as electronic communication infrastructure,
public activity centers, etc.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 34
✓ Continue the process of updating Bozeman's Unified Development Code to clearly
communicate the community's expectations for development as expressed in the Bozeman
Community Plan, and to generate implementation and design provisions for the Midtown
URD Plan
Program Initiatives
✓ Provide incentives for infill, mixed-use development (commercial and residential) and
density increases to take advantage of economies of scale in providing services, access and
sustainability
✓ Work to increase property values by encouraging private investment
✓ Develop partnerships among property owners, new/expanding businesses and the local
government to increase economic activity
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to bring existing
businesses into compliance with land use codes, design standards and health and safety
regulations
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to assist property owners
in repairing and replacing deteriorating, or in extending existing public infrastructure.
✓ Facilitate land assemblage and property transfer for higher density, targeted anchor
businesses and mixed-use development
✓ Market to businesses that can take advantage of the link to higher education facilities,
including Montana State University and Gallatin College and associated job training
programs including continuing education and distance learning
✓ Market to businesses that can take advantage of locating near the broadband fiber
“backbone”
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a matching grant program for work force training
to help expand and retain businesses, such as a partnership with Bozeman Bear
✓ Continue the N7Rehab Construction Grants Program to help property owners improve their
facades and sites, eligible activities include:
o Demolition
o Façade Improvements
o ADA Accessibility Improvements
o Landscaping incorporated into a public space
o Sidewalks
o Improvements which reduce drive accesses in width and/or number
o Improvements to create shared parking arrangements
o Storm water facility improvements
o Improvements in the public right-of-way or within a public access easement:
sidewalk construction or repair, landscaping, ADA sidewalk ramps, tree grates,
installation of District lighting
✓ Continue the N7Rehab Technical Assistance Grants Program for property owners to plan
updates to their sites, including:
o Site Planning and Master Site Planning
o Building condition assessment in conjunction with exterior renovation or reuse
proposals for existing structures
o Engineering and surveying services
o Landscape Design
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 35
o Preliminary Development Review
Capital Projects
✓ Ready properties for redevelopment
✓ Upgrade and expand electronic communication infrastructure including, but not limited to
fiber optics.
✓ Install improvements that support marketing, wayfinding and branding, including, but not
limited to signage, lighting, street furniture and landscaping
✓ Develop public activity centers such as:
o Aspen, east of North 7th Avenue, as a festival street
o The BMX Park
Goal #2 Improve Multi-Modal Transportation
Rationale: Increasing travel options supports public health, reduces resource demand, increases
efficiency and reduces costs, improving the quality of life and making the community a better
place to live and work, helping to eliminate conditions that contribute to blight.
Planning Initiatives
✓ Assemble and evaluate existing studies of multi-modal transportation needs
✓ Engage in a service gap analysis
✓ Study means to facilitate transportation mode shift to expand non-motorized and public
transit travel
✓ Consider the issuance of tax increment financing bonds, as revenues permit, in support of
Program Initiatives and Capital Projects.
Program Initiatives
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to assist property owners
in repairing and replacing deteriorating, or in extending existing public infrastructure.
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to enable existing
businesses to provide Federal ADA access to
their establishments.
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a cost-
share program for sidewalk construction, repair
and replacement
✓ Partner with the school district and other entities
to support a “Safe Routes to School” program
✓ Develop a program to facilitate transportation
mode shift and to expand non-motorized and
public transit travel (such as “Park and Ride”
programs, ride sharing, bicycle garaging and
sharing)
Capital Projects
✓ Construct improvements to eliminate service gaps
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 36
✓ Partner to improve multi-modal transportation infrastructure and connectivity throughout
the district (such as roads, curbs, gutters and sidewalks)
✓ Construct improvements to facilitate transportation mode shift to expand non-motorized
and public transit travel (such as bikeways, trails, parking facilities, high quality bus stops
and public transit access)
✓ Construct non-vehicular safety improvements such as sidewalks, pedestrian crossings,
high intensity activated cross walk signals and traffic calming features
Goal #3 Improve, Maintain and Support Innovation in Infrastructure
Rationale: Infrastructure is the backbone of the community. Private development typically
requires a corresponding public investment in infrastructure. Therefore, capital improvements in
the district will help achieve economic vitality and address conditions that contribute to blight.
Planning Initiatives
✓ Assemble and evaluate existing studies of infrastructure needs
✓ Engage in a service gap analysis
✓ Continue to examine the opportunities to improve communication infrastructure access
through upgrades and innovation
✓ Examine parking strategies that support higher density, mixed use development
✓ Provide for planning and design assistance for improvements to public facilities within the
district (such as parks, schools and local government buildings)
✓ Consider the issuance of tax increment financing bonds, as revenues permit, in support of
Program Initiatives and Capital Projects, such as public parking facilities, communication
infrastructure, streetscape elements, and other public infrastructure
✓ Study the efficacy of a storm water district including the potential use of community storm
water facilities
✓ Support implementation of the Bozeman Fiber Master Plan and Feasibility Study, the
community effort to address the broadband network, the crucial infrastructure necessary
for next generation fiber-optic connectivity
Program Initiatives
✓ Continue the program to improve broadband infrastructure, and facilitate public-private
partnerships in support of improved broadband infrastructure
✓ Continue to support open access fiber optic networks to provide affordable broadband for
the region's business community, public sector and residents, as described by the Bozeman
Fiber Master Plan and Feasibility Study adopted pursuant to Resolution #4576.
✓ Develop a program to facilitate transportation mode shift and to expand non-motorized and
public transit travel (such as “Park and Ride” programs, ride sharing, bicycle garaging and
sharing)
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program in support of shared
parking facilities among several businesses
Capital Projects
✓ Construct public parking infrastructure to facilitate transportation mode shift to expand
non-motorized and public transit travel
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 37
✓ Improve overall communication connectivity
✓ Improve public lighting
✓ Leverage state and federal funds for streetscape improvements that include
transportation, safety, landscaping and lighting elements
✓ Improve access and egress controls throughout the district
✓ Enhance public safety through specific infrastructure improvements such as
sanctuary/refuge locations, underpass improvements and high intensity activated cross
walk signals
✓ Support improvements to public facilities within the district (such as parks, schools and
local government buildings, storm water facilities)
✓ Support infrastructure improvements to and expansion of the broadband network for next
generation fiber-optic connectivity
Goal #4 – Promote Unified, Human Scale Urban Design
Rationale: Protecting and building upon existing
physical assets increases vitality, desirability and
leverages economic development, strengthening
community values and mutual support helping to
eliminate the conditions that contribute to blight.
Planning Initiatives
✓ Develop a vision that will guide planning and
design within the urban renewal district, which
supports its role as a key corridor and fosters
greater pedestrian orientation
✓ Design unifying themes for the urban renewal
district that reflect its role as a gateway from I-90, and key corridor and link to downtown
Bozeman and Montana State University, while acknowledging neighborhood
characteristics
✓ Develop planning tools that address urban design elements: imageability, enclosure, human
scale, transparency, complexity, coherence, legibility and linkage
✓ Evaluate land use code requirements to remove obstacles in order to create a more vibrant,
human-scale streetscape and foster economic vitality
✓ Continue to develop planning tools that address streetscapes to
o “Quiet down” streets through parking, traffic calming approaches, and other
elements
o Provide for more public landscaping and art along public rights of way
o Promote private development that provides for significant landscaping
o Incorporate “walkability” in design within the district
o Maintain and enhance signage
▪ Street Signs
▪ Safety Signs
▪ Directional and Way-finding Signs
▪ Neighborhood “branding” signs
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 38
o Incorporate “complete streets” in designing transportation related infrastructure
( bike lanes, boulevards and pedestrian ways, etc.) while maintaining good traffic
flow on main thoroughfares
o Provide unified or neighborhood specific streetscape design elements including
lighting, benches and garbage receptacles, etc.
✓ Study street medians to determine their role and design
✓ Consider the issuance of tax increment financing bonds, as revenues permit, in support of
Program Initiatives and Capital Projects, such as streetscape elements, etc.
Program Initiatives
✓ Provide choices to property owners for boulevard plantings, including drought tolerant
plantings for sustainable water use
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to improve “curb appeal”
of existing businesses to address design standards (such as facades, landscaping and
lighting)
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program to help transition from a
vehicular focus (such as building orientation, parking facility placement and access points)
✓ Foster public art projects
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a matching grant program for the unified or
neighborhood specific streetscape design elements
✓ Establish / continue a streetlight banner signage program in support of the district and
events and activities in the community
✓ Work with residents, property owners and businesses to address litter and vandalism
✓ Partner with area property owners and businesses to establish a public improvements
maintenance program, including, but not limited to the creation of a business or special
improvement district (for such things as sidewalk snow removal, landscaping maintenance,
litter and garbage removal and streetlight banner installations)
Capital Projects
✓ Eliminate blighted conditions at the edges and entryways to the urban renewal district and
its distinct neighborhoods
✓ Improve the North 7th Avenue corridor, both visually and physically
✓ Use signage and infrastructure improvements to enable way-finding and to better brand the
area
✓ Continue the Lighting, Gateway and related Sidewalk Improvements Project - the
installation of new architectural street lights, gateway improvements and related sidewalk
with boulevard improvements along the corridor to enhance pedestrian safety and to make
the neighborhood more pedestrian friendly
✓ Continue the Median and Boulevard Landscaping Project
Goal #5 Support Compatible Urban Density Mixed Land Uses
Rationale: A sense of place is strengthened by a strong core identity. Increasing live-work
opportunities and community interaction, ensures that the North 7th Avenue area remains a great
place to live, work, operate a business, and play, and helps to eliminate conditions that contribute
to blight.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 39
Planning Initiatives
✓ Assess the need for a variety of housing types, including, but not limited to co-op,
transitional, senior, and special needs
✓ Study opportunities for “live-work” and mixed commercial residential development
✓ Study strategies to expand affordable housing opportunities for all populations
✓ Evaluate land use code requirements (such as building height restrictions, parking
requirements and signage restrictions), to remove obstacles in order to increase density,
support mixed-use development and foster economic vitality
✓ Consider the issuance of tax increment financing bonds, as revenues permit, in support of
Program Initiatives and Capital Projects, such as redevelopment projects, affordable
housing, etc.
Program Initiatives
✓ Promote mixed use or activity centers to take advantage of economies of scale in providing
services, access and sustainability
✓ Promote public-private partnerships to create urban density mixed land use
✓ Provide incentives in the land use code requirements to foster residential development in
the Whittier School attendance area to take advantage of this neighborhood school
✓ Provide incentives in the land use codes requirements to foster upper story residential
development
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program in support of rehabilitation
of residential and commercial properties that increases density
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program that supports the
rehabilitation of residential and commercial properties that increases the number of housing
units and live-work opportunities
✓ Establish a monetary incentive such as a revolving loan program that supports sustainable
approaches to such things as water use, energy conservation and storm water mitigation
✓ Consider establishing a monetary support program (revolving loan, matching grant, grant)
for the development or acquisition of parks or recreational areas to serve the district; and
to meet park or open space requirements
Capital Projects
✓ Support the development or acquisition of parks or recreational areas to serve the district
✓ Per 7-15-4233, MCA, as opportunities present themselves, improve, clear, or prepare for
redevelopment any real or personal property in the urban renewal area that increases
density, increases employment and/or that expands mixed use opportunities
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 40
Chapter 6. Project Evaluation Criteria
Chapter 7 of this Plan provides a list of potential funding sources, including Tax Increment
Financing (TIF), that can be used in funding urban renewal projects and programs. However,
given the myriad of urban renewal activities that could potentially occur within the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District, it will be necessary to review each proposed project or program
with respect to the Plan’s guiding principles, initially introduced in Chapter 1, as well as identified
goals and strategies found in Chapter 5.
Guiding Principles
This Urban Renewal Plan is a reflection of sound public policy and thoughtful planning. To this
end the following principles will guide revitalization and redevelopment efforts in the URD.
Readiness – The renewal of the Bozeman Midtown URD will occur in stages, as resources and
opportunities become available. In some cases, specific projects will occur in support of private
investment that would otherwise not occur without a corresponding investment in public
infrastructure. Also, new program initiatives or funding opportunities may present themselves
from time to time, which can help bring certain urban renewal projects forward.
Leveraging – Projects that make use of a variety of public and private resources including state
and federal grants, loans and specialized tax credits, as well as tax increment funds are encouraged.
Design – Midtown serves as a significant entryway into the City of Bozeman. North 7th Avenue,
which is the primary thoroughfare within the district, connects Interstate 90 with Main Street and
Downtown Bozeman, and with Montana State University. While the area is characterized by a mix
of commercial uses, it is also serves to welcome visitors and students to the community. Therefore,
urban renewal projects should be designed to complement this important role. Thoughtful, well-
designed development that enhances the role of Midtown as a key gateway will, in turn, draw
additional investment over time.
Public-Private Partnerships – The successful redevelopment of the Midtown URD will depend on
cooperation between the public and private sectors. As noted above, significant private investment
will likely require associated public financing of municipal and quasi-public improvements, such
as multi-modal transportation facilities, sewer and water improvements, utilities and
communication infrastructure. Funding sources for capital projects will include, but not be limited
to Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Specific projects will be undertaken in accordance with the
Montana Urban Renewal Law, 7-15-42 and 7-15-43, MCA. In addition, the Montana Urban
Renewal Law provides for creation of revolving loan programs, funded by TIF, in support of
projects that may involve non-governmental entities, if provided for in the urban renewal plan. (7-
15-4292 MCA) The City of Bozeman intends to make use of a revolving loan fund in forging
public-private partnerships.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 41
Criteria Description
Based on these guiding principles, the following twelve criteria will be used in evaluating projects
and programs and in setting priorities, in the context of limited financial resources. These criteria
are listed in no particular order or ranking of importance.
Criteria. Project design and readiness (phasing potential) – Is the project ready to go forward?
For example, are any necessary permits in place? Has due diligence been completed? Does
the project lend itself to phasing or segmentation that enables portions of the project to
stand alone?
Criteria. Leverage ratios of public to private funds invested – Are urban renewal dollars
leveraging private investment? For example, does the installation of public infrastructure
correspond to growth in business and/or residential development? Or what is the percent
of public dollars invested in the infrastructure as compared to private dollars?
Criteria. Health and safety concerns – Does the project address a condition of blight that
endangers the “health, safety….and welfare” of the residents? Does it improve fire and life
safety requirements? Does it reduce emergency response time?
Criteria. Opportunity to take advantage of new initiatives and funding sources – Does the
project or program enable the City to take advantage of a new initiative or funding source
that can be matched or leveraged by urban renewal dollars and/or private investment?
