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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-24 Public Comment - K. Powell - Concerns for Location of New or Relocation Fraternity or Sorority Houses (UDC)From:KPowell & S Griswold To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Concerns for Location of New or Relocation Fraternity or Sorority Houses Date:Sunday, September 15, 2024 11:45:55 AM Attachments:Concern F&S house locations in UDC REvisions.pdf 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 share the attached letter with City Commissioners for their UDC Work Session this Tuesday Sept 17. There are many people concerned about where new or relocating Fraternity or sorority Houses can be located. Thank You Kathy Powell406-600-1164powellgriz@icloud.com September 14,2024 To: Terry Cunningham, City of Bozeman Mayor Joey Morrison, Deputy Mayor Commissioners, Jennifer Madgic, Douglas Fischer and Emma Bode From: Concerned Bozeman Residents RE: LocaGons for New or Relocated Fraternity or Sorority Houses There are a number of issues Bozeman neighbors are concerned about in the proposed Unified Development Code. One issue is where new or relocaGng fraterniGes or sororiGes can locate in the City of Bozeman. Prior to 2017 the UDC listed Fraternity and Sorority Houses as a unique “Separate Residential Use’” They could locate in R-3, R-4, ofGice and commercial zoning districts but were not allowed in R-1 or R-2. The requirements for parking, lot size, and open space for fraternity and sorority houses were the same requirements as for Group Living. Unbeknownst to neighbors and neighborhoods, the city removed Fraternity and Sorority Houses as a “Separate Residential Use” and folded them into Group Living, allowing them in any residential zoning district. When a single-family home on GarGield, in R-2, was rented to 4-5 men, the neighbors were ok with that, as they recognize it is a college town and were used to renters having occasional parties. However, they learned it was not just 4-5 men but really a 50-member fraternity. How was that possible when the UDC rules they knew said that could not happen? The change was apparently referenced in microscopic print in the Bozeman Chronicle, but was not brought up in 2017 when City Planning shared proposed UDC changes with the Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) or part of the “Bozeman Code Update Neighborhood Deep Dive” PowerPoint presentation by city Planning. Strange that making a change to allow a fraternity or sorority house in any residential neighborhood was not brought up because it can really impact the livability of an existing neighborhood. This change was hugely disruptive. Many neighbors felt unsafe as large parties and big gatherings happened most weekends and often during the week. Police were called when the parties ran late into the night and spilled onto GarGield. Discussions with the fraternity and MSU about concerns did not help. This single- family home had a small living room and TV room, nothing near big enough to hold 50 members of a fraternity for parties, meetings or events. So events spilled outside. Overnight this single-family home became an “Event Center” – shocking neighbors. It has also shocked and concerned residents in other Bozeman neighborhoods worried that other fraternities or sororities could rent or buy a single-family home and set up a chapter (MSU gets weekly inquires especially from fraternities about coming to MSU). Fraternities and sororities have their own culture, activities and exuberance. They are popular at MSU and MSU is growing. They need space, parking and adequate sized facilities to express themselves without creating hostility and police intervention. Several large Greek houses were built along 5th and 6th years ago for fraternities and sororities and are still active. Greek Way, off Kagy, was given that name to encourage Greek Houses to be there. That was the intention of the private landowner who donated the land to MSU years ago. He wanted to have a location for new or relocating fraternity or sororities. NOTE: City Municipal Code in Missoula and Billings specify that fraternity and sorority houses be located in denser zoning districts, not in the equivalent to R-1 or R-2. Both cities list them as a “Separate Use”. Missoula also lists Fraternities and Sororities as a subset of Group Living. We are requesting the proposed UDC be revised to: • List Fraternity and Sorority Houses as a “Separate Use” as a subset under Group Living. • Allow new or relocating fraternity and sorority houses ONLY in high density mixed use zoning districts with adequate parking mandated to support large gatherings. • Follow the same requirements as Group Living for parking, lot size, open space, on-site occupancy and duration of occupancy. • Define Fraternity/ Sorority house in UDC. As an example, the Billings Muni code uses the following definition: “Fraternity/sorority house: A dwelling or dwelling unit occupied by and maintained exclusively for fraternity or sorority members, their guests or visitors and affiliated with and acknowledged as a fraternity/sorority house by an academic or professional college or university or other recognized institution of higher learning.” Respectfully, Concerned Bozeman Residents Kathy Powell Serena Mercer Jeff Rupp Steve Griswold David Mercer Eileen Carpenter AlisonTodd Susan Hinkins Mikaela Goia Howie Kathy Rich Richard Gillette Cynthia Evans Suzie Johnson Michelle Osman Juliet Osman Emily Talago Emily Hooker John Knaub Betsy Garrigues Alan Hooker Sarah Helfrich Greg Garrigues Ron Brey Creston Stewart Aimee Stewart Claire Cantrell Mary Lou Osman Phil Stewart Tim Marcinko Tonya Stevens Linda Semones Kathy Marcinko Randy Babbitt Alison Sweeney Beth Antonopulos Cara Priem Andy Knaub Richard Charron Steve Betters Trish Sherman Kristin Charron Ron Johnson Patty McGown Jill Davenport Richard Moore Nels Curnov Jim Goetz Deb Boon Amy Sowers Royce Gorsuch Blair Bodie Barb Costigan Marilyn Payne Caiseal Orsini Susan Van Diver Linda Livingston George Livingston Arnold Dood Terri Dood Mikaela Bader Jeff Loeb Maggie Beal Dylan Taylor Sarah Olson