HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - T. Stevens - For the Community Development Board UDC hearingFrom:Tonya Stevens
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]For the Community Development Board UDC hearing
Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 11:05:28 AM
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Dear Board,
I read that the mayor of Bozeman has today announced that the process of reviewing the
proposed changes to Bozeman's UDC has been paused/extended. I had wanted to get
comments to you prior to your meeting this evening, but now I feel as though I can make
better-informed comments later in the year once I have studied the proposed changes more.
Many thanks to the people who helped make this pause decision on behalf of concerned
citizens of Bozeman.
I will register just a few comments now:
I appreciate the work city staff has done in many aspects of the UDC changes. The
reformatting of the code is appreciated. My husband and I are homeowners who have
been getting permits from the city for remodeling projects, and we have experienced
combing through the unrevised code for regulations that would apply to us. So far, we
like the new look and functionality.
The presentation of the old and new zoning maps with a slider is quite useful.
However, I take issue with the opening sentence on the web page, "Bozeman is
completely replacing its development regulations including a new zoning map.
This map allows you to compare new and old zoning." This very much sounds like
a done deal. It would lead a member of the public to believe that their input on
the boundaries and development regulations will no longer be taken into
account.
My husband and I are not opposed to many of the proposed means of encouraging
density within the city. But we agree with others who have written that the allowance of
larger units (3-story, 8-unit, 10,000 sq. ft) in a proposed R-A zone will be too much. We
live in the NCOD overlay of the University neighborhood district where many apartment
buildings currently exist. We like the diversity of housing around us and would not be
opposed to more duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. We have concerns about the
increased need for parking and increased demand on the water and sewer
infrastructure and would wish assurance that what exists would be able to handle
increased capacity. And where would all those cars go?
We would like to see a modification of the proposed size and shape of buildings at
transition zones to lessen the loss of sunlight and vegetation to the affected neighbors.
More on that in later letters.
Last, but not least, is the worrisome inclusion of fraternities and sororities in group living
housing designation once again. I do not wish to see another lawsuit brought against a
fraternity or sorority because they are in an inappropriate but technically legal building.
Let's be the city that decides that Greek organizations are not just using a house
as a residence, but also as an event venue, in which case there must be numerical
limits on meeting population per size of building. I live in the university district
and some party sounds are usual and even enjoyed, but great spillover to the
outdoors of partying members due to mismatched population with size of
building should not recur.
Thanks to the Community Development Board and the Planning Dept. of Bozeman for the
incredible amount of work you continue to do. We appreciate living in a place where we
public citizens can help our governing bodies with the process of societal change.
Tonya Stevens
1310 South Grand Avenue
(406) 209-7592