Criteria. Critical infrastructure and/or connectivity needs – Does the project enable better
connectivity within the urban renewal district and/or between the urban renewal district
and the community? For example projects that support improved multi-modal
transportation or better access to the community telecommunications network might be
given greater priority.
Criteria. Opportunity to support mixed-use developments including residential – Does the
project or program provide for mixed-uses, and per Goal #5, increase live-work
opportunities and community interaction?
Criteria. Opportunity to better use land through the development of vacant and/or
underutilized space – Does the project make use of vacant land within the district, thereby
improving connectivity and increasing density of use?
Criteria. Job creation – Does the program or project create new employment opportunities
and/or opportunities for workforce training? Projects which create more jobs per public
funds invested will be more desirable. There may also be opportunities to partner with
businesses, organizations and educational entities to provide vocational and professional
training.
Criteria. Resulting increase in taxable value – Projects that improve the overall property tax
base within the district increase the amount of tax increment dollars available for urban
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 42
renewal activities. Over the long term, improving the tax base can assure continued
economic health within the urban renewal district and the community well into the future.
Criteria. Ability of project to enhance Midtown’s role as a key gateway and link to the
Downtown and Montana State University – Does the project support the role of Midtown
as an important connection from Interstate 90 to Downtown and to the University?
Criteria. Consistency with adopted plans including the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal
Plan – Does the project reflect the vision, goals and objectives set forth in the Bozeman
Community Plan and other adopted plans?
Criteria. Sustainability, one-time infusion of funds versus on-going need for funding – Will
the project require on-going support to be sustainable? Are other, longer-term funding
strategies considered in project planning?
How The Criteria are Used
The extent to which these criteria are applied will depend on the specific project or program being
considered. They are intended to provide a decision making framework to set priorities. In most
cases, only some of the criteria would apply for a specific project or program. For instance, some
projects might rank higher with respect to job creation, while others may result in greater private
investment. Public investment in infrastructure to improve connectivity may or may not result in
an increase in taxable value. Through the process of preparing annual work plans, more specificity
may be assigned to some or all of the criteria, based on changing community and district priorities.
Given the wide range of potential activities, the criteria will be particularly effective in evaluating
similar project proposals, such as multiple proposals to install public infrastructure, or in reviewing
applications for grants and loans. The criteria can also be used to develop more specific guidelines
for grant and loan program established under this plan.
The criteria become particularly important as the Urban Renewal Board Economic Development
Staff makes recommendations to the City Commission regarding the funding of projects and
programs during the budget approval process. Demonstrating how each proposed activity meets
the criteria will assist the Commission in evaluating its appropriateness with respect to the goals
and objectives of the urban renewal plan as well as of the community as a whole.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 43
Chapter 7. Implementation
The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides a framework for the rehabilitation
and redevelopment of the Urban Renewal District. Upon its adoption, this Plan will serve as the
official policy guide for public action. However, these policies can only be transformed to action
through an effective implementation program. Key to implementation will be sound processes of
administration, financing and program evaluation.
Administration
Under 7-15-4231 MCA, the exercise of powers related to urban renewal, a municipality may itself
exercise its urban renewal project powers, or may, “if the local governing body by resolution
determines such action to be in the public interest, elect to have such powers exercised by the urban
renewal agency created under 7-15-4232 MCA, or a department or other officers of the
municipality as they are authorized to exercise under this part and part 43.”
The City of Bozeman may establish an urban renewal agency under this provision to direct the
projects and programs outlined in the Urban Renewal Plan, as provided by statute. As provided
in the statute, the City Commission would appoint five members to the agency’s board, who would
be responsible for developing and implementing programs. Since 2006, t The City of Bozeman
has chosen to exercise its urban renewal project powers directly, or to assign them to municipal
departments, rather than establish a separate urban renewal agency. The City Commission has
created may create an urban renewal district board to serve in an advisory capacity to the
Commission in planning for, implementing and administering a program of rehabilitation and
revitalization for the District. The board provides opportunities for stakeholders in the District,
including property owners, business owners, residents and school district representatives to
participate in formulating urban renewal projects and programs.
The annual work program and budget, listing the activities and costs of the activities for the coming
fiscal year, as well as the method of financing those activities are prepared by the Director of
Economic Development, the urban renewal board and reviewed and approved by the City
Commission. This program and budget can be amended during the course of the fiscal year in
light of funding and program opportunities and changes. Urban renewal activities undertaken must
be in accordance with Montana State statute. (The specific provisions of 7-15-4233 MCA are
below.) Powers which may be execised by an urban renewal agency or authorized department are
defined by statute.
7-15-4233. Powers which may be exercised by urban renewal agency or authorized department. (1) In the
event the local governing body makes such determination, such body may authorize the urban renewal agency or
department or other officers of the municipality to exercise any of the following urban renewal project powers:
(a) to formulate and coordinate a workable program as specified in 7-15-4209;
(b) to prepare Urban Renewal Plans;
(c) to prepare recommended modifications to an urban renewal project plan;
(d) to undertake and carry out urban renewal projects as required by the local governing body;
(e) to make and execute contracts as specified in 7-15-4251, 7-15-4254, 7-15-4255, and 7-15-4281, with the
exception of contracts for the purchase or sale of real or personal property;
(f) to disseminate blight clearance and urban renewal information;
(g) to exercise the powers prescribed by 7-15-4255, except the power to agree to conditions for federal
financial assistance and imposed pursuant to federal law relating to salaries and wages shall be reserved to the
Formatted Table
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 44
local governing body;
(h) to enter any building or property in any urban renewal area in order to make surveys and appraisals in the
manner specified in 7-15-4257;
(i) to improve, clear, or prepare for redevelopment any real or personal property in an urban renewal area;
(j) to insure real or personal property as provided in 7-15-4258;
(k) to effectuate the plans provided for in 7-15-4254;
(l) to prepare plans for the relocation of families displaced from an urban renewal area and to coordinate
public and private agencies in such relocation;
(m) to prepare plans for carrying out a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of
buildings and improvements;
(n) to conduct appraisals, title searches, surveys, studies, and other preliminary plans and work necessary to
prepare for the undertaking of urban renewal projects;
(o) to negotiate for the acquisition of land;
(p) to study the closing, vacating, planning, or replanning of streets, roads, sidewalks, ways, or other places
and to make recommendations with respect thereto;
(q) to organize, coordinate, and direct the administration of the provisions of this part and part 43;
(r) to perform such duties as the local governing body may direct so as to make the necessary arrangements
for the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties and responsibilities entrusted to the local governing
body.
(2) Any powers granted in this part or part 43 that are not included in subsection (1) as powers of the urban
renewal agency or a department or other officers of a municipality in lieu thereof may only be exercised by the
local governing body or other officers, boards, and commissions as provided under existing law.
Projects and Programs
The City of Bozeman will implement programs and evaluate projects based on the guiding
principles and goals of this Urban Renewal Plan. Given that private development will be necessary
to generate tax increment funds, business development must occur hand in hand with other
community based revitalization activities. The Bozeman Midtown urban renewal program will
make use of a variety of financing in achieving the goals of this plan, including:
Public Investments
• Annual Tax Increment Appropriations – The City of Bozeman may finance smaller public
infrastructure improvements and renewal programs from its annual tax increment receipts
by appropriation. Funds available each year would be determined by the size of the annual
increment and any prior commitments (such as bond debt service requirements and
administrative costs).
• Tax Increment Bonds – The City of Bozeman will issue tax increment financing (TIF)
revenue bonds if necessary, as revenues allow, to finance major capital projects. TIF bonds
will enable the local government to finance projects up-front and then retire the debt
through annual tax increment receipts.
• Other Debt Financing – The City of Bozeman may borrow funds through local, state and
federal loan programs in order to finance public improvements. Annual tax increment
revenues may be used to make principal and interest payments
• Local, State and Federal Funding Mechanisms – There are a number of funding resources
available to communities to undertake planning and capital improvement projects. These
are listed in the funding section below.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 45
Private Sector Development
In addition to public sector investments, the urban renewal program can assist property and
business owners in specific renewal activities including the following:
• Tax Increment Financing Revolving Loans – In 7-15-4292, MCA, the Montana TIF statute
provides for the establishment of loan programs, whereby TIF funds may be used to support
public and private urban renewal projects in support of the goals of the Urban Renewal
District. As principal and interest payments are made, the funds may be loaned again, even
after the TIF District sunsets. The management of a revolving loan program may be
undertaken directly by the City, or through a contract with another entity.
• Tax Increment Grants – In some cases urban renewal agencies can make grants to private
entities to support projects that are in the community’s best interest, and are in keeping
with the purposes of the Montana Urban Renewal Law, such as historic preservation, public
safety, landscaping and the removal of blight. Examples include:
o Restoration of historic building facades
o Stabilization of structures that have been neglected or abandoned
o Installation of life safety equipment such as sprinkler systems
o Installment of landscaping, lighting and other design features that support a
unifying theme for the District
• Other Assistance – The urban renewal program can assist private sector projects in a variety
of ways, by providing technical assistance and helping property owners access federal,
state and local resources and incentives for development.
Partnership Development
The urban renewal program will rely on cooperative efforts among the local government and the
urban renewal board, district property owners, and economic development organizations to
achieve its goal of fostering revitalization. In many cases, these cooperative partners will work
jointly on market analyses, business recruitment and capital improvements planning. Also, as
noted above, it will be necessary to work with other local, state and federal entities in providing
additional financing and matching funds to undertake projects and programs in the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District. Potential partnerships can be forged using a variety of programs
and funding mechanisms. A sampling of these is provided in the following section.
Financing
Tax Increment Financing
As noted above, the implementation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal Plan will include
the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF). More particularly, costs that may be paid using TIF
dollars are included in 7-15-4288, MCA as follows:
7-15-4288. Costs that may be paid by tax increment financing. The tax increments may be used by the
municipality to pay the following costs of or incurred in connection with an urban renewal project, industrial
infrastructure development project, technology infrastructure development project, or aerospace transportation
and technology infrastructure development project:
(1) land acquisition;
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 46
(2) demolition and removal of structures;
(3) relocation of occupants;
(4) the acquisition, construction, and improvement of infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, technology
infrastructure, or aerospace transportation and technology infrastructure that includes streets, roads, curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, pedestrian malls, alleys, parking lots and off-street parking facilities, sewers, sewer lines,
sewage treatment facilities, storm sewers, waterlines, waterways, water treatment facilities, natural gas lines,
electrical lines, telecommunications lines, rail lines, rail spurs, bridges, spaceports for reusable launch vehicles
with associated runways and launch, recovery, fuel manufacturing, and cargo holding facilities, publicly owned
buildings, and any public improvements authorized by Title 7, chapter 12, parts 41 through 45; Title 7, chapter
13, parts 42 and 43; and Title 7, chapter 14, part 47, and items of personal property to be used in connection with
improvements for which the foregoing costs may be incurred;
(5) costs incurred in connection with the redevelopment activities allowed under 7-15-4233;
(6) acquisition of infrastructure-deficient areas or portions of areas;
(7) administrative costs associated with the management of the urban renewal area, industrial district,
technology district, or aerospace transportation and technology district;
(8) assemblage of land for development or redevelopment by private enterprise or public agencies, including
sale, initial leasing, or retention by the municipality itself at its fair value;
(9) the compilation and analysis of pertinent information required to adequately determine the needs of an
urban renewal project in an urban renewal area, the infrastructure needs of secondary, value-adding industries in
the industrial district, the needs of a technology infrastructure development project in the technology district, or
the needs of an aerospace transportation and technology infrastructure development project in the aerospace
transportation and technology district;
(10) the connection of the urban renewal area, industrial district, technology district, or aerospace
transportation and technology district to existing infrastructure outside the district;
(11) the provision of direct assistance, through industrial infrastructure development projects, technology
infrastructure development projects, or aerospace transportation and technology infrastructure development
projects, to secondary, value-adding industries to assist in meeting their infrastructure and land needs within the
district; and
(12) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of facilities or equipment for reducing, preventing, abating,
or eliminating pollution.
A tax increment program is authorized for 15 years or longer if the tax increment revenue is
pledged to the payment of tax increment bonds. 7-15-4289, MCA provides for the use of tax
increments for bond payments. The tax increment may be pledged to the payment of the principal
of premiums, if any, and interest on bonds, which the municipality may issue for the purpose of
providing funds to pay such costs.
The City of Bozeman will use Tax Increment Financing in the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal
District as defined in this Urban Renewal Plan. The base year for the purposes of measuring any
incremental value within the original district boundaries will continue to be 2006, while the base
year for the expanded portions of the district will be 2015.
Per 7-15-4291, MCA, the City of Bozeman may enter into agreements with the other affected
taxing bodies to remit to such taxing bodies any portion of the annual tax increment not currently
required for the payment of the costs listed in 7-15-4288, MCA or pledged to the payment of the
principal of premiums, if any, and interest on bonds.
Other Financing Mechanisms
There are a number of financial assistance programs that can be used in the revitalization of the
Bozeman Midtown Renewal District in addition to Tax Increment Financing. Financing strategies
for addressing urban renewal needs identified in this Plan will likely include combining various
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 47
funding sources. For example, a local special improvement district might be used in combination
with a Montana Board of Investment Intercap loan to match federal or state dollars. The following
is a summary of programs available to fund urban renewal projects:
Transportation Infrastructure
This section describes funds and funding sources that are available to finance urban renewal
transportation related projects. These funding methods, such as local option taxes, improvement
districts and other types of bonds, enable local citizens to participate in funding projects. In general,
however, the ability to use additional property tax levies to fund urban renewal is governed by
Montana Statute under 15-10-402 MCA that limits taxes to 1996 levels.
A. Bridge and Road Mills (Property Taxes)
Montana law provides for cities (7-14-4101, MCA) to manage transportation infrastructure.
Counties are specifically responsible for all the bridges in a county, including those within cities
and towns, except those managed by the Montana Department of Transportation. Municipalities
may establish a road fund under 7-14-4113 MCA.
B. Transportation Improvement Authority
Established under 7-14-1001, MCA, the purpose of a transportation improvement authority is to
blend the interests of local, state, and federal governments with the interests of the general public
and the business community to build, modify, or improve transportation facilities and systems
within its jurisdiction. A county and a municipality within a county may, by joint resolution, create
a transportation improvement authority. The Authority may enter into contracts and accept local,
state, federal and private funds to undertake transportation projects.
