HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.3 - Caddis Response to Pre-App DRC Comments
May 16, 2025
City of Bozeman Planning Department
Attn: Nakeisha Lyon
20 E. Olive Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
RE: Response to DRC Comments – Lot 1, Block 1 The Parklands Pre-Application
Review Application 21191
Dear Nakeisha,
This letter is to provide a narrative response to the DRC comments. Responses to the City pre-
app comments are provided in bold italics.
Planning Division, Nakeisha Lyon, nlyon@bozeman.net, 406-582-2963
1. The zoning district of R-4 requires a minimum density of eight (8) dwelling units per net
acre. Based on the overall net acreage of the Parklands at Village Downtown
Subdivision, twenty-three (23) dwelling units must be provided to meet the minimum
density requirements. Block 2 is proposed to be subdivided into nine (9) single-family
residential lots, with previous indications that Block 1 was for multi-family development,
which is not depicted within this submittal. Fourteen (14) dwelling units must be provided
within Block 1 in order to meet the minimum requirements for density. Accessory
dwelling units do not count towards the minimum density calculations. Please address
this issue accordingly.
• Acknowledged. At least 14 dwelling units will be constructed within Block
1, with at least 6 of the 8 lots containing 2 residential dwelling units.
2. The waiver request denotes that Sec. 38.220.060.A.17 is for Parks & Recreation;
however, this section is for Neighborhood Center Plan. Please amend this discrepancy
accordingly.
• Acknowledged and corrected. It is noted that waivers have been granted
for both 38.220.060.A.16 and 38.220.060.A.17.
3. Sec. 38.220.030 denotes that the location of all existing structures, including buildings,
railroads, power lines towers, and improvements inside and within 100 feet of the
proposed subdivision must be depicted. Please amend the plan accordingly.
• All improvements within 100’ of the proposed subdivision are shown. The
existing condominium, The Lofts, to the west is over 150’ away and the
2
Railroad is over 250’ away.
4. Sec. 38.220.030 denotes that the zoning classification within the proposed subdivision
and adjacent to it must be depicted. Please amend the plan accordingly.
• Zoning of adjacent properties is now shown on the preliminary plat map.
5. The preliminary plat shall conform to all requirements of the Bozeman Municipal Code
and the Uniform Standards for Subdivision Plats (Uniform Standards for Certificates of
Survey (COS) and Subdivision Plats (24.183.1104 ARM).
• The preliminary plat meets the above-referenced requirements.
6. Please provide the Municipal Facility Exemption Information for the utilization of the
Certificate of Exclusion from Montana Department of Environmental Quality Review.
• It is acknowledged that a signed Municipal Facility Exclusion will need to
be submitted to and approved by MDEQ prior to filing the final plat.
7. The Final Plat associated with the Parklands at Village Downtown must be approved
prior to the submittal and approval of the Preliminary Plat associated with Block 1 of the
Parklands.
• The Final Plat of The Parklands at Village Downtown has been approved by
the City of Bozeman and was recorded within the records of the Gallatin
County Clerk and Recorder on December 7, 2021 as Document #2760679.
Engineering Division, Karl Johnson, kajohnson@bozeman.net, (406) 528-2281
1. BMC Section 38.220.060 - The applicant has requested a waiver for providing additional
subdivision preliminary plat supplemental information as outlined in BMC 38.220.060.
Engineering has reviewed the request and is not in support of waving the preliminary
plat supplements required for the Parklands Subdivision at Village Downtown preliminary
plat given that certain aspects of the supplements may have changed after the
preliminary plat application.
Engineering understands that most of the supplemental information will most likely be
the same as what was provided with the Parklands Subdivision at Village Downtown
preliminary plat application. Therefore, the applicant must provide all of the previous
preliminary plat supplements as well as a brief narrative describing if any aspects of the
supplements have changed. If the supplements have changed, than the applicant must
update the supplemental information to reflect the current development conditions.
• It is understood based on communication with engineering and planning
on September 28, 2021 that the supplemental items referenced here are
3
Water/Sewer, Stormwater Management, Streets/Roads/Alleys, and Utilities.
These items have been updated and are provided with this Preliminary Plat
application. All other supplemental items have been granted waivers.
2. BMC Section 38.23.180 - The transfer of water rights or the payment of cash-in-lieu
(CIL) of water rights shall be provided. The applicate should contact Griffin Nielsen, with
the City of Bozeman Engineering Department, for determination of payment.
