HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Public Comment - R. Sanchez - Public Comment on The Guthrie – April 1 MeetingFrom:ronglea
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment on The Guthrie – April 1 Meeting
Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 9:09:14 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.
To Whom It May Concern,
I write to underscore a critical fact: Bozeman’s Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District(NCOD) and its Design Guidelines are mandatory city code, not advisory. Any development
within its boundaries—such as the proposed project the Guthrie—must comply with thesestandards. The city’s own code, under Section 38.110.010(B), adopts the NCOD Guidelines
by reference, making them legally enforceable. Further, Section 38.100.050(A) clarifies thatthe most restrictive standards—such as those in the NCOD—govern when conflicts with base
zoning arise.
Yet staff reports continue to misstate regulatory framework. The site of the proposed Guthrieis within the NCOD and therefore all of the NCOD Design Guidelines as mandated by the
Design Guidelines must apply in determining if a Certificate of Appropriateness is warranted.
Additionally, the staff report for the appeal of the Guthrie incorrectly interprets the word“should” in the Design Guidelines as discretionary. Appendix B of the Guidelines clearlydefines “should” as requiring compliance. This misreading opens the door to incompatibledevelopment and undermines decades of preservation policy.
The community is not opposed to growth—but demands it be compatible and lawful. The
NCOD exists to protect neighborhood character, and that protection must be upheld.
The NCOD is law. It must be respected.
Sincerely
Ronald SanchezDirector Of A&R
Career Records
April 1. 2025