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Home My WebLink AboutUDC Phase 2 Sup Engage 5-20-25City Commission May 20, 2025 UDC Update Supplemental Engagement Phase 2 Report + Future Steps Engage.bozeman.net/udc Agenda •Brief summary of project •Project schedule •Phase 2 - Supplementary Engagement •Key findings of Phase 2 engagement •Commission direction o Zone map requests – include in UDC or separate process? o Topics for June 24 work session Project Goals •Engagement kicked off in summer 2022 •Staff incorporated feedback •Released draft code in summer •October -project was paused 2023 •Project resumed - September work session at Commission •Supplemental Engagement Plan approved October 1 •Phase 1 Engagement activities occurred November -January 2025 2024 •Phase 1 Engagement concluded, reported to Commission Feb 4 •Phase 2 Engagement February -May 2025 Project Timeline to Date Initial Engagement Project Timeline Other Significant City Projects Engage Bozeman is the go-to location for the latest information on code updates & planning efforts Supplementary Engagement Phase 1 TimingNov 2024- Feb 2025 CommunicationsEngage Bozeman newsletter/ webpage update E-notification + web calendar, front page banner Mailer Press release Paid social media ad + social media posts Paid radio ads Engagement5 Open Houses 1 Webinar 8 Groups Survey on Engage Bozeman Presentations, meetings, & email outreach Supplementary Engagement •Phase 1 – November ‘24 – February ’25 o 5 Open houses, 1 Webinar - 312 attendees o 8 Groups - 126 attendees •5 Neighborhoods •3 Community Groups o Online Survey - 229 respondents Workshop Priorities Housing Support Alternatives Option Description Total %Rank m Allow multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use development as a permitted use on all lots where office, retail, or commercial are primary permitted uses 50 15.9%1 b Zone for higher density housing near transit stations, places of employment, higher education facilities, and other appropriate population centers, as determined by the local government 49 15.6%2 e Allow, as a permitted use, for at least one internal or detached accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a single-unit dwelling occupied as a primary residence 48 15.3%3 j Provide for zoning that specifically allows or encourages the development of tiny houses, as defined in Appendix Q of the International Residential Code as printed on 1-1- 2023 32 10.2%4 a Allow, as a permitted use, for at least a duplex where a single-unit dwelling is permitted;24 7.6%5 h Eliminate minimum lot sizes or reduce the existing minimum lot size required by at least 25%;23 7.3%6 g Allow, as a permitted use, a triplex or fourplex where a single-unit dwelling is permitted;16 5.1%7 k Eliminate setback requirements or reduce existing setback requirements by at least 25%;14 4.5%8 n Allow multi-unit dwellings on all lots where triplexes or fourplexes are permitted.12 3.8%9 d Eliminate impact fees for accessory dwelling units or developments that include multi-unit dwellings or reduce the fees by at least 25%;11 3.5%10 - tie f Allow for single-room occupancy developments;11 3.5%10 - tie l Increase building height limits for dwelling units by at least 25%;11 3.5%10 - tie c Eliminate or reduce off-street parking requirements to require no more than one parking space per dwelling unit 10 3.2%13 i Eliminate aesthetic, material, shape, bulk, size, floor area, and other massing requirements for multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use developments or remove at least 1/2 of those requirements 3 1.0%14 Supplementary Engagement Phase 2 TimingFeb-May 2025 CommunicationsEngage Bozeman newsletter/ webpage update E-notification + web calendar, front page banner Mailer Press release Paid social media ad + social media posts Paid radio ads Engagement4 Workshops 2 Webinars Survey on Engage Bozeman Host your own UDC Chat Presentations, meetings, and email outreach Spring 2025 Workshop Topics 1.Housing - affordability,supply, variety, and choice (March 3, 5, 12) 2.Neighborhood -character, preservation, & compatibility (March 3, 5, 10, 12) 3.Growth - Density, building & transitions including zoning, building height (March 3, 10, 12) 4.Transportation & Environmental - Traffic, parking, ped & bike infrastructure, open space, natural areas, parks, wetlands, urban forest (Feb 24, Feb 26, Mar 12) Phase 2 Engagement •4 workshops, 2 webinars •491 participants •Online survey o 230 participants •5 Community Chat toolkits •6 Advisory Board meetings Advisory Boards •Historic Preservation Advisory Board – March 19 •Transportation Board – March 26 •Urban Parks and Forestry – March 27 •Economic Vitality – April 2 •Sustainability – April 9 •Community Development Board – May 5 & 19 Engage Bozeman