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Home My WebLink About08-19-25 Public Comment - K. Rich - Fwd_ Fraternity and sorority chapter houses in draft UDC.From:Kathy Rich To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fwd: Fraternity and sorority chapter houses in draft UDC. Date:Monday, August 18, 2025 8:04:19 AM Attachments:Suggested definition letter F&S chapter houses.pdf 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. Please see attached letter regarding fraternity and sorority chapter houses in draft UDC. Thank you and best Regards, Kathy Rich August 15, 2025 To: Mayor Te rry Cunningham Deputy Mayor Joey Morrison Commissioners Jennifer Madgic, Emma Bode & Douglas Fischer From: Kathy Rich, Sam Mitchel and Kathy Powell RE: Suggested definition for fraternity & sorority chapter houses in draft UDC Many neighbors from multiple Bozeman neighborhoods have concerns about where new or relocating fraternity & sorority chapter houses can locate. Neighbors living in the University Neighbors Assoc. (UNA), Cooper Park, South Central Assoc of Neighbors {SCAN), Bogart Park, Bozeman Creek, Jandt, Midtown; and Northeast Neighborhood Assoc, are especially concerned about fraternity & sorority chapter houses setting up in single family homes in their neighborhood. The Draft UDC treats fraternity & sorority chapter houses as Group Living which is allowed in all residential and commercial zoning districts. It is a problem when a fraternity or sorority of 20, SO or more members are using a single family home that does not have a meeting room large enough to hold their active membership. This is not about existing fraternity or sorority chapter houses. They have been here for decades and have chapter houses large enough to hold meetings, events, and parties within their chapter house. There can be challenges with the existing chapter houses but not like the problems created by the fraternity that set up in a single family home on Garfield. At your July 14, 2025 City Commission work session the last item discussed was fraternity & sorority chapter houses. One focus was on defining these houses and who uses them. The City Commissions and City Attorney Greg Sullivan indicated a definition for fraternity & sorority chapter houses should focus on activities rather than the people and their affiliation. Several neighbors got together after this July 14th meeting to talk about drafting a definition with an activity focus. Fraternities & sororities have activities for regular meetings, events, and parties. Below is a suggested definition that reflects the Billings definition of fraternity & sorority chapter houses and also addresses their activities. Fraternity and/or Sorority chapter house: a dwelling for group living occupied by and maintained exclusively for members of the chapter, their guests or visitors, and affiliated with and acknowledged as a fraternity or sorority chapter house by any recognized institution of higher learning or national fraternal or sorority authority. 1.A chapter house regularly hosts on-site activities including chapter meetings; events and parties which include Amusement & Recreation and Arts & Entertainment; and may allow consumption of alcohol on premises (for which members and guests may have to pay). 2.The chapter house must have a Meeting hall with the capacity to safely (per Bozeman City Code Chapter 18 and subsections) accommodate 90% or more of their active members. Because members are typically required to attend chapter meetings, and parties or events typically include members plus multiple guests, this Meeting hall capacity will frequently be needed and may at times be exceeded. 2 Interesting, when you look at the draft UDC at Allowed Uses 3-4 & 3-5** you will find that Amusement & Recreation, Meeting Hall, and Arts & Entertainment are NOT allowed in Residential Zoning Districts. The definitions of these uses in the draft UDC 8-3, 8-4, & 8-22** align with activities fraternity & sorority chapter houses regularly do. Currently there is no definition for fraternity & sorority chapter houses yet fraternity & sorority are used within the definition of Household, Community Center and Cooperative living. Those definitions state that they do NOT include fraternities or sororities. Neighbors are asking City Commissioners to include in the draft UDC: 1.A definition for fraternity & sorority chapter houses 2.Listing fraternity & sorority chapter houses as a type or subgroup of Group Living 3.Allowing fraternity & sorority chapter houses only in nonrestdential zoning districts to align with what is listed as Not an Allowed Use (Table 38.300.020) for Amusement & Recreation, Meeting Hall & Arts & Entertainment-activities conducted at fraternity & sorority chapter houses. Fraternity & sorority chapter houses would still need to meet Group Living use standards listed in 38.320.040B as well as parking requirements. However, the density section in use standards does not deal with full active membership of fraternity & sorority members that are regularly at the chapter house. Then there is Greek Way, a street, when donated to MSU years ago was meant to