C. Transportation Alternatives Program (TA Program), Montana Department of Transportation
The Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program authorized under Section 1122 of the Federal
Highway Administration’s Moving Ahead for Progress program -MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 213(b),
101(a)(29)), replaces the former Community Transportation Enhancement Program. It provides
approximately $4 million annually to eligible entities including local governments, for activities
defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities,
infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced
mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail
program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for the planning, design or
construction of boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate
System routes or other divided highways.
D. State Fuel Tax
Under 15-70-101, MCA, Montana assesses a tax on gasoline and diesel fuel used for transportation
purposes. Each municipality receives a portion of the total tax funds allocated to cities and Towns
based on:
1) The ratio of the population within each municipality to the total population in all cities and
Towns in the State;
2) The ratio of the street mileage within each municipality to the total street mileage in all
incorporated cities and towns in the State. The street mileage is exclusive of the Interstate,
National Highway, and Primary Systems.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 48
All fuel tax funds allocated to local governments must be used for the construction, reconstruction,
maintenance, and repair of rural roads or city streets and alleys. Priorities for the use of these
funds are established by the cities receiving them.
Debt Financing – All Types of Projects
Local governments can make use of various kinds of debt financing to fund urban renewal projects.
In addition to Tax Increment Financing Bonds discussed above, these include revenue bonds,
special improvement district bonds and general obligation bonds. Debt financing enables local
governments to finance major infrastructure projects using future revenue from special
assessments, user fees, and other forms of revenue. Under 7-7-4101, MCA, a local government
has power to incur indebtedness by borrowing money, issuing bonds, issuing notes, entering into
leases, entering into lease-purchase agreements, or entering into installment purchase contracts for
the following purposes:
1) acquiring land for and designing and erecting public buildings;
2) acquiring land for and designing and constructing sewers, sewage treatment and disposal
plants, waterworks, reservoirs, reservoir sites, and lighting plants;
3) supplying the municipality with water by contract and the construction or purchase of
canals or ditches and water rights for supplying municipality with water;
4) designing and constructing bridges, docks, wharves, breakwaters, piers, jetties, and moles;
5) acquiring, opening, or widening any street and improving the street by constructing,
reconstructing, and repairing pavement, gutters, curbs, and vehicle parking strips and to
pay all or any portion of the cost relating to the project;
6) purchasing or leasing fire apparatus, street and other equipment, and personal property,
including without limitation, vehicles, telephone systems, and photocopy and office
equipment, including computer hardware and software;
7) building, purchasing, designing, constructing, and maintaining devices intended to protect
the safety of the public from open ditches carrying irrigation or other water;
8) funding outstanding warrants and maturing bonds; and
9) repaying tax protests lost by the local government or other municipal corporation.
The local government incurs various administrative costs in conjunction with issuing bonds. These
costs include the retention of legal counsel and financial consultants, the establishment of reserve
funds and the preparation of the prospectus and various required documents. These bonds provide
tax-free interest earnings to purchasers and are therefore subject to detailed scrutiny under both
state and federal law. The citations in the Montana Code are listed below, for each type of bond
described.
A. Special Improvement Districts
Under 7-12-4101, and 7-12-4102 MCA, cities and towns can create special improvement districts
for a number of activities including:
• The acquisition, construction or reconstruction of public streets and roads
• The acquisition, construction or reconstruction of sidewalks, culverts, bridges, gutters,
curbs, steps and parks including the planting of trees
• The construction or reconstruction of sewers, ditches, drains, conduits, and channels for
sanitary or drainage purposes, with outlets, cesspools, manholes, catch basins, flush tanks,
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 49
septic tanks, connecting sewers, ditches, drains, conduits, channels, and other
appurtenances
• The construction of sewer and water systems including fire hydrants
• The acquisition and improvement of land to be designated as public park or open-space
land
• The conversion of overhead utilities to underground locations in accordance with 69-4-311
through 69-4-314, MCA
• The purchase, installation, maintenance, and management of alternative energy production
facilities
B. Business Improvement District
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are authorized under 7-12-1101 et. seq MCA. This
provision of the law allows the local governing body to assess properties, upon the request of
property owners within a district to fund the following activities:
• provide special police, maintenance, or cleaning personnel for the protection and
enjoyment of the general public using the business district
• landscape and beautify public areas and to maintain those areas
• contract with the governing body to maintain, operate, or repair public parking facilities
• contract with the governing body to maintain streets, alleys, malls, bridges, ramps, tunnels,
landscaping, and other public facilities as mutually agreed upon
• promote private investment and business expansion in the district
• provide for the management and administration of the affairs of the district
• promote business activity by advertising, decorating, marketing, and promoting and
managing events and other actions designed for the general promotion of business activities
in the district
• perform such other functions as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part and to
further the objectives of the district.
C. General Obligation Bonds
General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the local government and must
be approved by the voters in an election. General obligation bonds are generally payable from ad
valorem taxes (based on the value of property) and expressed in mills. General obligation bonds
are attractive to bond buyers because they have voter approval and are not as vulnerable to
fluctuations in revenue. Municipalities are assigned a bond debt limit based on a percentage of
taxable valuation. General obligation bonds must fall within this limit.
D. Municipal Revenue Bonds
Under 7-7-4401, MCA, a municipality may issue revenue bonds to finance any project or activity
authorized
NOTE: Pursuant to 7-15-4218, MCA, voter approval of urban renewal plan required when general
obligation bonds to be used. If the plan or any subsequent modification thereof involves financing
by the issuance of general obligation bonds of the municipality as authorized in 7-15-4302(1) or
the financing of water or sewer improvements by the issuance of revenue bonds under the
provisions of part 44 of chapter 7 or of part 43 of chapter 13, the question of approving the plan
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 50
and issuing such bonds shall be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of such municipality,
in accordance with the provisions governing municipal general obligation bonds under chapter 7,
part 42, at the same election and shall be approved by a majority of those qualified electors voting
on such question.
Railroad Crossing Related Programs
A. Federal Surface Transportation Program - Rail/Highway Crossing Protective Devices
Program
The purpose of the Federal Rail/Highway Crossing – Protective Devices Program is to identify
high hazard rail crossing sites and install new rail crossing signals. MDT's Rail - Highway Safety
manager is responsible for surveying, identifying and prioritizing those railroad crossings that
require new protective devices or upgrading of existing devices. The funds are distributed on a
statewide basis determined by a priority list ranked by a hazard index. The Federal/State ratio is
90% Federal and 10% State.
B. Federal Surface Transportation Program - Rail/Highway Crossing Elimination of Hazard
Program
The purpose of the Federal Rail/Highway Crossing – Elimination of Hazard Program is to identify
high hazard rail crossing sites and construct new rail/highway grade crossings. The program also
uses funds to rehabilitate existing grade separations. Grade separation projects are funded with
90% Federal funds and 10% State funds. Since funding for this program is limited, funds are often
used in combination with other Federal funding sources to fund costly grade separation projects.
Eligible expenditures include the separation or protection at grade crossings, reconstruction of
existing crossings and relocation of highways to eliminate crossings. Projects for this program are
selected by identifying those sites where only a grade separation will eliminate an identified hazard
or where an existing grade separation exists but needs rehabilitation or replacement.
Funding for Public Improvements (Sewer, Water, Roads, Community Facilities, Parks)
A. Treasure State Endowment Program ~ Montana Department of Commerce
The Montana Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) is a state-funded program, authorized
under 90-6-701 through 710, MCA, and is administered by the Montana Department of Commerce
(MDOC). It is designed to assist local governments in financing capital improvements to sewer
and water facilities. Funds are derived from the Montana coal severance tax and made available to
local governments as matching grants, loans and grant/loan combinations. TSEP also provides
matching grants of up to $15,000 to local governments for preliminary engineering study costs.
TSEP funds may not be used for annual operation and maintenance; the purchase of non-
permanent furnishings; or for refinancing existing debt, except when required in conjunction with
the financing of a new TSEP project. Grant requests cannot exceed $500,000 and the local
government must typically provide a dollar for dollar match that can include other grant funds.
Matching funds can be public or private funds provided by a TSEP applicant to directly support
the cost of eligible project activities. There are a number of ways in which local governments can
provide matching funds for bridge projects. Eligible types of matching funds include:
• local general funds or other cash;
• proceeds from the sale of general obligation, revenue, special assessment or other bonds;
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 51
• entitlement or formula-based federal or state funds such as federal highway funds or
payments in lieu of taxes;
• loan or grant funds from a state or federal program (including TSEP loans);
• funds expended for engineering studies, reports, and plans, or other reasonable expenses
expended for the preparation of the application, directly related to the project during the
period 24 months prior to the TSEP application deadline;
• funds expended after the TSEP application deadline, but before being approved by the
Legislature, for project management, final engineering design, and other reasonable
expenses necessary to prepare the project as in the TSEP application for the construction
phase;
• the value of land or materials provided by the applicant, if appraised within a two-year
period preceding the application deadline. The appraisal must be:
• an impartially written statement that adequately describes the land or materials, and states
an opinion of defined value as of a specific date;
• supported by an analysis of relevant market information; and
• prepared by a qualified appraiser independent from the applicant.
• the value of labor performed by the applicant’s employees on the project, after the TSEP
project has been approved for funding and a TSEP contract has been signed, as long as the
employee is paid at his or her standard hourly rate of pay and the time worked is adequately
documented; and
• the value of machinery used in the process of constructing the project that is owned (or
leased) and operated by the applicant. The value of the use of the machinery will be
determined using the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) equipment rate
schedules.
B. The Montana Intercap Program ~ Montana Board of Investments
The INTERCAP Program is a low cost, variable-rate program that lends money to Montana local
governments, state agencies and the university system for the purpose of financing or refinancing
the acquisition and installation of equipment or personal and real property and infrastructure
improvements. The Board of Investments issues tax-exempt bonds and loans the proceeds to
eligible borrowers. In addition to long-term financing, INTERCAP is an excellent source for
interim financing.
Funding is always available with no specific cycle. Allocations of $200,000 and under are
considered and approved by the Board of Investments staff. Allocations in excess of $200,000 are
considered and approved by the Board. Funds are released on an on-going basis as the project is
completed. The program provides loans at a variable rate plus a one percent loan origination fee
on loans over one year and for a term of 5 or 10 years depending on the borrower's legal authority.
Short-term loans of less than a year are also available. Interest and principal payments are due bi-
annually (February 15 and August 15 of each year). Loans may be pre-paid without penalty with
30 days notice. Types of financing include installment purchase loans, general fund loans, general
obligation bonds, revenue bonds and special improvement district and rural improvement district
bonds. Gas tax revenues may not be used to service debt. Projects that will use rural improvement
district payments to cover the annual debt are limited to a total loan of $300,000. Intercap funds
may be used in association with other grant and loan programs as well as local sources.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 52
C. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federally funded grant program
that provides assistance to communities with community development needs such as housing,
public facilities, economic development and planning grants. All projects must be designed to
principally benefit low and moderate-income families. The program was established by the Federal
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 USC 5301) and is administered nationally
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Legislature authorized
the Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC) to administer the program beginning in 1982.
Eligible activities include planning, public facilities construction, housing and neighborhood
renewal and economic development.
D. Public Works Program ~ Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of
Commerce. The purpose of the Public Works Program is to assist communities with the funding
of public works and development facilities that contribute to the creation or retention of private
sector jobs and to the alleviation of unemployment and underemployment. Such assistance is
designed to help communities achieve lasting improvement by stabilizing and diversifying local
economies, and improving local living conditions and the economic environment of the area.
Grants are awarded up to a participation level of 80 percent but the average EDA grant covers
approximately 50 percent of project costs. Acceptable sources of match include cash, local general
obligation or revenue bonds; Community Development Block Grants, TSEP grants and loans,
entitlement funds, Rural Development loans; and other public and private financing, including
donations.
Projects must result in private sector job and business development in order to be considered for
funding. Eligible applicants under this program include any state, or political subdivision thereof,
Indian tribe (and other U.S. political entities), private or public nonprofit organization or
association representing any redevelopment area if the project is within an EDA-designated
redevelopment area. Redevelopment areas, other than those designated under the Public Works
Impact Program must have a current EDA-approved Overall Economic Development Program
(OEDP) in place.
E. Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Action Coordinating Team
In 1982, a group of professionals from state, federal, and non-profit organizations that finance,
regulate, or provide technical assistance for community water and wastewater systems, decided to
start meeting in order to coordinate and enhance their efforts. This group calls itself the "Water,
Wastewater and Solid Waste Action Coordinating Team" or W2ASACT for short. W2ASACT
meets several times a year to find ways to improve our state's environmental infrastructure. All of
the programs represented in W2ASACT have different missions and meet unique needs. However,
it has been the common elements shared by the funding programs that have been the driving force
of W2ASACT. These programs provide money (grants or loans), take applications from
communities to fund their projects, and administer those monies once the project is funded. While
W2ASACT cannot change all of the state or federal requirements, it can identify unnecessary
duplication of requirements that make compliance difficult for communities.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 53
Voluntary Programs
In some cases, homeowner associations, business groups or other property owners may finance
urban renewal projects voluntary basis.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal Program Evaluation and Plan Amendments
This Urban Renewal Plan will be evaluated on a yearly basis in conjunction with the preparation
of the annual report. Measures that may be used in evaluating program success include:
➢ Increases in the property tax base
➢ Creation of jobs within the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
➢ Elimination of blighted conditions
The plan provides flexibility to accommodate a variety of approaches. However, changes over
time may necessitate more formal amendments to the Urban Renewal Plan. The Urban Renewal
Plan may be modified by ordinance under 7-15-4221 MCA.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 54
Appendix A. Public Meetings Summaries
North Seventh Urban Renewal Board Meeting
August 6, 2015
Summary Notes on Midtown Expansion Statement of Blight
Attendees:
Board Members
Andrew Cetraro
Susan Fraser
Tracy Menuez
Austin Rector
Carl Solvie
Carson Taylor
Board Members Absent
Scott Hedglin
Kevin Cook
Bill Fogarty
Esther Schwier
Staff
David Fine
Allyson Brekke
Tom Rogers
Brit Fontenot
Consultants
Lanette Windemaker
Public Attendees
Steve Johnson, School Superintendent
This is the Statement of Blight on the 7 areas that we were directed to review. It will be going to
the City Commission on August 24 as an attachment to the Resolution of Necessity. Our review
of the areas for possible expansion documents the conditions in these areas, generally finding
them to be eligible for inclusion in the District, for reasons which include.
• The presence of obsolete buildings and aging public infrastructure • Deteriorating or lack of sidewalks creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians
• Dead-end, incomplete or unconnected streets
• Vacant, neglected empty spaces within the urban core of Bozeman
• Faulty lot layout, characterized by poor drainage and/or excessive or undeveloped access
Andrew – we need to be sure that the focus continues to be N7th and existing businesses, and
doesn’t shift to the grass (open undeveloped) areas.