Total Visits 30,200 Unique Visitors 17,163 Total downloads 6,024 Oct 2024 text draft downloads 1,088 FAQ views 926 Written Comments •Since start of project in 2022, through May 2025 -697 comments from 446 people -Most frequent commenter - 49 comments •Anyone can always email comments@bozeman.net •All comments publicly available in Laserfiche; links in packet What We Heard Project Goals Online Survey April 17 - May 8 230 respondents 90+ people only answered first 5 questions Demographics (Q22-25) •78% own home; 19% rent •75% lived here >10 years •Age: o 2% ages 19-24 o 14% ages 25-34 o 17% ages 35-44 o 23% ages 55-64 o 17% ages 65-74 •Area: o 34% SE o 27% NE o 21% NW o 6% SE o 4% outside city Online Survey Event Feedback •People participated in a variety of events; many went to multiple •78% found different locations helpful •63% prefer evenings •Most popular method: written comment (32%), then online survey (23%), in-person workshop (20%) Public Involvement •87% (125) have reviewed the draft zoning map •84% (121) have reviewed the draft UDC •72% (163) did not participate in 2017-2020 Growth Policy update, but 63 people did! Online Survey Q9: R-A: Capping density in lowest-density zone (reduced from 8 units/building to 2 in Oct ‘24 draft) Online Survey Q10: Building Height in R-A: Reduce to 2 stories? Online Survey Bulk, Mass & Scale – Questions 11-13 •Q11: Should we use Floor Area Ratio (FAR) rather than wall plate height? o 32% not sure, need more info o 29% support using FAR •Q12: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) sliding scale (more flexibility in building size for more dwelling units) o 32% opposed o 22% support o 16% support, but need more info •Q13: Allow more units or increased FAR if original structure preserved? o 37% support o 26% support, but need more info o 20% do not support Online Survey Q14: Reduce minimum lot sizes Online Survey Q15: Allow neighborhood commercial in R-B & R-C, similar to R-D? Online Survey •Q17: Add transition standards when higher density zone is across street from lower density zone? o 43% support o 21% support, but only in certain parts of Bozeman (e.g. downtown) or very tall buildings (6-7 stories) o 12% oppose •Q18: Modify standards (setbacks, height) in exchange for less rigorous transition standards? o 37% not sure, need more info o 33% support relying on transition standards o 15% support modifying standards (setbacks, height) rather than relying on transitions Zone Edge Transitions Online Survey Q19: How to address mid-block zoning boundaries? Online Survey Q20: Preferred process for modifying zoning map designations? Public Comment Themes: 1.Building Mass and Scale o Method o Standards 2.Zone Edge Transitions 3.Zoning map o Individual requests to change applied zoning district 4.Neighborhoods o Compatibility of new development o Walkability o NCOD clarity, protections Public Comment Themes: 5.Housing – where, how, and how much o Affordability o Integration with existing development o Type, variety, density 6. Environmental Protections o Tree preservation – public & private o Wetlands & watercourses o Sustainability – reduce sprawl, solar (2-sided) Public Comment Themes: 7.Integration with other city projects outside of the scope of the UDC Update including: o Water Adequacy - Integrated Water Resource Plan o Sensitive lands - Wetlands Code Update & Parks, Recreation & Active Transportation Plan (PRAT) o Affordable Housing – AHO Jan 2025 o Neighborhood Conversation Overlay District (NCOD) and Historic Preservation - Landmark Program o Urban Forest - Urban Forestry Master Plan update o Multi-modal – Transportation Plan Update/ MPO Circle back on direction from initial CC work sessions •Formatting - Comments to date on revised formatting have been primarily positive with people appreciating the increased graphics and organization. •Zoning districts – The Commission considered several different alternatives to merge districts and simplify the zoning program and directed deletion of the RO and UMU districts and consolidation of some residential districts. Consolidation generated considerable public input and Commission directed a revised package of zoning districts to separate the former R3 district from the RA consolidation as part of the Oct 24, 2024, draft. Public comment has been mixed but overall supportive of the Oct 2024 change. Public comment has modified to focus more on the methods of setting building bulk and scale limits. Comment received on allowing more homes if existing structures are maintained. Circle back on direction from initial CC work sessions •Sustainability – Amendments proposed in this area, such as urban agriculture, have received little comment. Compact development is also an element of sustainability and comments relating to that