be for fraternity & sorority chapter houses. Currently there are 2 fraternities on the west side of Greek Way. The east side of Greek Way is currently vacant. Most of the land is owned by the state of Montana, MSU & Facilities Services, or just MSU. It is currently zoned R3 but potentially could be adjusted to accommodate fraternity & sorority chapter houses. The most recent MSU President was not interested in having more fraternity or sororities on Greek Way. However, it is not known what interest the new President, Brock Tessman, may have. It might be useful in the near future to have some City Commissioners & staff, along with neighbors and Dean of MSU Students (Matt Caires) meet and talk about Greek Way. We appreciate your consideration of this neighborhood, quality of life issue. It is healthier and safer to prevent conflict ahead of time for both neighbors and members of fraternity & sorority chapter houses. Kathy Rich Sam Mitchell Kathy Powell 406-581-0197 Bozeman 1020 S 3rd Ave Bozeman 406-600-1164 Bozeman **See attached Oct 29, 2024 draft UDC references 3 City of Billings Definition of fraternity/sorority house: A dwelling or dwelling unit occupied by and maintained exclusively for fraternity or sorority members, their guests or visitors and affiliated with and acknowledged as a fraternity/sorority house by an academic or professional college or university or other recognized institution of higher learning. Sec 38 300.0?0 -Allowed use table. RESIDENTIAL Use General Residential p p p • p • ·-· . :------+-......--Single-unit dwelling Two-unit dwelling Thr��-u�J_t dwelling Four-�_r::_i�welling Multi-unit dwelling p p ! p ! p --------. ---l-----+--p---.--p----11-p-t----t Townhouse/rowhouse Manufactured home community Group Residential Community residential p p p ----· ---------i-----t-----I P* P* p P* j P* i P* P* Up to 8 residents P P P P ·------+----+---+---+---+-�9 or more residents S P P P Cooperative household P P P P � Group living Lodging house Recreational vehicle park Transitional & emergency housing Recreation, Culture & Entertainment Adult business �-Amusement & re-creation I _ -�-* _____ P* i P* P* f s ! s ! p p----.----!--+--+-� S* : S* i i ; I S* ' S* ! S* ! ! S* �--+---�-----Arts & entertainment _... center =-Meeting hall Use Standard �: ·.•• •· .. ' �� im'S� 38320040.A 38.320 040.B 38320040.C 38 320.040.D 38.320040.E 38.320.050.A 38.320.050.B 4 Definitions City of Bozeman Draft UDC October 29 2024 / Meeting hall. An enclosed hall, building, or portion of a building used for the purpose of hosti�g I conferences, banquets, luncheons, c.ub nieet, gs� and other similar public or private act1v1t1es, and not meeting the definition of community center. '( Amusement and recreation. Uses that provide continuous or periodic entertainment or recreational '-.. actIvIty Animal shelter. A facility providing care or boarding of domesticated animals, either for compensation or as a public service. Animated sign. A sign depicting action, motion, light, or color change, or that change the sign displayed through electrical or mechanical means. Excludes those signs denned as revolving signs. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DRAFT I OCTOBER 29. 2024 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE I BOZEMAN, MONTANA 8·3 Arts center and/or entertainment center. A structure or facility for the presentation of the performing / arts, including indoor motion picture theaters; theaters for li'{e performances; indoor concert halls; and studios for arts education, such as dance or paIntIng. Also includes entertainment actIv1t1es such as arcades; bowling alleys or pool halls. The term "arts and entertainment center· does not include any business meeting the definition of adult business as defined by this chapter. •• 5.Persons or groups granted a request for a reasonable accommodation to reside as a single housekeeping unit pursuant to 38.760.070. 6."Household" does not ir.iclude'.---· , ... a.Any society, club, fraternity, sorority assocIatIon, lodge, combine, federation, coterie,----�---cooperative housing or like organization; b.Any group of individuals whose association is temp9rary or seasonal in nature; c.Any group of individuals who are in a group living arrangement as a result of criminal offenses; or d.Any group of individuals living in a structure permitted as transitional or emergency housing pursuant to this chapter. B.So_?perative housing �oes not rn_ean any society, club, fra��n1ty, �orority, association, lodge, organization or other individuals with a common living arrangement or whose basis for the establishment of the housekeeping unit is for a period of less than 12 months. ------- Community center: A building or portion of a building used for nonprofit cultural, educa-tional,---- recreational, rel1g1ous or social activities which is open to the public or a designated part of the public,usually owned and operated by a public or nonprofit group or agency. Examples of communitycenters are sch�ols, churches, Boys and Girls Clubs, and similar uses. Community center does notinclude fratern1t1es, lodges or similar uses --------- - ,...-._ --------== .