Carl – we should be able to promote development as well as focus on redevelopment
Andrew – Convention center is probably not a focus.
Carl – agrees with the N7th focus.
Carson – Murdoch’s is an obvious addition because it is on N7th, and 1 and 2 at the south end as
well. They allow a continuation of Main Street to N7th.
Lanette – there will be in the new plan a chapter that addresses criteria for ranking, and given the
original premise for this URD, redevelopment along N7th will probably always ranking higher
that new development of the grass areas.
Dave – will the school board support the inclusion of the rest of Whittier.
Steve Johnson – agrees with the premise on Murdoch’s, but of other areas are going to develop
anyway, why not let the school district benefit from the taxes. Would like the URD board to
consider supporting enhancement to Whittier.
Dave – I see support Whittier as incentivizing residential in the area.
Lanette – Based on previous input support for Whittier will be included in the plan.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 55
It was the Unanimous Recommendation of the Board to Support the 7 Areas of Expansion.
Summary Notes
North Seventh Urban Renewal Board Meeting on
North Seventh Avenue (Midtown) Urban Renewal Plan/District Expansion
July 14th, 2015
Attendees:
Board Members
Scott Hedglin, Chair – voting
Andrew Cetraro – voting
Kevin Cook
Carl Solvie – voting
Austin Rector
Carson Taylor – City Commission Liason
Susan Fraser – voting
Esther Schwier
Absent: Bill Fogerty - voting
Staff
David Fine
Allyson Brekke
Tom Rogers
Brit Fontenot
Consultants
Janet Cornish
Lanette Windemaker
Tony Becken-Gaddo, Dowl – Easement
Acquisition on North 7th
Public Attendees
Gary Lusin, School Board Trustee
Rob Watson, School Superintendent
Cyndy Andrus, City Commission
Eric Garberg, Planning Board Chair
Kyle Scarr, TD&H
Input on Expansion:
Include all areas as previously decided, plus the remainder of the Whittier School property and
the area just north of Murdock’s (pending annexation).
Input on Urban Renewal Plan:
✓ Increase the tools available for urban renewal activities including:
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Revolving Loan Programs
• Fee mitigation
• Grants (augment existing grant program)
• Relaxation of sign ordinance (perhaps as an incentive tool)
• Impact fee reimbursement
• Other investment incentives such as writing down the cost of land to facilitate major
projects in the district
✓ Expand trail system north of I-90
✓ Improve safety for students through the Safe Routes to School Program
• Whittier School
• Bozeman High School
✓ Develop open space and event areas
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 56
• Aspen as a “festival street” and public anchor
• The BMX area (if included in the District)
✓ Improve area infrastructure
• Enhance intersections
• Connect infrastructure in and out of the district
• Improve water, sewer and transportation infrastructure
• Reconstruct streets
• Create 8th Avenue where it is missing as an important secondary access
• Improve broadband services to and within the district
✓ Engage in urban renewal activities as provided for in statute; e.g. “to improve, clear, or
prepare for redevelopment any real or personal property in an urban renewal area” (7-15-
4233 MCA)
✓ Promote/Market Midtown
• Branding programs including those that tie “Midtown” to MSU
• Gateway development
• Marketing and outreach plans
✓ Promote mixed-uses and higher density development, such as upper story residential
development
• Stimulate critical residential mass to help support commercial development
✓ Coordinate mixed use development with better pedestrian access
✓ Develop a variety of housing types in the urban renewal area
• Co-op
• Transitional
• Senior/Special Needs
• Income diverse
✓ Provide for “live-work” opportunities in the district (targeting millennials as well as other
groups who want to live and work in close proximity.)
✓ Install way-finding signage
• Within the district
• On I-90
• Use the “Midtown” brand in the signage (early on to establish the name in association
with the district)
✓ Address design and zoning issues in the district
• Provide choices to property owners for boulevard plantings, including drought
tolerant plantings for sustainable water use
• Address the medians – Should the medians be removed to make the area more like a
CBD or should they be kept and enhanced, perhaps as gateway features?
• Raise the building height restrictions to promote more multi-story buildings
• Use design elements to link Midtown to Downtown
• Install “traffic calming” art work
• Develop a specific “vision” of the urban renewal district’s character – more like
downtown?
o Greater pedestrian orientation
o Less of a vehicular pass through
• Relax parking requirements
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 57
• Relax signage restrictions
✓ Undertake Economic Development Planning that considers
• A Convention/Conference Center
• High-Tech companies (“groupings”)
• Facilitation of “big deals”, through land acquisition, consolidation and roadblock
reduction
✓ Discourage business enterprises that create blighted conditions in the district through:
• Zoning • Parking requirements
• Design standards
✓ Provide an opportunity for a representative of the Bozeman School District to sit on the
urban renewal board
✓ Stimulate residential development in the Whittier School attendance area to take
advantage of this neighborhood school
✓ Help make improvements to obsolete facilities at the Whittier School
• Planning and design assistance
• Capital projects
✓ Provide for public parking
• Parking structure
• Shared parking programs
✓ Support multi-modal transportation
• Develop bus stops in the district
• Improve pedestrian safety at crossings and throughout the district
✓ Foster sustainable approaches to:
• Water use
• Energy use – provide incentives for projects that use alternative energy
• Storm water mitigation (preferably not using developable land)
✓ Work with Gallatin College to develop partnerships in higher education for
• Continuing education
• Distance learning
✓ Address ongoing maintenance needs including snow removal using various funding
mechanisms (TIF, BID)
✓ Participate in environmental mitigation/remediation efforts
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 58
Appendix B. Planning Consistency Review
Planning Consistency
Per Section 7-15-4213, MCA, prior to its approval of an urban renewal project, the local governing
body shall submit the urban renewal project plan to the planning commission of the municipality
for review and recommendations as to its conformity with the growth policy and the planning
commission shall submit its written recommendations to the local governing body.
The efforts of local Planning Boards to prepare land use recommendations for the Bozeman area
began in 1955, when the first municipal Planning Board was formed. In April of 1958, S.R. DeBoer
& Company (planning consultants from Denver, CO) prepared Bozeman’s first Master Plan. It
included studies on transportation, street planning, zoning districts, parks and recreation, schools,
park roads, and sanitation and health.
The City made significant progress in comprehensive planning with the October 2001 adoption of
the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan (2020 Plan). The 2020 Plan wholly replaced all previous
comprehensive plans and complied with the new planning standards. The 2020 Plan recognized
the changing nature of the economy and expanding knowledge of community development
standards and consequences. The 2020 Plan also put a higher emphasis on coordinated land use
and physical infrastructure planning.
The Bozeman Community Plan was duly adopted as the current growth policy by the Bozeman
City Commission by City of Bozeman Resolution No. 4163, dated June 1, 2009. In addition,
Bozeman has completed many infrastructure and topic plans that have some influence on the area
included under the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan. Some applicable plans are:
• Design and Connectivity Plan for North Seventh Avenue Corridor.
• Design Objectives Plan for Entryway Corridors.
• Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay.
North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District Plan; October, 2006
In August of 2005, the Bozeman City Commission adopted Resolution 3839, a Resolution of
Necessity, and subsequently approved Ordinance 1685, on November 27, 2006, which created the
North Seventh Avenue Urban Renewal District and adopted the North Seventh Avenue Urban
Renewal Plan with a provision for tax increment financing, to be calculated using a base year of
2006.
The following excerpts and specific statements were included in the 2006 North Seventh Avenue
Urban Renewal Plan demonstrating conformance with the Bozeman 2020 Community Plan and
describing the land uses and zoning in the area at that time.
“Growth Policy Land Use Designations
The Bozeman 2020 Community Plan designates the area along the N 7th Corridor as
Neighborhood Commercial, Regional Commercial and Industrial. Some of the area east of N
5th Avenue between Tamarack and Oak is designated Residential and the area east along Oak
Street contains Regional Commercial and Industrial designations.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 59
Zoning Classifications
The District primarily consists of “B-2 Community business District” zoned parcels. East of
the corridor, two large vacant parcels are zoned “R-4 Residential High Density District”, and
“M-1 Light Manufacturing” zoned parcels are located on the north end of the study area
Land Area
The District encompasses roughly 323 acres or approximately 30 of the approximately 10,763
acres which comprised the total area of the city of Bozeman in August, 2005.
Land Use
The District primarily includes areas of commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, and
public uses.
Commercial Activity
The District includes one of the city’s oldest auto oriented commercial strips. Much of the area
was developed more than fifty years ago and much has been developed or will develop largely
due to the influences of transportation features, particularly North Seventh Avenue, Interstate
90 and Oak Street. These transportation corridors shape many of the elements of the District
including platting of land and land use, access, traffic and circulation, and development
patterns
Residential Neighborhoods
Well established and well kept residential neighborhoods adjoin North Seventh Avenue
commercial development on both the east and west. A portion of these neighborhoods is
included in the District to assure that redevelopment of the Corridor includes careful
consideration of the issues associated with these established residential areas.”
Review of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan’s Consistency with the
Bozeman Community Plan
To comply with state statute, this Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan must be
reviewed by the Bozeman City Planning Board and found to be in conformance with the Bozeman
Community Plan. On October 20th, 2015 the City Planning Board reviewed the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District Plan as outlined in this chapter and found it to be in conformance with the
growth policy as required by 7-15-4213 MCA.
Growth Policy Review
The Bozeman Community Plan was reviewed in order to determine whether the growth policy
adequately supports the urban renewal project (per 7-15-4213 MCA). The Bozeman Community
Plan has been found to include:
• Goals and Objectives that support the urban renewal, economic development, and
development of infrastructure that encourages urban renewal and economic development
in the community.
• The inclusion of tax increment financing among the strategies to be implemented to achieve
the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
• The identification of land use through maps and/or text of lands.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 60
An overall review of the goals and objectives of the growth policy indicates no conflicts for an
urban renewal project with the growth policy. The following selections from the Bozeman
Community Plan demonstrate conformance of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan
to the vision, goals and objectives of the Bozeman Community Plan.
1-2 Vision Statement (Page 1-2)
➢ Bozeman’s unique identity, characterized by its natural surroundings, its historic and
cultural resources, and its downtown, which is the heart and center of the community, is
preserved and enhanced.
➢ Bozeman’s economy is strong, diverse and sustainable.
➢ Our natural resources are protected and preserved for future generations.
➢ A diversity of recreational facilities, activities, and parks are provided.
➢ Public services and infrastructure support our growing population in a cost-effective
manner.
➢ The community development pattern is sustainable, and preserves our health, safety, and
quality of life.
➢ The housing stock provides quality, affordability, and choice.
➢ Our development pattern encourages and enables the use of diverse modes of transportation.
➢ Our quality of life is enhanced by the arts.
➢ Our governmental agencies, including the City of Bozeman and Gallatin County, work
together in a cooperative and coordinated way for the good of the region.
➢ An actively engaged citizenry has a wide array of opportunities to participate in civic life.
➢ Our community recognizes that the individual and collective choices we make have
consequences.
1.3 Addressing Growth & Change Goals and Objectives
Goal G-1: Growth Management - Promote the unique history and character of Bozeman by
preserving, protecting, and enhancing the overall quality of life within the planning area.
(Page 1-3)
Rationale: To ensure that Bozeman remains a great place to live, work, operate a business,
and play we need to protect the qualities that make people and companies want to be here in
the first place.
• Objective G-1.1: Ensure growth is planned and developed in an orderly and publicly open
manner that maintains Bozeman as a functional, pleasing, and social community.
• Objective G-1.2: Ensure that adequate public facilities, services, and infrastructure are
available and/or financially guaranteed in accordance with facility or strategic plans prior
to, or concurrent with, development.
• Objective G-1.3: Require development to mitigate its impacts on our community as
identified and supported by evidence during development review, including economic,
health, environmental, and social impacts.
• Objective G-1.4: Ensure that Bozeman grows in a sustainable manner with consideration
for climate change, health and safety, food production, housing, employment opportunities,
natural hazard mitigation, and natural resource conservation.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 61
Goal G-2: Implementation – Ensure that all regulatory and non-regulatory implementation
actions undertaken by the City to achieve the goals and objectives of this plan are effective,
fair, and are reviewed for consistency with this plan on a regular basis. (Pages 1-3 and 1-4)
3.3 Land Use Goals and Objectives
Goal LU-1: Create a sense of place that varies throughout the City, efficiently provides public
and private basic services and facilities in close proximity to where people live and work, and
minimizes sprawl. (Page 3-6)
Rationale: A sense of community is strengthened by distinctive areas which facilitate
neighborhood identity. This is strengthened when essential services are available and
encourage informal interactions. Full featured neighborhoods allow extensive interaction and
build identity with a specific part of the community. A sense of place does not prohibit change
or continued evolution of the community.
• Objective LU-1.1: The land use map and attendant policies shall be the official guide for
the development of the City and shall be implemented through zoning regulations, capital
improvements, subdivision regulations, coordination with other governmental entities, and
other implementation strategies.
• Objective LU-1.2: Review and revise regulatory standards and City policies to ensure that
develop advances the vision, goals, and objectives of this plan, and sprawl, as defined in
Appendix K (of the Community Plan), is discouraged.
• Objective LU-1.3: Encourage positive citizen involvement in their neighborhood and
community.
• Objective LU-1.4: Provide for and support infill development and redevelopment which
provides additional density of use while respecting the context of the existing development
which surrounds it. Respect for context does not automatically prohibit difference in scale
or design.
Goal LU-2: Designate centers for commercial development rather than corridors to
encourage cohesive neighborhood development in conjunction with non-motorized
transportation options. (Page 3-7)
Rationale: Transportation and land use are closely connected. A center based development
pattern is more land and resource efficient and supports the goals of community and
neighborhood development and sustainability. Future growth will cause additional demand for
and use of transportation facilities. A center based development pattern can reduce future
demand.
• Objective LU-2.1: Locate high density community scale service centers on a one mile
radius, and neighborhood service centers on a one-half mile radius, to facilitate the efficient
use of transportation and public services in providing employment, residential, and other
essential uses.
• Objective LU-2.2: Provide for a limited number of carefully sited regional service centers
which are appropriately sized and serviced by adequate infrastructure.
