HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-25 Public Comment - E. Darrow - Protect Historic Preservation in the New Unified Development CodeFrom:Elizabeth Darrow
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Protect HIstoric Preservation in the New Unified Development Code
Date:Tuesday, November 18, 2025 3:49:05 PM
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.
Dear Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Commissioners Madgic, Fischer, and
Bode:
As you move toward adopting the new Unified Development Code, we urge you to ensure thatit fully protects Bozeman’s historic districts—beginning with support for the rezoning
proposals for both the Bon Ton and Centennial Park neighborhoods. At the same time, theCity must resolve the fundamental contradiction of calling the Cooper Park Historic
Neighborhood “historic” while upzoning it to R4. This conflict has already contributed totroubling patterns across our community: the demolition of historic homes and the conversion
of land into large, high-end vacation rentals—classic symptoms of boom-and-bust marketurbanism and speculative real estate investment.
Cooper Park has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, recognized
for its remarkable vernacular architecture, architectural integrity, and high concentration ofcontributing buildings. Yet it is far from static. Many historic homes have been sensitively
adapted into duplexes, ADUs, and multifamily residences without compromising the beauty ofthe tree-lined streets or the strong sense of neighborhood community.
The Commission must affirm the value of Bozeman’s historic neighborhoods—and the
purpose of the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD)—not just in languagebut in policy. Conservation districts exist to encourage restoration and rehabilitation, to
preserve and strengthen the historic character of our established residential, commercial, andindustrial areas. They are not intended to spur redevelopment, a term pointedly absent from
the NCOD’s stated purpose. