HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-25 Public Comment - J. Loeb - UDC Special Meeting 7_14_25From:jeffrey loeb
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC Special Meeting 7/14/25
Date:Tuesday, July 15, 2025 10:27:46 AM
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To: City of Bozeman City Commissioners
Mayor Cunningham
Deputy Mayor Morrison
Commissioners Madgic, Bode and Fischer
From: Jeffrey Loeb: 1017 S. 4th, Bozeman 59715, jsloeb8155@yahoo.com
Date: July 15, 2025
Re: UDC Update
City Commissioners:
I attended the first 2 hours of yesterday’s special meeting regarding the Zoning portion of the UDC butwas unable to stay for public comment. I was gratified to hear many of your questions/comments (prior topublic comment) as many of you appeared sensitive to the various zoning, neighborhood andfraternity/sorority issues of many residents (including myself) over the past months.
In this letter I wish to address the fraternity/sorority issue of the UDC. I heard Chris Saunders
presentation to the Committee yesterday and was taken aback by his following comments as to why the
city cannot classify or define fraternity/sorority living separately:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]--> In reference to moving an existing fraternity/sorority house that
wouldn’t comply with a new ordinance: Chris said this isn’t workable. I completely disagree as all of the
related correspondence to the city and Commission I have seen specifically references “grandfathering”
existing houses. His statement is just false…this has been done in Bozeman for decades, I believe.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Chris’ comment that the city can’t determine how to distinguish
Group Living from Fraternity/Sorority Living: Really? If the argument is “there is no difference between 5
non- frat members vs. 5 frat members having a party” …. this argument completely ignores the
“exponential and multiplier” impact and footprint a frat has on neighborhood lifestyle (size of parties,
weekly chapter meeting frequency, lack of event space resulting in spillover closer to neighbors, trash,
parking, etc.). Finally, it appears that Missoula and Billings already have code that DOES distinguish (I’m
certain for the reasons referenced above).
The difference between a 5-person non-frat living Group and a 5-person Frat living situation couldn’t bemore obvious. At the end of the day I have to assume that no one (not neighbors nor the city) want asituation where 5 frat members rent a single-family home as the 50-person chapter location. As youknow this was a very big issue for those living in proximity to what occurred on Garfield a few years back. I am sorry…but feel compelled to state…that it appears City Staff just doesn’t want to do it. I fail tounderstand reasons as to why this “low hanging fruit” couldn’t and wouldn’t be addressed to everyone’ssatisfaction.
Many thanks.
Jeffrey Loeb