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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-23 Public Comment - J. Loeb - Fw_ Question - UDC and Greek HousesFrom:jeffrey loeb To:Agenda Subject:Fw: [EXTERNAL]Question - UDC and Greek Houses Date:Saturday, October 14, 2023 9:27:10 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please direct this email to the Bozeman Community Development Board: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Community Development Board: Please see the email chain below between myself and Chris Saunders of 10/13 as backgroundin regard to my comments here about the treatment of Fraternities and Sororities within a newUDC. I'll keep this short. I like to think we all agree that a situation such as occurred on Garfield last year where 5 tenants occupied a single-family residence for the benefit of their largerfraternity activities does not in any way contribute to the improvement of affordablehousing in Bozeman and understandably resulted in a high level of neighborhood disruptionand angst. 5 tenants were going to reside in this residence regardless...not the other 50 other members of the fraternity. This situation as you most probably are aware became more of aFrat Event Center (not group living) and ultimately resulted in a successful lawsuit against the City. I am strongly in favor of Greek Houses being treated as separate use (as they currently are inthe code). They are a different animal completely with different needs than a single family orgroup living residence...and, therefore, need be defined and treated as such. Just considerparking, trash, sleeping/dining facilities, meeting/congregation rooms, bathroom/showerfacilities, etc.. At a minimum any home to be considered as a Greek House should havecertain "common sense" criteria within the UDC which apply....for example; x% of membersactually live/reside/dine there, sufficient facilities to accommodate activities, safety measures,etc. My request is that any UDC approved by your Board for advancement to the City Commissioninclude treatment of Greek Houses as separate use. Thank you. Jeffrey Loeb ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: jeffrey loeb <jsloeb8155@yahoo.com> To: Chris Saunders <csaunders@bozeman.net> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 at 03:23:57 PM CDT Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL]Question - UDC and Greek Houses Chris: Many thanks for the detailed response. Much appreciated. So, it sounds like either A (continue as separate use) or B (adopt as part of group living) won't be incorporated into the final draft until the end ofpublic hearing....which is soon, I think. At what point, however, will we (the public) know which isadopted into a final draft for Development Board consideration? Jeff On Friday, October 13, 2023 at 02:52:49 PM CDT, Chris Saunders <csaunders@bozeman.net> wrote: Jeffrey, The draft of the proposed regulations released on Aug 14th reflected the code as it stood at that time which included group living which in turn encompassed fraternity and sorority per the 2018 code adoption. As I mentioned at the Community Development Board meeting, the decision by the judge regarding the challenge to that approach came out after the draft was released. The direction from the decision restores the fraternity/sorority use to the existing code now in effect as it stood before 2018. The City Commission during the code replacement process now underway has the option to either allow the fraternity/sorority to continue as a separate use or to readopt it as part of the larger group living option. Notice of the issue was included in the published notice. That decision has not been made or even discussed yet because the Community Development Board has not closed the public comment section of the public hearing now underway. They need to complete that component before they begin discussion prior to making a recommendation on any part of the text. A revised draft of the text will be prepared after the recommendation from the Community Development Board. The existing text restored by the judicial ruling regarding fraternity/sorority addressed the listing of the use in which zoning district only. Neither the judicial decision or the existing development regulations now in effect include any standards for fraternity or sororities regarding amount land area required, amount of internal space for assembly, hours of operation, or other standards that go to the public concerns voiced over this issue. The existing and proposed group living standards include specific quantities of parking and land area required per group living resident. I hope this is helpful. Chris S From: jeffrey loeb <jsloeb8155@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 9:59 AM To: Chris Saunders <csaunders@BOZEMAN.NET> Subject: [EXTERNAL]Question - UDC and Greek Houses CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachmentsunless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Chris: I attended last night's Development Board meeting via video link and personally attended and made Public Comment at the one earlier in the month. I am confused on the following for which I request clarification: - How are fraternities/sororities proposed to be treated in the UDC draft? I recall at the early october meeting your early remarks (prior to public comment) referenced a change or update made vs. the original draft. If so, what is it? I'm interested in the status and is it scheduled to be treated as a separate use category instead of lumped in with Group Living? - If still penciled in under Group Living what is the rationale behind this given the State recently rejected a bill to allow Greek Houses anywhere within 1/2 mile from campus and the City has been compelled to treat them per the code text through 2017? Inotherwords.....why is this the right solution and how does the new UDC propose this be managed? For example....approval, capacity to handle a frat (parking, meeting, sleeping, etc.). I am trying to understand the rationale as to why such a solution is an improvement....please help me to understand the thinking here if true. Chris, understand there is a group of concerned neighbors here looking to understand where we are so that we can comment accordingly. Many thanks. Jeffrey Loeb 4017 S. 4th Ave - Bozeman City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. As such, this email, its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for public disclosure and will be retained pursuant to the City’s record retention policies. Emails that contain confidential information such as information related to individual privacy may be protected from disclosure under law.