HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-25 Public Comment - C. Anders - Public Comment - UDC UpdateFrom:Chase Anders
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment - UDC Update
Date:Thursday, April 10, 2025 6:57:41 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.
Good Morning,I am a Montana native and a resident of Bozeman, living at 1543 Ryun Sun
Way. I am writing to you as your taxpaying constituent to express my concerns regarding thecurrent direction of the UDC "overhaul." I urge you to stop catering to wealthy, out-of-state
developers and to truly listen to the residents of Bozeman about the type of community wewould like to see. It is essential that you consider the following points:
1. Stop the UDC Overhaul Now. Accept the time and taxpayer money that has been spent on
the project as a sunk cost and an investment in an exercise to learn what we don’t want and to
establish more of what we do.2. Bare Minimums for MLUPA Compliance. Make only the changes to the code that are
necessary to address the need for the city to come into compliance with the Montana Land
Use and Planning Act (MLUPA, also known as Senate Bill 382) by May 17, 2026.3. Building Moratorium. Impose a building moratorium on all multi-family and mixed-use
development for 6-12 months, with the option to extend if necessary. Use the break to update
codes and infrastructure. There are literally thousands of units in the pipeline to be built,
which is more than enough to cover growth during this time, especially when Bozeman’s
growth is expected to slow to 1.9% in 2025, the lowest it has been in the last 15 years.4. Define Bozeman’s Identity. Fully engage the public to determine what exactly Bozeman’s
identity is. The “everything for everyone” approach isn’t working. We need to be able to say
who we are, what our community values, and how that translates to the growth policy and
development code.5. Update the 2020 Community Plan. Per MCA Section 76-1-601(3)(f)(iii), the Community
Plan MUST be reviewed at least once every five years. That means it is due for review this year.
A lot has happened since the current plan was adopted, and the community is telling you that
it is not working. Review and update it by meaningfully engaging with residents, starting with a
series of open public forums, town hall-style, to encourage the free exchange of issues and
ideas. Let the citizens of this community lead the decisions, not developers, paid activists, and
personal priorities.6. Redo the UDC After. Once our Community Plan has been updated, then begin to work again
on the UDC and other city plans that will need to be updated accordingly.7. Clarify Buzzwords. Throughout the process, specifically define terms like “compatibility,”
“walkability,” “incremental change,” etc.8. Pause the Landmarks Project. Halt the current work on the “Local Landmarks Project,”
which is an effort to determine the future of the NCOD and provide police guidance for it, and
revisit the project once the Community Plan has been updated. The moratorium on new
construction will allow time to figure out what our priorities should be for historic preservation.9. Realistic Water Plan. Align the Integrated Water Resources Plan with reality and scale back
on the scare tactics used to induce less turf grass and subsequent irrigation.10. Smart Transportation. Plan transportation solutions that work in the current reality, while
thinking about and planning ahead to the needs of the future. This is different from acting now
on a reality that can’t even be realized for 20 or more years.
You need to seriously consider these points.
Best Regards,
Chase Anders