• Objective LU-2.3: Encourage redevelopment and intensification, especially with mixed
uses, of brownfields and underutilized property within the City consistent with the City’s
adopted standards. Using this approach rehabilitate corridor based commercial uses into a
pattern more supportive of the principles supported by commercial centers.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 62
Goal LU-3: Strengthen the Historic Core of Bozeman to preserve the community character,
economic resource, and historical connection represented by this area. (Page 3-7)
Goal LU-4: Sustainability, Natural Environment and Aesthetics – Ensure adequate review
of individual and cumulative environmental and aesthetic effects of development to preserve
the viewsheds, natural functions, and beauty which are a fundamental element of Bozeman’s
character. Design and development in a quantifiably sustainable manner are desirable.
(Pages 3-8 and 3-9)
Rationale: The natural environment is a key aspect of Bozeman’s appeal. Accidental or
deliberate injury to the natural environment can be very costly to repair and can have
substantial impacts on City functions. Individual actions can cause incremental change which
is unacceptable. Human use of resources will cause impacts. Development within the City can
provide significant protection for valued natural resources within the larger community of
Gallatin County.
• Objective LU-4.1: Protect important wildlife habitats, and natural areas which provide for
beneficial functions, such as floodplains.
• Objective LU-4.2: Protect the viewshed, including ridgelines, surrounding and within
Bozeman to preserve the natural character and mountain setting which helps to make
Bozeman unique.
• Objective LU-4.3: Encourage the creation of well-defined residential neighborhoods.
Each neighborhood should have a clear focal point, such as a park, school, other open space
or community facility, and shall be designed to promote pedestrian convenience. To this
end, the City shall encourage the use of historic Bozeman neighborhoods, including a
significantly interconnected street system, as models for the planning and design of new
residential neighborhoods.
• Objective LU-4.4: Review and revise the City’s regulations to encourage and support
sustainability in new construction and rehabilitation or redevelopment of existing areas.
• Objective LU-4.5: Generation of renewable energy including solar and wind power as an
accessory use is encouraged with proper design and compatibility to adjacent uses.
• Objective LU-4.6: All mixed use areas should be developed on a grid of connectivity,
including streets, alleys, driveways, and parking areas that contain multimodal facilities
and a high level of connectivity to adjacent development. Shared use, underground, or other
structured parking is recommended to reduce surface parking area.
• Objective LU-4.7: Stormwater systems should be designed using Low Impact
Development principles.
• Objective LU-4.8: Promote the efficient use of water, energy, land, human resources, and
natural resources and protect water supply quantity and quality.
• Objective LU-4.9: Recognize the cumulative effects of changes in land use and develop
equitable means to evaluate, avoid, and/or respond to negative cumulative impacts.
Recognize the value of well designed and implemented urban development in minimizing
impacts from existing and future development.
• Objective LU-4.10: Encourage development throughout Gallatin County to occur within
existing municipalities and support the local ability to address and manage change and
growth.
4.3 Community Quality Goals and Objectives
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 63
Goal C-1: Human Scale and Compatibility — Create a community composed of
neighborhoods designed for the human scale and compatibility in which the streets and
buildings are properly sized within their context, services and amenities are convenient,
visually pleasing, and properly integrated. (Page 4-3)
Rationale: A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most enduring
characteristic. We should design places for people as the primary user. Good design looks good
and feels good. The spatial relationships in our environment in large part determine our
experience of the place. Scale and context should be the beginning point of any discussion of
community quality.
• Objective C-1.1: - Expand design review programs citywide to ensure well designed
spaces throughout the community.
• Objective C-1.2: - Update design objectives to include guidelines for urban spaces and
more dense development.
• Objective C-1.3: Support compatible infill within the existing area of the City rather than
developing land requiring expansion of the City’s area.
• Objective C-1.4: Achieve an environment through urban design that maintains and
enhances the City’s visual qualities within neighborhood, community and regional
commercial areas.
Goal C-2: Community Circulation — Create a circulation system both vehicular and
pedestrian that is fully connected, integrated, and designed for ease of use. (Page 4-4)
Rationale: Street and roadway layouts have an impact on the community far beyond their costs
of construction; they create the mental image one is left with after visiting a place. Options for
travel by modes other than in an automobile can increase the physical health of the community
and fight the current obesity epidemic. Moving about the community through multiple modes
of transportation should be safe, pleasant, easy, and available to all. Instead of a project-by-
project struggle to accommodate bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly practices, complete streets
policies require road construction and improvement projects to begin by evaluating how the
right-of-way serves those who use it.
• Objective C-2.1.: Require adequate and efficient circulation in all subdivisions and site
plans and provide connectivity between developments and major destinations for both the
pedestrians and vehicles, including human powered vehicles.
• Objective C-2.2: Develop standards for complete streets that will apply to City streets and
to private drive aisles.
• Objective C-2.3.: Investigate the expansion of shared use pathways within the City.
• Objective C-2.3.: Require alleys in all new development both commercial and residential
where feasible.
• Objective C-2.4: Support Community Transit. Work with the Streamline Transit agency
to include transit stops, shelters, seating, lighting or areas improved for future transit stops
within development projects where appropriate.
• Objective C-2.5: Explore and encourage innovative parking solutions for both residential
and commercial projects including parking best practices, expanded parking districts, cash
in lieu of parking, and design guidelines for structured parking.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 64
Goal C-3: Neighborhood Design – New neighborhoods shall be pedestrian oriented, contain
a variety of housing types and densities, contain parks and other public spaces, have a
commercial center and defined boundaries. (Page 4-5)
Rationale: Good neighborhoods allow choices in housing, recreation, modes of transportation,
options for commerce, work, and entertainment while providing a healthy environment and a
sense of place and identity that residents can call home.
• Objective C-3.1: Encourage the preservation and continuing operation of existing
neighborhood schools.
• Objective C-3.2: Provide for neighborhood focal points to encourage local identity within
the community and provide a place for social interaction.
• Objective C-3.3: Establish minimum residential densities in new and redeveloping
residential areas.
• Objective C-3.4: Create neighborhood Commercial Centers that will provide uses to meet
consumer demands from surrounding Residential Districts for everyday goods and services,
and will be a pedestrian oriented place that serves as a focal point for the surrounding
neighborhoods.
• Objective C-3.5: Integrate a wide variety of open lands, such as parks, trails, squares,
greens, playing fields, natural areas, orchards and gardens, greenways, and other outdoor
spaces into neighborhoods.
• Objective C-3.6 Ensure that health (as defined in Appendix K (of the Community Plan))
issues within the scope of the City of Bozeman’s responsibility are included in the City’s
regulations, policies, and practices.
Goal C-4: Design Guidelines – Create illustrated design guidelines to give clear direction in
design and review of residential and non-residential neighborhoods without unduly
constraining architectural style and innovation. (Page 4-6)
Rationale: Design Guidelines allow the community an opportunity to communicate with
developers and those who wish to build here. The guidelines are a way to convey to the
development community who we are and where we as a community would like to go. The
guidelines can be read as a list of values.
• Objective C-4.1: Continue to develop the design guidelines for site planning and buildings
to emphasize creativity, diversity, and individuality. The design guidelines shall be based
on the premise that truly creative design is responsive to its context and contributes to a
comfortable, interesting community.
• Objective C-4.2: All new residential buildings should be designed to emphasize the
visually interesting features of the building, as seen from the public street and sidewalk.
The visual impact of garage doors, driveways, and other off-street parking will be
minimized and mitigated.
• Objective C-4.3: Ensure the development of new residential structures that are
aesthetically pleasing through urban design.
• Objective C-4.4: Provide for the protection of character and the enhancement of services
in existing residential neighborhoods.
• Objective C-4.5: Investigate expanding form based zoning as a design review strategy for
the City.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 65
Goal C-5: Public Landscaping and Architecture— Enhance the urban appearance and
environment through the use of architectural excellence, landscaping, trees and open space.
(Page 4-7)
Rationale: The benefits of a well developed landscape are myriad: beautification of the
environment, animal habitat, reduction of the heat island effect, stormwater control, and
opportunities for recreation and human interaction.
• Objective C-5.1: Provide street trees in all public rights of way to establish a human scale
to transportation corridors.
• Objective C-5.2: Encourage inclusion of plazas and other urban design features as public
areas within developments.
• Objective C-5.3: Continue to develop the design guidelines to encourage innovative
landscaping including urban hardscapes, public art, plazas, roof gardens, green walls, and
other features to emphasize the urban qualities of individual projects. • Objective C-5.4: Continue to develop the design guidelines to provide direction to
naturalizing stormwater systems and integrating them into the landscape as an amenity.
Goal C-6: Support Sustainability— Provide a framework to integrate the functional systems
of a development into the site planning and building architecture. (Page 4-8)
Rationale: The support and encouragement of new technologies and techniques to make our
developments more sustainable while still maintaining good design and an aesthetically
pleasing cityscape is obligatory in the face of today’s global environmental challenges.
• Objective C-6.1: Continue to develop the design guidelines to encourage the treatment of
stormwater on site with an aesthetic and integrated approach utilizing Low Impact
Development principles. Provide incentives for innovation.
• Objective C-6.2: Continue to develop the design guidelines to provide direction for the
integration of site based power generation (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) in both
commercial and residential projects.
• Objective C-6.3: Encourage and support energy conservation and efficiency in all aspects
of development.
• Objective C-6.4: Continue to develop the design guidelines and ordinances to implement
best dark sky lighting practices including utilizing new technologies to reduce impacts to
the night sky.
5.3 Historic Preservation Goals and Objectives
Goal HP-1: Protect historically and culturally significant resources that contribute to the
community’s identity, history, and quality of life. (Page 5-5)
Goal HP-2: Promote protection of historically and culturally significant properties through
education and outreach in order to increase community awareness and identity. (Page 5-6)
6.3 Housing Goals and Objectives
Goal H-1: Promote an adequate supply of safe, quality housing that is diverse in type, density,
cost, and location with an emphasis on maintaining neighborhood character and stability.
(Page 6-3)
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 66
Goal H-2: Promote the creation of housing which advances the seven guiding land use
principles of Chapter 3. (Pages 6-3 and 6-4)
Goal H-3– Encourage an adequate supply of affordable housing and land for affordable
housing. (Page 6-4)
7.3 Arts and Culture Goals and Objectives
Goal AC-1: Support public and private arts and cultural opportunities in the Bozeman
community for the enjoyment of all persons. (Page 7-3)
8.3 Economic Development Goals and Objectives
Goal ED-1: Promote and encourage the continued development of Bozeman as a vital
economic center. (Page 8-4)
Rationale: Economic vitality supports the social and cultural fabric of the community and
provides for physical needs of the citizens. • Objective ED-1.1: Support business creation, retention, and expansion. Emphasize small
businesses, ‘green’ businesses, and e-businesses.
• Objective ED-1.2: Coordinate the provision of infrastructure necessary to support
economic development.
• Objective ED-1.3: Foster a positive economic climate through a well managed and
aesthetically pleasing built environment, and by maintaining a beautiful and healthy natural
environment to promote and attract businesses with a desirable impact on the community.
• Objective ED-1.4: Encourage ongoing improvements in private infrastructure systems,
such as telecommunications, and promote state-of- the-art facilities.
• Objective ED-1.5: Encourage, through the use of incentives, the development of business
and industry that provides wages that are proportionate to, or are higher than, the cost of
living and provide options to expand skills and opportunities for Bozeman’s workforce.
• Objective ED-1.6: Utilize the City’s economic development and urban renewal plans to
stimulate investment and maintain a health and vibrant economy.
• Objective ED-1.7: Support efforts by the Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Bozeman Partnership, Prospera
Business Network, MSU-Bozeman and others to promote Bozeman. (Source: Bozeman
Economic Development Plan)
• Objective ED-1.8: Leverage local, state, and federal economic development resources to
enhance economic growth in Bozeman. (Source: Bozeman Economic Development Plan)
Implementation Policies: 2-6, 10, 12-14, 16, 24, 25, 26, 47-56, 72, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83,
84, 86-88
Goal ED-2: Support balanced policies and programs to encourage a durable, vigorous, and
diverse economy. (Page 8-5)
Rationale: A lack of balance in economic policy can lead to loss of community viability by
sacrificing high long term value community assets for short term, “quick fix” benefits. It is
important to recognize the economic importance of the social, cultural, and natural assets of
Bozeman.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 67
• Objective ED-2.1 Support the preservation of agricultural lands and activities and a viable
agricultural community, including community supported agriculture, as an important
economic sector in the Gallatin Valley.
• Objective ED-2.2: Support the preservation of Gallatin County’s historic agricultural
character and rural lifestyle.
• Objective ED-2.3: Ensure the viability of agricultural land uses by protecting water
sources used for irrigation.
• Objective ED-2.4: Foster a diverse economy that will protect the economic climate for
existing businesses and maintain opportunities for business expansion.
• Objective ED-2.5: Participate in the growing regional economy in a manner that
minimizes conflict between jurisdictions and that maximizes natural market strengths.
• Objective ED-2.6: Maintain a strong financial position for the City of Bozeman.
• Objective ED-2.7: Support Montana State University in its educational and research
mission, which contributes to the local and state economy.
• Objective ED-2.8: Support education and workforce development initiatives to provide
Bozeman with the qualified workers to meet the needs of business. (Source: Bozeman
Economic Development Plan)
• Objective ED-2.9: Create a more collaborative and effective working partnership between
the business community and the City of Bozeman and effectively manage the City of
Bozeman’s regulatory environment to accomplish goals without hindering business
expansion and economic growth. (Source: Bozeman Economic Development Plan)
Goal ED-3: Recognize the importance of quality of life elements in attracting and developing
economic activity. (Page 8-6)
Rationale: High cultural, educational, and outdoor recreational values are commonly cited
reasons for people to visit or live in Bozeman. Protecting and building upon existing strong
assets leverages other efforts for economic development. A strong sense of shared community
values and mutual support creates a good environment for business and workers to succeed.
• Objective ED-3.1: Build upon existing cultural assets such as historic districts, parks, arts
festivals, the arts community, and MSU to strengthen the local economy.
• Objective ED-3.2: Encourage sustainable development to minimize costs to businesses
and customers and protect quality of life.
• Objective ED-3.3: Encourage businesses to be good stewards and contributors to the
community, including participating in public/private partnerships to meet community
needs.
9.3 Environmental Quality and Critical Lands Goals and Objectives
Goal E-1: Continue protecting critical lands as valuable resources for the Community. (Page
9-5)
Goal E-2: Ensure good environmental quality of water resources, air, and soils within the
planning area. (Page 9-5)
Goal E-3: Help address climate change by taking steps towards reducing the City’s
greenhouse gas emissions. (Page 9-6)
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 68
Goal E-4: Promote and support responsible use of our natural resources. (Page 9-7)
Goal E-5: Maintain a natural and attractive aesthetic character for the Bozeman Area. (Page
9-7)
10.3 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Goals and Objectives
Goal R-1: Provide for accessible, desirable, and adequately maintained public parks, open
spaces, trail systems, and recreational facilities for residents of the community. (Pages 10-4
and 10-5)
Rationale: Quality recreational facilities, such as parks and trails, are an important component
of the high quality of life enjoyed by Bozeman residents. Recreational facilities also contribute
to the strength of the local economy, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide venues for arts
and cultural events. Finally, the siting of recreational lands, such as parks and open spaces,
greatly influences land use patterns, and can be used to protect environmentally sensitive lands.
