HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-11-25 Public Comment - D. Losoff - Public comment on proposed UDC plan re_ NEHMU proposalsFrom:David Loseff
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Douglas Fischer; Emma Bode; Terry Cunningham; Jennifer Madgic; Joey Morrison
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public comment on proposed UDC plan re: NEHMU proposals
Date:Tuesday, November 11, 2025 12:30:37 PM
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Dear Mayor and Commissioners,
Please accept my following public comment on the proposed land use sizer restrictions for
both Restaurants and Retail in the NEHMU district:
38.320.090. Article 3. D. restricting restaurant areas to 2,500 sf
38.320.090. Article E. d (2) restricting retail areas to 2,500 sf.
While I agree and applaud the objective of allowing for the creation of small independent and
cool type restaurants, bars and retail shops in the area.......and we want to avoid allowing forbringing in a large concept chain like Texas Roadhouse or the next Chuck E. Cheese or
whatever, while I appreciate the revision which increases the allowed restaurant or retail spaceto the 2,500 sf level, that size still seems small and makes things less economically viable if
this 2,500 sf applies to the ENTIRE restaurant or retail space. Think about my Bacchus Pubwhich has something around 2,000 sf in its public bar/restaurant service area but we
significantly exceed that square footage when you take into consideration our non publiccommercial kitchen area, prep spaces, dishpit, refrigerator and freezer storage, dry storage,
etc. I would guess that more space is used in totality for places like Seven in the CanneryDistrict or Blackbird downtown with its expanded space (which it needed to be economically
viable) and many other such funky independent places which you want to encourage in theNEHMU district. These total space square footage needs get even larger if you consider
putting in a Brewery concept like another Mountains Walking. I believe that one easy wayto fix the problem would be to limit the Restaurant (or Retail) PUBLIC SERVICEAREAS to 2,500 sf but NOT including the non public commercial kitchen or storageareas in that 2500 sf limitation. I believe that approach of limiting the size of the public
service areas while allowing these businesses to have more Back of the House and storagespace not included in the 2500 sf limit would enable you to meet your objectives of keeping
any new restaurants or retail in this area to cool, independent and boutique sizes but stillgiving them enough total space to operate their businesses.
Respectfully,David Loseff
105 W. Main St.Bozeman, MT. and also owner of a property in the NEHMU district at East Cottonwood and
Front St. (which we want to renovate and restore and activate).