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Home My WebLink About11-03-25 Public Comment - T. Steinway - UDC Requested Edits - Sketch Plan ThresholdsFrom:Tyler Steinway To:Bozeman Public Comment Cc:Chris Saunders; Rob Pertzborn Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC Requested Edits - Sketch Plan Thresholds Date:Monday, November 3, 2025 12:10:41 PM Attachments:UDC Requested Edits - Sketch Plan Thresholds 2025.11.3.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. Good Morning – Please see the attached for review & consideration starting with the Community Development Board. Thank you, Tyler Tyler Steinway, AICP | Senior Planner Intrinsik Architecture, Inc. 106 East Babcock Street Suite 1A Bozeman, Montana 59715 O. 406.582.8988 Direct: 406.426.9568 M. 406.220.8210 3 November 2025 Community Development Board via Email: Csaunders@bozeman.net RE: Unified Development Code 9/19 Draft Subject: Request for Amendments: Sketch Plan Review Thresholds We find that the proposed Sketch Plan Review thresholds identified in Section 38.740.060A.3 – Sketch Plan Review should be updated to at least allow for a duplex. Sketch plan review typically occurs at the time of building permit submittal - meaning there is no separate municipal entitlement step required to build under this review process. This is a critical allowance, as it helps speed up the path to construction and eliminates the lengthy and costly site plan process for minimal development. - Currently, the sketch plan review threshold for greenfield sites is four dwelling units (increasing to eight units under the proposed code). - Infill sites, however, are treated differently and are limited to one additional unit. We are requesting that this threshold be increased to two units. It doesn’t make much sense that, as a community, we allow a greenfield site to develop up to an eight-plex without a public process, while an infill lot cannot build more than one additional unit. Allowing up to a duplex to go through the Sketch Plan Process will remove a regulatory barrier to infill. It will make the infill construction process to be more efficient and will eliminate a costly step. It should also be noted that properties within the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) are treated separately and are not eligible for Sketch Plan Review. Please see the requested edits on the following pages. Thank you for your careful considerations, Intrinsik Architecture Robert J. Pertzborn, AIA Tyler Steinway, AICP PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 19, 20257-66 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE | BOZEMAN, MONTANA ARTICLE 7 - PERMITS, LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND PROCEDURES 4. Regulation of lights; 5. Requirement of financial security or other guarantees for cleanup or removal of structure or equipment; and/or 6. Such other conditions deemed necessary to carry out the purpose of this section. sec. 38.740.060. - Sketch plan review. A. Sketch plan submittal requirements. 1. Certain development applications (i.e., not in conjunction with other development) are required to submit only sketch plans which include the information specified in 38.710.100. Sketch plan review may be conducted as part of building permit review or as an independent application. 2. Separate construction plans and compliance with landscaping and irrigation requirements outlined in the most recent version of the City of Bozeman Landscape and Irrigation Performance and Design Standards manual are required for building permits when the proposal requires such permits. Additional information is also necessary when the proposal requires the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness (see 38.710.080 and 38.740.070). 3. Projects and activities that qualify for sketch plan review are: a. Individual single-unit dwellings. b. Adding one dwelling on an infill site. c. Individual duplex, triplex, and fourplex residential unit structures, or a multi-unit dwelling with not more than 8 dwellings on individual lots and independent of other site development. d. Accessory dwelling units. e. Group living for eight or fewer persons on a single lot. f. Fences which do not comply with 38.540.060.A. g. Signs in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. h. Grading of sites, including regulated activities in areas with regulated wetlands, not in conjunction with a land development proposal and disturbing more than one-eighth but less than one-half acre, or movement of more than 30 but less than 100 cubic yards of material, or cut or fill of less than one cumulative foot, whichever is less; i. Special temporary uses per 38.740.050; j. Reuse, change in use, or further development of sites per 38.740.130; k. Essential services Type II primarily underground with no above ground structures larger than 400 square feet and accessory structures associated with these uses. l. Permitted activities in regulated flood hazard areas (i.e. floodplain permits) not in association with a development proposal qualifying as a site plan or subdivision. m. Other similar projects may be determined by the community development director to require only sketch plan review. PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 7-67 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE | BOZEMAN, MONTANA ARTICLE 7 - PERMITS, LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND PROCEDURES 4. The community development director may determine submittal requirements in addition to those in 38.710.100. Projects which do not require sketch plan review may still require review and permitting for non-zoning issues. B. Sketch plan review procedures. 1. No certificate of appropriateness required. Sketch plans for projects which do not require a certificate of appropriateness must be submitted to the community development department for a determination of compliance with the requirements of this chapter. Once compliance is achieved, the application will be approved for construction. In determining whether compliance is achieved the community development department must consider the individual circumstances of the site when the development is subject to 38.740.130. 2. Certificate of appropriateness required. Sketch plans, including the material required by 38.710.100, and such additional information as may be required for projects which require a certificate of appropriateness as per 38.740.070 must be submitted to the community development department, who must review the proposal for compliance with this chapter, including compliance with the applicable overlay district requirements. Once compliance is achieved, the application will be approved for construction or referred to the appropriate permitting authorities. C. Sketch plan review criteria. Sketch plans must be reviewed for compliance with all applicable requirements of this chapter including overlay district requirements and the cessation of any current violations of this chapter. Determination of compliance may also consider lawful nonconforming conditions per 38.790. Plan changes may be required. Where appropriate, the city may approve a sketch plan with restrictions which limit the duration of the use. sec. 38.740.070. - Certificates of appropriateness—Additional review procedures and review criteria. A. Review procedures and criteria for certificates of appropriateness. 1. Certificates of appropriateness must be issued according to procedures and criteria specified in 38.710.080 and 38.240.020, in addition to this section. 2. Sign proposals which specifically conform to the requirements of this chapter must be reviewed according to procedures and criteria outlined in 38.550. B. Demolition or movement of historic structures or sites located outside of the neighborhood conservation overlay district. 1. Demolition or movement of historic structures or sites located outside of the neighborhood conservation overlay district must be reviewed according to procedures and criteria outlined in 38.240.020.I. 2. Certificates of appropriateness must be issued according to procedures and criteria specified in 38.710.080 and 38.240.020, as applicable, in addition to this article.