• Objective R-1.1: Make all City recreational facilities and programs accessible to and
affordable for all members of the community.
• Objective R-1.2: Provide education and information to enhance the utilization and
enjoyment of public recreation facilities.
• Objective R-1.3: Establish regular and sufficient funding sources to acquire, develop and
maintain public parks, trails, and recreational facilities, and to meet the community’s
recreational programming needs.
• Objective R-1.4: Establish and strengthen partnerships with other recreation providers to
meet the community’s recreational needs in a coordinated and cooperative manner.
• Objective R-1.5: Connect the community using trails.
• Objective R-1.6: Ensure that parkland’s size, location, suitability, and development
promote usability.
• Objective R-1.7: Ensure equity in the provision of recreation facilities and programs.
• Objective R-1.8: Provide clear and concise standards and requirements to ensure
predictability for all groups providing, development, and maintaining recreation facilities.
• Objective R-1.9: Ensure that the City’s recreational facilities are safe.
• Objective R-1.10: Plan for the City’s recreational facilities citywide and at the site level.
• Objective R-1.11: Establish and meet high level of service standards in the provision of
recreational facilities and services.
• Objective R-1.12: Use parks and open space to protect critical and sensitive lands.
• Objective R-1.13: Use parks and recreation facilities as community design features such
as a neighborhood focal point.
• Objective R-1.14: Continue to provide parks, recreation, open space, and trails facilities
that meet or exceed national per capita standards.
Goal R-2: Provide recreational programming that promotes active, healthy lifestyles. (Page
10-5)
Goal R-3: Promote business growth and economic development. (Page 10-6)
Rationale: Excellent recreational facilities attract tourists, residents, and businesses to the
community.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 69
• Objective R-3.1: Encourage economic vitality in the community by providing excellent
recreational facilities.
• Objective R-3.2: Provide recreation programs that expand professional competencies, and
provide professional and continuing education opportunities to enhance the skills and
knowledge of the City’s workforce.
Goal R-4: Use recreational lands to promote arts and culture. (Page 10-6)
Rationale: Recreational lands such as parks are obvious locations to conduct arts and culture
events and activities.
• Objective R-4.1: Consider arts and culture uses when siting and planning parks, and
incorporate venues and public art as appropriate.
11.3 Transportation Goals and Objectives
Goal T-1: Transportation System–Maintain and enhance the functionality of the
transportation system. (Pages 11-4 and 11-5)
Rationale: Transportation must be reliable to achieve its function. People depend on the
transportation system to meet their needs for both vehicular and non-vehicular travel.
• Objective T-1.1: The implementation of the transportation facility plan shall conform to
the goals and policies of this Plan to ensure that public and private investments in
transportation infrastructure support other land use decisions of the community.
• Objective T-1.2: Ensure that the development review process shall coordinate
development and transportation services so that necessary facilities, such as pedestrian and
vehicular travel ways, are provided concurrently with development. • Objective T-1.3: All development activity shall comply with the right-of-way standards,
road locations, and other policies set forth in the transportation facility plan to ensure that
an orderly, efficient, effective transportation system is continued and to avoid future
problems with inadequate transportation services and options.
• Objective T-1.4: Ensure that adequate interconnections are made throughout the
transportation system to ensure a variety of alternatives for trip routing and reduce total
travel distance.
Goal T-2: Ensure that a variety of travel options exist which allow safe, logical, and balanced
transportation choices. (Pages 11-5 and 11-6)
Rationale: Providing for a variety of travel options supports public health, reduces resource
demand, and helps the City operate efficiently and cost effectively. Coordinated and
cooperative efforts by all transportation system providers minimize the costs while maximizing
benefits.
• Objective T-2.1: For the purposes of transportation and land use planning and
development, non-motorized travel options and networks shall be of equal importance and
consideration as motorized travel options. This balance shall ensure that a variety of travel
opportunities are available which do not require the use of automobiles for local trips.
• Objective T-2.2: Review and revise parking requirements to ensure provision of parking
consistent with other goals of this plan to support commercial and residential activities in
the downtown and other areas.
• Objective T-2.3: Reduce the negative health and physical impacts of the automobile by
coordinating transportation policies to support land use decisions that can decrease the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 70
number and length of automobile trips. When considering automobile impacts maintain
awareness of all the costs of transportation.
• Objective T-2.4: Seek and provide adequate funding to improve and maintain the
functionality of all elements of the transportation system.
Goal T-3: Encourage transportation options that reduce resource consumption, increase
social interaction, support safe neighborhoods, and increase the ability of the existing
transportation facilities to accommodate a growing city. (Page 11-6)
Rationale: Supporting transit, pedestrian and bicycle travel as an alternative to single
occupancy cars can create more capacity for travel at reduced expense. People are more likely
to use these modes of travel if they feel safe when they use them.
• Objective T-3.1: Promote and support a high-quality public transit system.
• Objective T-3.2: Support and encourage Transportation Demand Management to reduce
peak travel demands and increase the efficient use of the existing transportation system.
Goal T-4: Pathways–Establish and maintain an integrated system of transportation and
recreational pathways, including streets, bicycle and pedestrian trails, neighborhood parks,
green belts and open space. (Page 11-7)
Rationale: The City works with many partners to develop and operate the transportation
system in the City. Coordinating among these partners creates a greater value from a complete
and functional system rather than disjointed pieces.
• Objective T-4.1: Coordinate development of non-motorized transportation systems in
conjunction with motor vehicular transportation systems.
• Objective T-4.2: Further develop and maintain an interconnected and convenient
pedestrian and bicycle network for commuting and recreation as discussed and described
in the transportation facility plan and in coordination with the design standards of the
transportation facility plan and the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan.
• Objective T-4.3: Review, revise, and update trail/pathway standards to reflect the various
types and uses of trails and other non-motorized travel ways.
• Objective T-4.4: Continue to improve the existing pedestrian network to increase
American’s with Disabilities Act compliance. The long term intent is full accessibility
throughout the community transportation system. Give highest priority to those
improvements that will provide the greatest access to community centers of activity.
12.3 Public Services & Facilities Goals and Objectives
Goal PS-1: Facilities and Services- All public facilities and services provided under the
authority of the City of Bozeman shall be provided in a reliable, efficient, cost-effective and
environmentally sound manner. (Pages 12-4 and 12-5)
Rationale: The City is committed to providing services in a manner which respects the values
and priorities of the citizens of the community.
• Objective PS-1.1: All service and facilities provided under the authority of the City of
Bozeman shall have facility plans which will evaluate current and future needs and best
management practices for providing services.
• Objective PS-1.2: Implement all facility plans, including transportation, in compliance
with the goals and objectives of the City’s growth policy.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 71
• Objective PS-1.3: Strive to coordinate the provision of services with other governmental
agencies to prevent overlap, excessive cost, and to provide the highest quality services.
• Objective PS-1.4: Balance maintenance of existing facilities with the need to provide new
facilities so that existing users do not suffer a reduction in service quality in order to provide
services to new development.
• Objective PS-1.5: Sewer Facilities - Provide for public central sewer collection and
treatment facilities for all existing and future land uses within the planning area.
• Objective PS-1.6: Storm Drainage - Provide for storm drain, flood control and treatment
facilities to protect existing and future land uses, preserve public safety and protect surface
and groundwater quality.
• Objective PS-1.7: Solid Waste - Provide for a balanced and integrated solid waste
reduction, recycling and disposal system and design to meet the future needs for the
planning area in coordination with other members of the solid waste district.
• Objective PS-1.8: Domestic Water - Provide for a safe and adequate water supply,
distribution, storage and treatment facilities to support water demand projected by planned
land uses in the planning area.
• Objective PS-1.9: Fire Protection - Protect the community through a comprehensive fire
and life safety program for current and future city needs.
• Objective PS-1.10: Police Service — Provide protection of community residents from
criminal activity, reduce the incidence of crime, and provide other necessary services to
meet current and future needs. • Objective PS-1.11: Library Services - Ensure that high quality library services are
provided in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
• Objective PS-1.12: Cemetery - Ensure that cemetery facilities are adequately provided,
developed, and maintained.
Goal PS-2: The City shall work with other service and utility providers to ensure the
adequate and safe provision of services. (Page 12-5)
Rationale: Public and private utilities often are located within the same rights-of-way and
easements. Coordination between providers is essential to prevent conflicts, damage, and
injury. Services are necessary to support urban development.
• Objective PS-2.1: Education - Ensure that the area around educational institutions has
adequate residential parking, facilities, bike paths, safe cross walks, and zoning to ensure
a high quality of life for school users and city residents.
• Objective PS-2.2: Irrigation Water — Provide adequate protection to the canals from
development and to ensure future access to canal water for agricultural use.
• Objective PS-2.3: Private Utilities — Facilitate the provision of adequate private utility
services within the City while respecting the character of Bozeman.
Goal PS-3: Establish regular and sufficient funding sources to acquire, develop, and
maintain public services, and meet the community’s needs. (Page 12-6)
Rationale: Adequate and reliable funding sources are critical to the provision of quality
facilities and services in a quantity sufficient to keep pace with our growing population.
Dependable funding which enables correctly timed maintenance of facilities results in the least
overall cost of operation.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 72
• Objective PS-3.1: Establish regular and sufficient funding sources to acquire, develop, and
maintain municipal facilities.
• Objective PS-3.2: Continue a blend of enterprise and general fund supported services to
most nearly match revenues to sources of demand for service while recognizing the general
obligations of good government.
• Objective PS-3.3: Encourage the annexation of wholly surrounded parcels, while
recognizing the financial impacts on small properties without redevelopment options.
13.3 Disaster and Emergency Prevention and Response Goals and Objectives
Goal D-1: Recognize the on-going and pervasive opportunity for hazards to occur and act
pro-actively to minimize their effects. (Page 13-2)
Goal D-2: Recognize and strive to address both chronic as well as acute hazards and the
effect of cumulative actions on increasing or decreasing hazards. (Page 13-3)
14.3 Regional Coordination and Cooperation Goals and Objectives
Goal RCC-1: Coordinate policies and actions between public entities to increase effectiveness
and efficiency of implementation of the Bozeman Community Plan. (Pages 14-2 and 14-3)
Goal RCC-2: Utilize inter-local agreements and similar mechanisms to establish formal
coordination mechanisms so intent, scope, and functions are well defined to advance
cooperation. (Pages 14-3 and 14-4)
Rationale: Elected and appointed officials change membership over time. Having a formal
inter-local agreement ensures continuity and consistency of policy over time. Development of
agreements facilitates discussion of issues so that pitfalls can be avoided and success is more
likely.
• Objective RCC-2.1: Document and formalize the practice of the county not approving
development within the planning area where the City considers services to be reasonably
available.
• Objective RCC-2.2: Evaluate means for the City to support the County’s proposed transfer
of development credit program.
• Objective RCC-2.3: Work with Gallatin County to develop standards to facilitate
extension of urban services including street widths, utility easements, and subdivision
design.
• Objective RCC-2.4: Develop joint programs and practices with local, state, and federal
entities to address health, safety, and environmental concerns, as well as other issues as
may be identified.
• Objective RCC-2.5: Work with School District 7 to coordinate future school locations and
development to integrate with the City’s transportation network, location of residences,
and location and use of public parks.
• Objective RCC-2.6: Continue coordination with the Montana Department of
Transportation so that street construction and maintenance advance the purposes of this
plan, support infill and extension of pedestrian and bicycle circulation, and other issues as
may be identified.
• Objective RCC-2.7: Continue cooperation with Montana State University on
transportation, building siting, future land use planning, and other town/gown issues.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 73
• Objective RCC-2.8: Recognize the significant influence that state and local agencies, such
as the US Forest Service, have on City concerns such as watershed management and
recreation.
Specific Goals and Objectives in the Bozeman Community Plan furthering urban renewal
and economic stability for the prevention and the elimination of urban blight.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-1.4: Provide for and support infill development and redevelopment
which provides additional density of use while respecting the context of the existing
development which surrounds it. Respect for context does not automatically prohibit difference
in scale or design.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-2.3: Encourage redevelopment and intensification, especially with
mixed uses, of brownfields and underutilized property within the City consistent with the
City’s adopted standards. Using this approach rehabilitate corridor based commercial uses into
a pattern more supportive of the principles supported by commercial centers.
➢ Land Use Objective LU-4.4: Review and revise the City’s regulations to encourage and
support sustainability in new construction and rehabilitation or redevelopment of existing
areas.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.2: Coordinate the provision of infrastructure
necessary to support economic development.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.4: Encourage ongoing improvements in private
infrastructure systems, such as telecommunications, and promote state-of- the-art facilities.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.6: Utilize the City’s economic development and
urban renewal plans to stimulate investment and maintain a health and vibrant economy.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-1.8: Leverage local, state, and federal economic
development resources to enhance economic growth in Bozeman.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-2.4: Foster a diverse economy that will protect the
economic climate for existing businesses and maintain opportunities for business expansion.
➢ Economic Development Objective ED-2.9: Create a more collaborative and effective
working partnership between the business community and the City of Bozeman and effectively
manage the City of Bozeman’s regulatory environment to accomplish goals without hindering
business expansion and economic growth.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for conformance with
Overall Principles and Goals of the Bozeman Community Plan.
➢ In conformance with the growth policy, the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan
seeks to provide long term economic stability and to use planning and the development of
public infrastructure as tools for well managed growth.
➢ The goals of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District as stated in the Urban Renewal
District Plan are:
✓ Goal #1 Promote Economic Development
✓ Goal #2 Improve Multi-Modal Transportation
✓ Goal #3 Improve, Maintain and Support Innovation in Infrastructure
✓ Goal #4 Promote Unified, Human Scale Urban Design
✓ Goal #5 Support Compatible Urban Density Mixed Land Uses
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 74
Growth Policy Implementation
The following selections from the Bozeman Community Plan demonstrate conformance of the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan to the implementation strategies and tools of the
growth policy.