• See message below from Griffin Nielsen.
3. Due to the known high groundwater conditions in the area no basements will be
permitted with future development of the site. No crawl spaces will be permitted with
future development of the site, unless a professional engineer registered in the State of
Montana certifies that the lowest point of any proposed structure is located above the
seasonal high groundwater level and provide supporting groundwater data prior to the
release of building permit. In addition, sump pumps are not allowed to be connected to
the sanitary sewer system or the drainage system unless capacity is designed into the
drainage system to accept the pumped water. Water from sump pumps may not be
discharged onto streets, such as into the curb and gutters where they may create a
safety hazard for pedestrians and vehicles.
• This note will be provided on the Conditions of Approval page of the Final
Plat.
Northwestern Energy; Kory Graham, NWE Project Engineer,
kory.graham@northwestern.com
1. Gas and electric primary utilities are in place to serve the lots. Prior to the start of
4
construction of the individual homes, submit an application online to have the area
engineer work with the applicant. Go to www.northwesternenergy.com/construction to
apply online Montana Construction Application, and access Montana New Service Guide
to provide information on electric and gas service requirements.
• The backbone gas, power, and communications infrastructure necessary for
the development of Block 1 was installed with the Parklands Subdivision in
2021 in the easement adjacent to Block 1 along Audubon Way. Lot purchasers
will need to apply for service to their individual lots prior to the
commencement of construction.
2. The electric meter & or CT cabinet will need to be installed in the same general location
within 10-feet of the gas meter. NorthWestern Energy reserves the right to specify the
location of our meters. All meters are to be located outdoors on the corner or in a
location on the building closest to the transformer or secondary junction can serving the
building unit. On new construction, electric meter locations must be within 10 feet of the
gas meter if NorthWestern Energy will be providing both electric and gas service. Meter
locations will need to be approved by NWE. NWE policy is to maintain a minimum 30-
inches wide by 3-feet clear zone between the front of the meter and landscape
screening or wall screening for self-contained meter bases and 48-inches for
installations requiring cabinets. Location of the meter(s) shall allow easy access to the
meters for operation and maintenance.
• Acknowledged.
3. Gas meters. The following applies to all structures in regards to the gas regulator.The
gas regulator cannot be placed under a window or within 3’ of the operable portion of the
window. It can be placed under a window/deck on the second story, provided the
“open/operable” portion has at least 6’ of clearance from the regulator. Ensure that there
is 10’ of separation from any mechanical air intake, including air conditioning units. The
regulator will need to be 3’ from the closestcorner of any portion of the electric meter
base.
• Acknowledged.
4. Transformer location to Building. For oil filled transformers a 2-foot clearance is required
to non-combustible walls and surfaces that do not have any openings such as doors,
windows, air intake, and fire escapes routes, and meets current NECor NFPA
requirements for non-combustible material. For transformers 750kVA &larger a 3-foot 6-
inch clearance is required. For both locations, 10-feet of clearance is required on the
front side of the pad where the transformer doors arelocated. Note, all distances are
referenced to the edge of the pad. For any combustible surface, not meeting current
NEC or NFPA requirements for non- combustible material, a minimum of a 10-foot
clearance is required. For planting of bushes or shrubs a Minimum Working Space for a
Pad-Mounted Transformer, is 4-feet on the sides and back portion of the concrete pad
5
and 10-feet of clearance on the front side of the pad where the transformer doors are
located. Note, all distances are referenced to the edge of the pad. The NWE project
engineer will help to determine the appropriate location for the transformer. Due to
COVID-19 there has been an impact on receiving larger three phase and single phase
transformers and a longer timeline may be needed to receive the needed equipment for
these services.
• Acknowledged.
5. Landscaping. No large, deep rooted trees or bushes will be allowed within the 10-foot
utility easement. All other approved landscaping will be placed so as not to damage,
prevent or hinder operation and maintenance of NWE utilities.
• Acknowledged.
Parks Division, Matthew Lee, mjlee@bozeman.net, 406-582-2339
1. The parkland amount proposed for the overall Parklands Subdivision is sufficient at this
time.
• Acknowledged.
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or need any additional
information to complete your review of this project. I can be reached at (406)-581-4097 or
mcotterman@caddiseng.com.