HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-25 Public Comment - J. Amsden - Objection -- Application No. 24147From:John Amsden
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Tyler Steinway
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Objection -- Application No. 24147
Date:Tuesday, May 20, 2025 10:29:51 AM
Attachments:25-0520 Amsden to City of Bozeman re May 20 2025 Hearing.pdf
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Beck, Amsden &
Stalpes pllc
610 Professional Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718
JOHN L. AMSDEN
PARTNER
Tel: 406-586-8700
Amsden@becklawyers.com
May 20, 2025
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
City of Bozeman
Attn: City Commission and Planning Department
121 N. Rouse Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
comments@bozeman.net
Re: Application No. 24147 (Boutique Hotel Mendenhall) – Request to Pause Approval
Dear Mayor, Commissioners, and Planning Staff:
I am writing on behalf of the owners and tenants of the historic Bozeman Hotel, located at 321
E Main Street, regarding the pending application for the Boutique Hotel Mendenhall
(Application No. 24147). I respectfully request that the Commission pause approval of this
project until key procedural and legal issues are addressed.
The current proposal displaces functioning, code-recognized parking that has long served
Bozeman Hotel tenants and other downtown businesses. This is not merely a question of project
design—it is a fundamental breakdown in planning process and legal compliance.
1. The Proposal Violates Bozeman’s Zoning Code
The applicant attempts to reassign leased parking already allocated to the Bozeman Hotel and
treat it as new inventory. Bozeman Municipal Code § 38.540.060, .070 permits shared parking,
but does not allow the reassignment of an existing parking allocation to a new use without
lawful review and neighbor consent. This is not a gray area. The project effectively
extinguishes long-established rights by sleight of hand.
2. The Planning Process Has Excluded Key Stakeholders
Despite being a direct and materially affected party, I have received no communication—formal
or informal—from the applicant or from City staff in response to the dozens of letters and
emails I have sent since this application surfaced. I have made every effort to engage
constructively. The only response I’ve received is the City’s staff recommendation that the
Commission ignore our concerns. That is not how public planning is supposed to work.
City of Bozeman
May 20, 2025
Page 2
3. The Traffic and Parking Analysis Is Fundamentally Flawed
The applicant misrepresents baseline parking conditions by characterizing the current building
site as “vacant.” This is demonstrably false. In addition, the Pederson lot is actively leased and
in daily use by Bozeman Hotel tenants. The resulting traffic and parking impact study is
therefore inaccurate and incomplete—and the public has not been given a fair or factual basis
on which to evaluate this project.
4. The Commission Should Uphold Its Own Policies
This project contradicts the intent of § 38.540.010, which emphasizes reducing congestion and
protecting the walkable fabric of our downtown. Replacing neighborhood-serving office uses
with dense hotel traffic while removing parking undermines that purpose. At a minimum, such a
shift warrants open consultation, accurate information, and legal clarity.
Request for Action
I respectfully ask the Commission to:
1. Defer approval of the Boutique Hotel Mendenhall until an independent review is
conducted.
2. Require the applicant to provide replacement parking or secure mutual agreement with
affected users.
3. Direct staff to respond substantively to concerns raised by neighboring property owners.
4. Ensure that any parking changes comply with § 38.540.060, .070 and do not rely on
double-counted or misrepresented data.
We don’t oppose growth. We ask that growth occurs lawfully, transparently, and with respect
for the people and businesses that have long anchored downtown Bozeman. The Bozeman
Hotel has stood for 133 years. We ask only that we not be erased without due process.
Sincerely yours,
John L. Amsden