16: Implementation 16.2 Implementation Action Plan Programs or Detailed Planning Efforts
(Page 16-2) - This growth policy establishes a foundation for programs as well as more detailed
plans. For example, a neighborhood plan for Downtown and an Economic Development plan now
underway were both initiated through the growth policy. Programs have varying levels of priority,
depending on the issues involved. Consequently, the City will initiate them at different intervals.
Programs often provide the organizational structure to carry out routine City operations such as
street maintenance. Detailed planning also includes the preparation of facility plans.
The Bozeman Community Plan chronicles several programs and/or detailed plans that apply to the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District some of which are described as follows:
8: Economic Development 8.1 Intent and Background. (Page 8-3) The City has also invested
in urban renewal plans for the N. 7th Avenue Corridor, the Downtown area, and the
Northeast Neighborhood These detailed plans help spur reinvestment and preservation of
economic activity and resources.
D.1 Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (Pages D-1 and D-2) Enhance property
values through the stabilization of neighborhoods and areas of the City, increase economic
and financial benefits to the City and its inhabitants, and promote tourist trade and interests.
D.2 Entryway Corridor Overlay District (Pages D-2 and D-3) It is the intent and purpose of
these requirements to ensure the quality of development along these corridors to enhance
the impression and enjoyment of the community by guiding development and change that
occurs in these areas. These provisions are also intended to improve signage, landscaping,
access and other contributing elements of entry corridor appearance and function.
Design Objectives Plan for Entryway Corridors. (Page J-10) The entryways into Bozeman
play a significant role in shaping attitudes toward our community. Bozeman has adopted
special standards which apply to these areas. Updated in 2005, the design guidelines
provide illustrated standards which help implement the purposes adopted by ordinance.
Design and Connectivity Plan for North Seventh Avenue Corridor (Page J-11) The
redevelopment and rehabilitation of the N. 7th Avenue corridor was the purpose of the
formation of an urban renewal district. The corridor plan, prepared by Winter and Company
and adopted in 2006, provides guidance on the design character, opportunities, and
challenges for redeveloping the corridor. A group of land owners within the district
boundaries advises the City Commission and suggests a work plan each year to advance
the plan. An emphasis is placed within the plan on improving pedestrian and bicycle
circulation as well as character of different sections of the street corridor.
16: Implementation 16.2 Implementation Action Plan Funding Mechanisms (Page 16-3) -
Bozeman has a longstanding policy to provide the maximum level of services, to the most citizens,
in the most cost effective manner, with due consideration given to all costs – economic, fiscal,
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 75
environmental, and social. In doing so, the city limits on-going expenditures to a level that can be
supported with current revenues, uses one-time dollars to fund capital assets or other non-recurring
expenditures, and annually adopts a 5year capital improvements plan for construction and
maintenance of large city assets. User fees and charges are used, as opposed to general taxes, when
distinct beneficiary populations or interest groups can be identified; they are more equitable, since
only those who use the service must pay, thereby eliminating the subsidy provided by nonusers to
users, which is inherent in general tax financing. The City also uses public/private partnerships,
intergovernmental transfers, and private grants when available.
Table 16-1 Implementation Policies and Actions (Pages 16-4 thru 16-18)
Chapter 1, 3. Research and implement incentives and regulations and publicize existing incentives,
in accordance with the Bozeman Community Plan, that encourage development within the City
of Bozeman. 10, 14, 75, 81
Chapter 3, Land Use 9. Encourage infill and redevelopment which is respectful of its context. 4,
7, 21, 28, 61, 62
Chapter 3, Land Use 11. Continue programs which support adaptive reuse, reinvestment, and
continued functional and aesthetic viability of the Historic Core. 22
Chapter 5, Historic Preservation 21a. Use and publicize incentives, such as, but not limited to,
public infrastructure funding support and tax abatement, to encourage commercial and
residential development or redevelopment of identified infill areas, including brownfields and
the Historic Core.
Chapter 6, Housing 28a. Review and revise as needed standards to infill development,
redevelopment, and new development to provide clear guidance and mitigation of objective
problems.
Chapter 8, Economic Development 49. Support the creation and expansion of local businesses. 3,
77, 80
Chapter 8, Economic Development 49e. Maintain and seek to expand resources available through
the City’s revolving loan fund and urban renewal districts.
Chapter 8, Economic Development 49g. Increase awareness of existing economic and other
benefits of and further develop incentives for locating and operating benefits within City limits.
Chapter 8, Economic Development 53. Recognize sustainability as a component of economic
development. 12
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 76
Identified implementation tools and strategies, including tax increment financing, which help
to achieve the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
➢ Provides a foundation for programs as well as more detailed plans, such as urban renewal
district plans with tax increment financing programs.
➢ Describes the use of alternative funding mechanisms when distinct beneficiary populations or
interest groups can be identified and more equitably served (such as tax increment financing).
➢ Encourages development within the City of Bozeman.
➢ Encourages infill and redevelopment.
➢ Continues programs which support adaptive reuse and reinvestment.
➢ Encourages commercial and residential development or redevelopment of identified infill areas
through the use of and publicizing of incentives, such as, but not limited to, public
infrastructure funding support
➢ Supports standards for infill development and redevelopment.
➢ Supports the creation and expansion of local businesses.
➢ Maintains and seeks to expand resources available through urban renewal districts.
➢ Increases awareness of existing economic and other benefits of and further develop incentives
for locating and operating within City limits.
➢ Recognizes sustainability as a component of economic development.
Evaluation of the conformance of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan with
the implementation tools and strategies in the Bozeman Community Plan.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan takes advantage of the urban renewal law
offered by the State of Montana Code.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides for the opportunity to use tax
increment financing to assist with redevelopment and revitalization activities, and encourage
the retention and growth of economic development.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports the development of
infrastructure that encourages urban renewal and economic development in the community.
Growth Policy Future Land Use
The growth policy provides a visual policy statement with the identification of the future land use
pattern through maps and/or text of lands to help achieve the goals and objectives of the Bozeman
Community Plan.
The Bozeman Community Plan designates the core area along the North 7th Avenue Corridor
starting from the north end as Industrial, Regional Commercial and Services, and Community
Commercial Mixed Use. The majority of the adjacent neighborhoods are designated Residential,
with a couple of small areas designated Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands and Public
Institutions. The description of the future land uses is as follows. A section of Bozeman
Community Plan Future Land Use Map and Legend follows the future land use descriptions.
Regional Commercial and Services. Bozeman is a retail, education, health services, public
administration, and tourism hub and provides opportunities for these activities for a multi-county
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 77
region. Often the scale of these services is larger than would be required for Bozeman alone.
Because of the draw from outside Bozeman, it is necessary that these types of facilities be located
in proximity to significant transportation routes. Since these are large and prominent facilities
within the community and region, it is appropriate that design guidelines be established to ensure
compatibility with the remainder of the community. Opportunity for a mix of uses which
encourages a robust and broad activity level is to be provided. Residential space should not be a
primary use and should only be included as an accessory use above the first floor. Any
development within this category should have a well integrated transportation and open space
network which encourages pedestrian activity, and provides ready access within and to adjacent
development.
Community Commercial Mixed Use. Activities within this land use category are the basic
employment and services necessary for a vibrant community. Establishments located within these
categories draw from the community as a whole for their employee and customer base and are
sized accordingly. A broad range of functions including retail, education, professional and personal
services, offices, residences, and general service activities typify this designation.
In the “center-based” land use pattern, Community Commercial Mixed Use areas are integrated
with significant transportation corridors, including transit and non-automotive routes, to facilitate
efficient travel opportunities. The density of development is expected to be higher than currently
seen in most commercial areas in Bozeman and should include multi-story buildings. A Floor Area
Ratio in excess of .5 is desired. It is desirable to allow residences on upper floors, in appropriate
circumstances. Urban streetscapes, plazas, outdoor seating, public art, and hardscaped open space
and park amenities are anticipated, appropriately designed for an urban character. Placed in
proximity to significant streets and intersections, an equal emphasis on vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle,
and transit circulation shall be provided. High density residential areas are expected in close
proximity. Including residential units on sites within this category, typically on upper floors, will
facilitate the provision of services and opportunities to persons without requiring the use of an
automobile.
The Community Commercial Mixed Use category is distributed at two different scales to serve
different purposes. Large Community Commercial Mixed Use areas are significant in size and are
activity centers for an area of several square miles surrounding them. These are intended to service
the larger community as well as adjacent neighborhoods and are typically distributed on a one mile
radius. Smaller Community Commercial areas are usually in the 1015 acre size range and are
intended to provide primarily local service to an area of approximately one-half mile radius. These
commercial centers support and help give identity to individual neighborhoods by providing a
visible and distinctive focal point.
They should typically be located on one or two quadrants of intersections of arterials and/or
collectors. Although a broad range of uses may be appropriate in both types of locations the size
and scale is to be smaller within the local service placements.
Mixed use areas should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian friendly manner and should not
be overly dominated by any single land use. Higher intensity employment and residential uses are
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 78
encouraged in the core of the area or adjacent to significant streets and intersections. As needed,
building height transitions should be provided to be compatible with adjacent development.
Industrial. This classification provides areas for the uses which support an urban environment
such as manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation hubs. Development within these areas is
intensive and is connected to significant transportation corridors. In order to protect the economic
base and necessary services represented by industrial uses, uses which would be detrimentally
impacted by industrial activities are discouraged. Although use in these areas is intensive, these
areas are part of the larger community and shall meet basic standards for landscaping and other
site design issues and be integrated with the larger community. In some circumstances, uses other
than those typically considered industrial have been historically present in areas which were given
an industrial designation in this growth policy. Careful consideration must be given to public
policies to allow these mixed uses to coexist in harmony.
Residential. This category designates places where the primary activity is urban density dwellings.
Other uses which complement residences are also acceptable such as parks, low intensity home
based occupations, fire stations, churches, and schools. High density residential areas should be
established in close proximity to commercial centers to facilitate the provision of services and
employment opportunities to persons without requiring the use of an automobile. Implementation
of this category by residential zoning should provide for and coordinate intensive residential uses
in proximity to commercial centers. The residential designation indicates that it is expected that
development will occur within municipal boundaries, which may require annexation prior to
development.
The dwelling unit density expected within this classification varies between 6 and 32 dwellings
per net acre. A higher density may be considered in some locations and circumstances. A variety
of housing types can be blended to achieve the desired density. Large areas of single type housing
are discouraged. In limited instances the strong presence of constraints and natural features such
as floodplains may cause an area to be designated for development at a lower density than normally
expected within this category. All residential housing should be arranged with consideration of
compatibility with adjacent development, natural constraints such as watercourses or steep slopes,
and in a fashion which advances the overall goals of the Bozeman growth policy. The residential
designation is intended to provide the primary locations for additional housing within the planning
area.
Public Institutions. A variety of activities are undertaken in this land use classification. Schools
are a dominant use including Montana State University. Other typical uses are libraries, fire
stations, and publicly operated utilities. A significant portion of Bozeman’s employment occurs
within this category.
Parks, Open Space, and Recreational Lands. All publicly owned recreational lands, including
parks, are included within this category, as well as certain private lands. These areas are generally
open in character and may or may not be developed for active recreational purposes. This category
includes conservation easements which may not be open for public use.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 79
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 80
Figure 3.1:
Future Land Use
Map Section
Future Land Use Designations of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal
District to help achieve the Bozeman Community Plan’s goals and objectives.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 81
➢ The Bozeman Community Plan designates the core area along the North 7th Avenue Corridor
as Regional Commercial and Services, Community Commercial Mixed Use, and Industrial.
➢ The majority of the adjacent neighborhoods have a future land use designation of Residential,
with a couple of small areas designated Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands and Public
Institutions.
➢ Regional Commercial and Services will be implemented by B-2 or UMU zoning districts.
➢ Community Commercial Mixed Use will be implemented by the B-1, B-2 or UMU zoning
districts.
➢ Industrial land uses can be implemented by any one of the five industrial type zoning districts.
➢ Residential will be implemented by multiple zoning districts.
➢ Parks, Open Space and Recreational Lands are functions which can occur in any zoning
district.
➢ Public Institutions can be implemented by the PLI zoning district, but is a function that can
occur in any zoning district.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for Conformance with
the Future Land Use Designations.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides a plan for redevelopment of the
existing commercially designated area to retain existing and attract new economic
development.
➢ The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan does not suggest any revision to the
existing future land use designations.
Review of the zoning of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
for accordance with the Bozeman Unified Development Code
The City adopted its first zoning ordinance in 1941. The current zoning ordinance, the Unified
Development Code of the City of Bozeman, Chapter 38 of the Bozeman Municipal Code was
originally adopted in 2005, with the most recent extensive amendment by Ordinance Number 1769
effective on December 28, 2009. The zoning of the area included in the Bozeman Midtown Urban
Renewal District must be found to be in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan. On
October 20th, 2015 the City Planning Board reviewed the zoning of the area included in the
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District as follows in this section and found the zoning to be
in conformance with the growth policy.
In order to demonstrate that the area is zoned for uses implementing the growth policy, the
following selections from the Bozeman Unified Development Code have been provided to
demonstrate accordance of zoning within the area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal
District to the Bozeman Community Plan.
ARTICLE 1. - IN GENERAL
Sec. 38.01.040. - Intent and purpose of chapter.
A. The intent of this unified development chapter is to protect the public health, safety and general
welfare; to recognize and balance the various rights and responsibilities relating to land
ownership, use, and development identified in the United States and State of Montana
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 82
constitutions, and statutory and common law; to implement the city's adopted growth policy;
and to meet the requirements of state law.
B. It is the purpose of these regulations to promote the public health, safety and general welfare
by: preventing the creation of private or public nuisances caused by noncompliance with the
standards and procedures of this chapter; regulating the subdivision, development and use of
land; preventing the overcrowding of land; lessening congestion in the streets and highways;
providing adequate light, air, water supply, sewage disposal, parks and recreation areas, ingress
and egress, and other public improvements; requiring development in harmony with the natural
environment; promoting preservation of open space; promoting development approaches that
minimize costs to local citizens and that promote the effective and efficient provision of public
services; protecting the rights of property owners; requiring uniform monumentation of land
subdivisions and transferring interests in real property by reference to a plat or certificate of
survey (MCA 76-3-102).
C. It is further the purpose of these regulations to: be in accord with the growth policy; securing
safety from fire, panic, and other dangers; promoting public health, public safety, and the
general welfare; facilitating the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools,
parks, and other public requirements; having given consideration to ensuring the reasonable
provision of adequate light and air, motorized and nonmotorized transportation systems,
promoting of compatible urban growth, considering the character of the district and its peculiar
suitability for particular uses, conserving the value of buildings, and encouraging the most
appropriate use of land throughout the jurisdictional area (MCA 76-2-304).