overlap with the zoning districts subject. Support in comments for mixed uses and local services with high degree of non-motor accessibility. •Commercial Districts and Transitions – The City Commission directed the removal of the UMU district and enhancement of the transition standards. Little comment has been received on the non-residential zoning districts issue. Considerable comment received on transitions and how districts interface. Circle back on direction from initial CC work sessions •Parking – Minimal changes were proposed to residential parking. Simplification of commercial parking categories and calculations were directed. Comment on commercial parking has happened in modest amounts. Questions on parking and street operations has been received but is outside the scope of the UDC. Recently adopted state laws directly mandate certain parking elements and will be integrated to any updated draft. Minimum parking required by the city per home is restricted. Some non-residential parking also affected. •Prioritization on planning ahead and concentration of public engagement during policy setting process. •Land Use Plan and Issue Plans to explore development impacts and mitigation required for planning period. •Coordination to avoid redundant work in processes. •Revised purposes and criteria for regulations •Encourage housing construction. •Policy development decided by Commission. •Site development decision processes are administrative. MT Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA) – 2023 legislature 2025 Legislature - Related bills that passed a.Parking required minimums – HB 492, SB 243 b.Building height minimum in certain districts – SB 243 c.Administrative review authority for individual developments – SB 121 d.Public notice and comment processes – SB 121, HB 394 e.Factory built homes – SB 252 f.Review processes – multiple bills What’s Next Issues with General Support or Recent Legislation •Lower or No minimum lot size •Allow more units within existing structures •Allow smaller scale commercial uses in RB and RC •Multi-modal transportation •Public transit o Public notice procedures o Parking requirements o Review authority o Daycare location Request for Direction Today 1.Process to address requested changes to zoning map 2.Topics Commission would like to see options for on June 24th 3.Coordination to other city initiatives and public comment submitted through UDC update process June 24th Work Session Potential Subjects 1.Targeted zoning map changes 2.Tools for managing building mass and scale o E.g. FAR, lot coverage, height 3.Zone edge transition methods o E.g. Zone placement, step backs, landscaping, 4.Housing support alternatives (5 of 14 per state law) 5.Coordination to other city initiatives 6.Anything else you’d like to see? Project Timeline Online Survey •92% know which zoning district they live in Online Survey Q16: Which types of commercial do you want to see within ¼ mile walk of your home? Online Survey Q21: Anything else you would like to see change in the UDC? •Simplification & clarity •Density does not create affordability •Spread affordable housing across city •Incentivize more, denser, smaller units rather than large single units or apt bldgs. •No large apartment buildings in SF neighborhoods •Eliminate FAR, wall plate height, min lot sizes •Fix NCOD, add clarity, protect historic resources •Allow >24 units in one building in R-C; too few high density parcels adjacent to downtown core •Parking – Not enough for all the units / lower requirements near transit •Elevate sustainability; climate change •Address watercourses & stormwater •Tree preservation regulations for both public & private property •Survey question wording is flawed / survey is well-constructed •Pause UDC until - local govt study, Community Plan •Listen to/favor people who live here rather than developers •Loud voices/neighborhoods not representative of whole community / NIMBYism, anger, resistance to change Existing Transition Standards 38.320.060 BMC Note: Transition standards are designed to reduce the impact of taller buildings (subject lots) on lower-intensity zoning districts (abutting lots) by regulating yard setbacks and building heights. Applies where zones are different on a property line or alley. -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Percentage of Growth per Decade per US Census Existing Bozeman HOUSING Lots of housing variety – including all these kinds of housing - - already exist in Bozeman Project Resource 1935 1991197319601941 1938 1954 1966 1984 1992 2002 2000 2003 2018 2005 2025 Creation of Unified Code Initial Adoption of Zoning Year Year the Zoning Code was adopted or readopted in entirety with changes. Interim ordinances or subdivision only ordinances not included. Zoning Code History