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HomeMy WebLinkAbout002 SUP Written NarrativePROOF Architecture 37 E Main St, Suite 10 Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 570-3235 Dean Burgess, AIA Principal PROOF Architecture LLC 37 E Main Street, Ste 10 Bozeman, MT 59715 dburgess@proofarch.com (406) 570-3235 October 6th, 2025 Planning Division Department of Community Development Alfred M. Stiff Professional Building 20 East Olive St. Bozeman, MT 59715 RE: Request for Special Use Permit in relation to Residential Emergency Restoration Permit Application #25-00039411: Dear Planning Division, I am writing to request a Special Use Permit in parallel with permit application #25-00039411 for the emergency restoration of a single-family residence located at 3390 S 23rd Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718. The home was damaged by fire in the summer of 2025 and sustained a partial structural loss. Much of the existing structure remains serviceable, as described below. Please see the attached plans for the original home, as permitted in 2017, and photos of current site conditions below. This project is being undertaken as an emergency measure to return the building to service in its original form and function. The owner is committed to restoring the character and continuity of the existing street front and neighborhood as quickly as possible. It has come to our attention that site plan approval is contingent upon meeting the residential garage setback standard of UDC Sec. 38.350.070.C.2, which requires all street-facing garages to be at least four feet behind the primary front façade. The plans as submitted show the garage façade slightly proud of the residential portion of the structure—matching the design of the original, permitted home. As designers, we understand and support the intent of this requirement to reduce the visual prominence of garages under normal development circumstances. However, this project is unique due to its emergency restoration nature. Please note that this is neither a new build, nor is it a typical remodel project undertaken at the owner’s discretion. It is worth noting that the covered front porch roof massing extends past the garage façade, giving the entryway visual prominence over the garage volume in a manner that addresses the intent of the requirement. Page 2 of 6 The home was built in 2017, just before the garage setback requirement took effect. It was developed by Sunrise Homes, a large-scale builder that constructed the entire block in a coordinated effort. All homes share a consistent character, including massing, styling, setbacks, and garage massing. Indeed, the configuration of the garage-to-front façade relationship, entryway, and front porches is identical on all the homes on the block. Any deviation from the uniform nature of the street front would noticeably stand out. A minor reconfiguration of the interior plans is proposed, modifying the layout of the main level bedrooms. The exterior form remains essentially unchanged from the original design. Only subtle adjustments to windows are visible from the street, none of which will be visually significant. The foundation, main-level subfloor decking, portions of the main-level framing, and all site infrastructure (including the driveway, garage slab, front porch slab, entry walk, public sidewalk, and mature landscaping) remain intact. All aspects of the existing site conditions may remain in service without modification. These conditions allow the home to be restored efficiently with minimal disturbance to the site and neighborhood. Complying with the current garage setback requirement would necessitate demolishing the intact foundation, framing, slabs, driveway, and landscaping, and force a complete redesign. The result would be a new design that distinctly contrasts with all the houses on the block in terms of proportion, form, and character. The project, as submitted, is in the best interest of the community. It will restore the home’s original form, restore the continuity and character of the neighborhood, repair the unsightly damage to the structure, return a high-quality family dwelling unit to service, and re-home an elderly couple that has been unexpectedly displaced. Given these extraordinary circumstances, we request that a Special Use Permit be granted to allow the site configuration to remain as originally constructed. Sincerely, Dean Burgess, AIA Attached 1. SUP Application 2. Original 2017 permit drawings 3. Vicinity map 4. 3D perspective 5. Proposed site plan 6. Proposed floor plans 7. Proposed elevations See (7) photos following pages Page 3 of 6 Photos 1. Existing Site Condition from Street 2. Existing Condition of Structure – Intact foundation, hardscape, and landscape Page 4 of 6 3. Existing Condition of Structure – Intact garage foundation, hardscape, and landscape 4. Existing Condition of Structure – Large extents of framing remain serviceable Page 5 of 6 5. Neighbor to North – Identical garage-to-front façade configuration 6. Neighborhood to South - Identical garage-to-front façade configuration Page 6 of 6 7. Character of Neighborhood - Consistent configurations of garage façades throughout