D. Further, to support the purposes of MCA 76-2-304 and 76-3-102, these regulations are intended
to promote and to provide for the:
1. Orderly development of the city;
2. Coordination of streets within subdivided land with other streets and roads, both existing
and planned;
3. Dedication of land for streets and roadways and for public utility easements;
4. Improvement of streets;
5. Adequate open spaces for travel, light, air and recreation;
6. Adequate transportation, water, drainage and sanitary facilities;
7. Minimization of unnecessary congestion;
8. Avoidance of unnecessary environmental degradation;
9. Encouragement of subdivision development in harmony with the natural environment;
10. Avoidance of danger or injury to health, safety or general welfare by reason of natural
hazard or the lack of water, sewer, drainage, access, transportation or other public services;
11. Avoidance of excessive expenditure of public funds for the provision of public services;
12. Manner and form of making and filing of plats for subdivided lands;
13. Administration of these regulations, by defining the powers and the duties of approving
authorities, including procedures for the review and approval of all subdivision plats;
14. Division of the city into districts with uniformly applicable standards for development
within each district;
15. To establish standards for the development and use of land;
16. To establish procedures for the review and approval for the development and use of land;
and
17. The establishment of all other requirements necessary to meet the purposes of this chapter.
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E. Pursuant to MCA 76-2-304, 76-1-605 and 76-1-606, these regulations are also intended to
implement the goals and objectives of the city's adopted growth policy. In the case of a
difference of meaning or implication between this chapter and the city's adopted growth policy,
the growth policy shall control.
ARTICLE 7. - ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAP
Sec. 38.07.010. - Use districts designated, zoning map adopted.
A. The city is divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the official zoning map which, together
with all explanatory matter thereon, is adopted by this reference and declared to be a part of
this chapter.
B. For the purpose of this chapter, the city is divided and classified into the following use districts:
R-S Residential Suburban District
R-1 Residential Single-Household Low Density District
R-2 Residential Two-Household Medium Density District
R-3 Residential Medium Density District
R-4 Residential High Density District
R-O Residential-Office District
RMH Residential Manufactured Home Community District
B-1 Neighborhood Business District
B-2 Community Business District
B-3 Central Business District
UMU Urban Mixed-Use District
M-1 Light Manufacturing District
M-2 Manufacturing and Industrial District
B-P Business Park District
PLI Public Lands and Institutions District
NEHMU Northeast Historic Mixed-Use District
NC Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District
EO Entryway Corridor Overlay District
CO Casino Overlay District
REMU Residential Emphasis Mixed-use District
The majority of the land within the area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District is zoned
“B-2 Community Business District”, with adjacent land north of I-90 zoned “M-1 Light
Manufacturing”, and the adjacent land south of I-90 classified for residential uses with districts
including “R-3 Residential Medium Density”, “R-4 Residential High Density”, and “R-O
Residential-Office”. The intent and purpose of each of these zoning districts is described below.
ARTICLE 10. - COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Sec. 38.10.010. - Intent and purpose.
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A. The intent and purposes of the commercial zoning districts are to establish areas within the city
that are primarily commercial in character and to set forth certain minimum standards for
development within those areas. The purpose in having more than one commercial district is
to provide opportunities for a variety of employment and community service opportunities
within the community, while providing predictability. There is a rebuttable presumption that
the uses set forth for each district will be compatible with each other both within the individual
districts and to adjoining zoning districts when the standards of this chapter are met and any
applicable conditions of approval have been satisfied. Additional requirements for
development apply within overlay districts.
2. The intent of the B-2 community business district is to provide for a broad range of
mutually supportive retail and service functions located in clustered areas bordered on one
or more sides by limited access arterial streets.
ARTICLE 12. - INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Sec. 38.12.010. - Intent and purpose.
A. The intent and purpose of the industrial zoning districts is to establish areas within the city that
are primarily industrial in character and to set forth certain minimum standards for
development within those areas. The purpose in having more than one industrial district is to
provide opportunities for a variety of employment and community service functions within the
community while providing predictability. There is a rebuttable presumption that the uses set
forth for each district will be compatible with each other when the standards of this chapter are
met and any applicable conditions of approval have been satisfied. Additional requirements
for development apply within overlay districts.
1. 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.
ARTICLE 8. - RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Sec. 38.08.010. - Intent and purpose.
A. The intent and purpose of the residential zoning districts is to establish areas within the city
that are primarily residential in character and to set forth certain minimum standards for
development within those areas. The purpose in having more than one residential district is to
provide opportunities for a variety of housing types and arrangements within the community
while providing a basic level of predictability. There is a rebuttable presumption that the uses
set forth for each district will be compatible with each other when the standards of this chapter
are met and any applicable conditions of approval have been satisfied. Additional requirements
for development apply within overlay districts. All development is subject to section 38.01.050.
Residential density is correlated with many community goals and objectives that are contained
in the city's adopted growth policy, as well as many standards and purposes of this chapter.
Section 38.08.090 sets standards for minimum densities in residential districts which will
advance these goals, objectives, and purposes.
4. The intent of the R-3 residential medium density district is to provide for the development
of one- to five-household residential structures near service facilities within the city. It
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 85
should provide for a variety of housing types to serve the varied needs of households of
different size, age and character, while reducing the adverse effect of nonresidential uses.
5. The intent of the R-4 residential high density district is to provide for high-density
residential development through a variety of housing types within the city with associated
service functions. This will provide for a variety of compatible housing types to serve the
varying needs of the community's residents. Although some office use is permitted, it shall
remain as a secondary use to residential development. Secondary status shall be as
measured by percentage of total building area.
6. The intent of the R-O residential-office district is to provide for and encourage the
development of multihousehold and apartment development and compatible professional
offices and businesses that would blend well with adjacent land uses. The primary use of a
lot, as measured by building area, permitted in the R-O district is determined by the
underlying growth policy land use designation. Where the district lies over a residential
growth policy designation the primary use shall be non-office uses; where the district lies
over a nonresidential designation the primary use shall be office and other nonresidential
uses. Primary use shall be measured by percentage of building floor area.
In addition to the zoning districts described above, portions of the Midtown area of Bozeman are
also covered by “Bozeman Entryway Corridor Overlay District” and the “Neighborhood
Conservation Overlay District”, and a couple of lots at the southeast edge are located within the
Cooper Park Historic District.
ARTICLE 17. - BOZEMAN ENTRYWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT
Sec. 38.17.020. - Intent and purpose.
A. There are several arterial corridors entering the city that introduce visitors and residents alike
to the city. The visual attributes of these roadways provide a lasting impression of the character
of the city. It is the intent and purpose of this article to ensure that the quality of development
along these corridors will enhance the impression and enjoyment of the community by guiding
development and change, and by stimulating and assisting, in conjunction with other
provisions of this chapter, improvements in signage, landscaping, access and other contributing
elements of entry corridor appearance and function.
B. It is the intent of this article to establish design criteria, standards and review procedures that
will allow the city and its advisory boards and agencies to review and direct, in a fair and
equitable manner, the development and redevelopment of future and existing properties and
facilities within the entry corridors. The recommendations of the design review board or
administrative design review staff shall be given careful consideration in the final action of the
review authority.
Sec. 38.17.030. - Application of entryway corridor provisions.
A. Entryway corridors shall be designated on the city's official zoning map. The provisions of this
article shall be applied in addition to any other applicable regulations of this chapter.
Specifically, these provisions shall be applied to all developments within such corridors as
follows:
1. Class I. All development wholly or partially within 660 feet of the centerline of the
following roadways:
a. Interstate 90, within or adjacent to the city boundaries, measured from the centerline of
the outside lanes of the opposing roadways and from the centerline of the access ramps;
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 86
b. Interstate 90 frontage roads, within the city boundaries, whether or not they are
designated frontage roads;
c. U.S. 10, from the Interstate 90/North Seventh Avenue interchange west to the city
boundaries;
d. U.S. 191, west from Ferguson Road to the city boundaries;
e. Nineteenth Avenue, north from Durston Road to the North 19th Avenue/Interstate 90
interchange, exclusive of the east side between Durston Road and the south boundary
of Covered Wagon Mobile Home Park; and
f. Oak Street, west from North Seventh Avenue to North Nineteenth Avenue.
2. Class II. All development wholly or partially within the lesser of one city block or 330 feet
of the centerline of the following roadways, with the exception of residentially zoned lots
(no exception for R-O district) that have no frontage upon said roadways:
a. Seventh Avenue, south from the Interstate 90 interchange to Main Street;
b. Nineteenth Avenue, south from Durston Road to the city boundary, and the east side
of Nineteenth Avenue, between the south boundary of Covered Wagon Mobile Home
Park and Durston Road;
c. Main Street, east from Broadway to Interstate 90;
d. Main Street, west from Seventh Avenue to Ferguson Road;
e. Rouse Avenue and State Primary 86 (Bridger Canyon Road) from Tamarack north and
cast to the city boundary;
f. Oak Street, west from Nineteenth Avenue to the east edge of Rose Park; and
g. Oak Street, east from Seventh Avenue to Rouse Avenue.
ARTICLE 16. - NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OVERLAY DISTRICT
Sec. 38.16.010. - Intent and purpose.
A. All new construction, alterations to existing structures, movement of structures into or out of
the neighborhood conservation overlay district, hereinafter referred to as the conservation
district, or demolition of structures by any means or process will be subject to design review
unless specifically exempted. The recommendations of the design review board or
administrative design review staff shall be given careful consideration in the final action of the
review authority.
B. This article defines and sets forth standards which apply to the conservation district.
C. The intent and purpose of the conservation district designation is to stimulate the restoration
and rehabilitation of structures, and all other elements contributing to the character and fabric
of established residential neighborhoods and commercial or industrial areas. New construction
will be invited and encouraged provided primary emphasis is given to the preservation of
existing buildings and further provided the design of such new space enhances and contributes
to the aesthetic character and function of the property and the surrounding neighborhood or
area. Contemporary design will be encouraged, provided it is in keeping with the above-stated
criteria, as an acknowledged fact of the continuing developmental pattern of a dynamic,
changing community. The neighboring community shall be provided notice and opportunity
to comment upon the proposed property improvements in accordance with article 40 of this
chapter. In addition, aggrieved persons shall have the right to appeal any design review
decision made under the provisions of this article, in accordance with article 35 of this chapter.
D. In view of the fact that most of the area included within the boundaries of the conservation
district was developed and built out prior to the adoption of zoning and contemporary
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subdivision regulations, the construction, development pattern and range of uses is highly
diverse and may not be in compliance with conventional regulatory requirements. This article
recognizes that this diversity is a major contributing element of the historic character of these
neighborhoods or areas. The provisions of this article shall be applied in a manner that will
encourage the protection and enhancement of the many diverse features for future generations.
E. The conservation district boundary is largely coterminous with the area surveyed in the effort
that led to the listing of nine historic districts and 40 additional landmark structures in the
National Register of Historic Places, and includes the nine designated historic districts and 40
individual landmarks. This article sets forth the means of protecting and enhancing the
conservation district.
F. It is further the purpose of the conservation district designation to protect and enhance
neighborhoods or areas of significant land planning or architectural character, historic
landmarks or other built or natural features for the educational, cultural, economic benefit or
enjoyment of citizens of the city. It will be the policy and responsibility of the administrative
entities of this article to:
1. Protect, preserve, enhance and regulate structures, archaeological or cultural sites, and
areas that:
a. Are reminders of past eras, events or persons important in local, state or national
history;
b. Provide significant examples of land planning or architectural styles, or are landmarks
in the history of land planning and architecture;
c. Are unique or irreplaceable assets to the city and its neighborhoods;
d. Provide examples of physical surroundings in which past generations lived; or
e. Represent and express the unique characteristics of small agricultural-based, western
city developmental patterns;
2. Enhance property values through the stabilization of neighborhoods and areas of the city,
increase economic and financial benefits to the city and its inhabitants, and promote tourist
trade and interests;
3. Develop and maintain the appropriate environment for buildings, structures, sites and areas,
that reflect varied planning and architectural styles and distinguished phases of the city's
history and prehistory;
4. Stimulate an enhancement of human life by developing educational and cultural
dimensions, which foster the knowledge of the city's heritage, and cultivate civic pride in
the accomplishments of the past;
5. Seek to maintain and enhance the many private and public elements that are unique to the
fabric, theme and character of each neighborhood and area, including, but not limited to,
lighting, pathways, street trees, natural areas and other features that may, from time to time,
be identified by the citizens and property owners of neighborhoods, areas and subsections
thereof; and
6. Provide the neighboring community with notice and opportunity to comment upon the
proposed property improvements in accordance with article 40 of this chapter, with the
exception of certain sketch plan applications with potentially little neighborhood impact,
and to further provide aggrieved persons with the right to appeal review decisions made
under the provisions of this article, in accordance with article 35 of this chapter.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 88
Sections of the City of Bozeman Zoning Map which encompasses the area of the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District are shown below.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 89
City of Bozeman
Zoning Map
Section
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 90
Conservation Overlay and Historic Districts
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 91
Zoning to help implement the Bozeman Community Plan.
• A purpose of the Bozeman Unified Development Code is to implement the goals and objectives
of the Bozeman Community Plan; the city’s adopted growth policy.
• The majority of the land within the core area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District
is zoned “B-2 Community Business District” to provide for a broad range of mutually
supportive retail and service functions.
• The land adjacent to the commercial core and south of I-90 within the area of the Bozeman
Midtown Urban Renewal District is zoned for a variety of residential uses and densities, with
zoning districts including “R-3 Residential Medium Density”, “R-4 Residential High Density”,
and “R-O Residential-Office”.
Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan - December 2015 Page 92
• The land adjacent to the commercial core and north of I-90 is zoned “M-1 Light
Manufacturing”.
Evaluation of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan for Accordance of Zoning
with Bozeman Community Plan.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports the purposes of the Bozeman
Unified Development Code.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan supports “retail and service use” as
described by the Bozeman Unified Development Code.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan provides a plan for redevelopment of the
existing commercially designated area to eliminate blight, and retain existing and attract new
economic development.
• The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan does not suggest any revision to the
existing zoning classifications.
Conclusions
1. The Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District Plan has been evaluated against the relevant
goals and objectives of the Bozeman Community Plan, and the Bozeman Midtown Urban
Renewal District Plan is in conformance with the Bozeman Community Plan.
2. The zoning in the area of the Bozeman Midtown Urban Renewal District has been evaluated
against the Bozeman Community Plan, and the zoning in the area of the Bozeman Midtown
Urban Renewal District is in accordance with the Bozeman Community Plan.