HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-24 Public Comment - D. Carty - UDC update (City Commission meeting, Sep 17, 2024)From:Daniel Carty
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC update (City Commission meeting, Sep 17, 2024)
Date:Monday, September 16, 2024 7:57:18 PM
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(Please place the following public comment in the UDC Update folder, Application 21381.)
Mon, Sep 16, 2024; 8:00pm
To: Bozeman City Commission
Subject: Sep 17, 2024, City Commission meeting; Work Session G.1: UDC Update
I am writing as an individual Bozeman resident to comment on Work Session G.1: UDC
Update (as follows):
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN – PHASE 2
Project Title: Building Our Future Together: Updating the Development Code
Key Partners, Constituents, and Community Groups
Internal (additions needed, as follows):
(a) Director of Parks and Forestry (tree protection, urban forest protection).
(b) Historic Preservation Officer (Historic preservation, Landmark Program, Heritage Tree
Program, NCOD expansion and strengthening).
(c) Water Conservation Program Manager (surface water supply and ground water supply,
cash-in-lieu of water rights).
Advisory Boards (additions and a new board needed, as follows):
(a) Urban Parks and Forestry Board (tree protection, urban forest protection, PRAT Plan).
(b) Historic Preservation Board (Historic preservation, Landmark Program, Heritage Tree
Program, tree ordinance, and NCOD expansion and strengthening).
(c) Inter-Neighborhood Council (representation for downtown core and all other
neighborhoods without HOAs/POAs, NCOD expansion and strengthening).
(d) Create a Surface-water and Ground-water Supply Advisory Board (currently, no
advisory board has substantive input into the City’s surface-water and ground-water supply
planning and management).
Key Questions
What decisions are we gathering public input on?
1. Which focus areas of the UDC do residents most want to discuss?
(a) Natural Resources (land, water, and air). Bozeman is part of the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem, and thus the City has the responsibility to be a good land, water, and air
steward by requiring environmentally responsible development, which in turn will lead to
long-term environmental sustainability and long-term climate resilience (e.g., Bozeman
Community Plan and Bozeman Climate Plan).
(b) Affordable housing that is also environmentally responsible, i.e., do not allow
development code that pits affordable housing against Bozeman’s natural resources (land,
water, and air).
(c) Proposed upzoning of Bozeman's downtown core (do not allow it).
(d) Protection of Bozeman’s historical character and sense of place via, e.g., historic
preservation options, Landmark Program, Heritage Tree Program, tree ordinance, NCOD
expansion and strengthening, encouraging naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH),
and creating an affordable housing overlay zone (AHOZ).
2. What revisions to the draft code language should be considered that both reflect
community values and keep in mind the vision and goals of the Community Plan, Climate
Plan, and Community Housing Action Plan?
(a) Modify existing environmental (land, water, and air) protection codes such that these
codes are enforceable, or write new environmental protection codes that are enforceable.
For example, protecting Bozeman’s urban forest (all public and private trees) is key to the
City’s long-term environmental sustainability and long-term climate resilience. Implement a
Landmark Program, Heritage Tree Program, and a tree ordinance. Require an in-house
urban ecologist to do on-the-ground reviews of every proposed development project.
(b) Amend 38.410.130.D of the Bozeman Municipal Code to deny developers the option to
pay cash-in-lieu of water rights unless they provide 33% or more of the units in a
development as deed-restricted in perpetuity and sold at 80% area median income (AMI) or
less or rented at 60% AMI or less. Require all affordable units to be built to the same size
and quality as market-rate units. This requirement would apply to all residential and mixed-
use development in the City. In addition, repeal the ability of developers to satisfy their
water adequacy requirements by implementing offsite water efficiency or conservation
measures. Require AMI percentages to be revised annually to keep housing for sale and
for rent affordable to Bozeman’s workforce.
(c) Do not allow the proposed upzoning of Bozeman’s downtown core neighborhoods,
which are the heart and soul of Bozeman’s historical character and sense of place.
(d) Repeal the existing Affordable Housing Ordinance (AHO), and re-write it as part of the
UDC update such that it will apply to new greenfield development only, is environmentally
responsible, and is environmentally sustainable.
(e) Expand and strengthen the NCOD, and create an affordable housing overlay zone
(AHOZ) for existing neighborhoods within the NCOD and within all other existing
neighborhoods without HOAs/POAs.
(f) Eliminate parcel assembly, and implement floor area ratio regulations.
4. At what stages in the decision-making process is the public being asked to participate
(see graphic)?
(a) From this point forward, all UDC-related meetings should be video-recorded and open
to in-person attendance by the public (perhaps some meetings for observation only and
other meetings for participation).
(b) A professional facilitator should be present at all meetings in which the public can offer
in-person oral comment.
(c) Bozeman’s electorate (registered voters)—not the City Commission—should be the final
decision-maker on a proposed final version of a UDC update. For example, a proposed
final version of a UDC update should be placed on the ballot for a Yes or No vote by
Bozeman’s registered voters.
Daniel Carty
213 N. 3rd Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715