HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-15-23 Public Comment - J. Corbeille - Request to Recognize STR’s as Businesses in Commercial B-3 ZoningFrom:Erin George
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: [EXTERNAL]Request to Recognize STR’s as Businesses in Commercial B-3 Zoning
Date:Tuesday, August 15, 2023 9:08:11 AM
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Please add this to the Short Term Rentals comment folder.
Thank you,
Erin George, AICPDeputy Director | Community DevelopmentCity of Bozeman | 20 East Olive St. | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771P: 406.582.2262 | C: 406.579.2627 | E: egeorge@bozeman.net |
From: Greg Sullivan <gsullivan@BOZEMAN.NET>
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2023 9:24 AM
To: Erin George <egeorge@BOZEMAN.NET>; Nakeisha Lyon <nlyon@BOZEMAN.NET>; Kelley Rischke
<KRischke@BOZEMAN.NET>; Renata Munfrada <rmunfrada@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL]Request to Recognize STR’s as Businesses in Commercial B-3 Zoning
From: Jodi J Corbeille <jodi@velocity.team>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2023 3:43 PM
To: Jeff Mihelich <jmihelich@BOZEMAN.NET>; Greg Sullivan <gsullivan@BOZEMAN.NET>; Cyndy
Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>; Terry Cunningham <TCunningham@BOZEMAN.NET>; I-Ho
Pomeroy <IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>; Jennifer Madgic <jmadgic@BOZEMAN.NET>; Christopher
Coburn <ccoburn@BOZEMAN.NET>
Cc: Marlee Brooks <marlee@velocity.team>; Dan Corbeille <dan@velocity.team>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Request to Recognize STR’s as Businesses in Commercial B-3 Zoning
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Hi Jeff, Greg, and City Commission,
We are writing regarding the recent City Commission work session on Short Term
Rentals, held as part of the Tuesday, 8/8/2023 regular meeting.
As long-time residents and developers we feel compelled to draw your attention to an item
of growing concern. During the meeting 8/8/2023 staff was instructed to draft an ordinance
completely banning Type 3 STR – city wide. This is a complicated topic and to be clear we
are only weighing in on a narrow component of an ordinance proposing a complete ban.
Our specific concern is the concept of banning Type 3 STRs in the B-3 Downtown Business
District, thereby impacting licensed local businesses operating consistently with the
underlying zoning. Non-Owner Occupied STR rentals and Hotel/Motels are
established principal uses in this commercial zoning district. Small businesses make up the
heart and soul of downtown Bozeman and such a ban will have an adverse impact on those
of us who are operating consist with established zoning and licensing requirements.
We operate multiple boutique licensed Type 3 STRs in the Downtown Business District
and are currently under construction on a 5th unit. We intentionally developed by
right, relying on established B-3 principal uses. Our units are purpose built, not designed for
stays longer than a week, and more closely resemble hotel spaces rather than homes
designed for residing in long term. They are operated to the same standards as hotels. Due
to high value/traffic in B-3, and high taxes, these units were not built as long-term rentals.
Two of our properties are historic renovation projects built in the late 1880s, which would
not have been possible without the future revenue forecasted and relied upon – given the
allowed principal use.
We are respectfully requesting that the City exclude the commercial B-3 district from the
proposed ban on STRs, as an existing principal use, which like hotels, are much needed in our
economy. We ask that you consider allowing vacation rentals in downtown B-3 zoning to
acquire a standard City of Bozeman Business License (not a renewable vacation rental
permit) recognizing them as businesses, the same as hotels and fellow proprietors. This
change would align with the overall spirit of the zoning and be congruent the precedence
that has been set.
As experienced operators and supporters of STR reform we would be pleased to make
ourselves available to discuss the bigger topic further. Thank you very much for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
Dan & Jodi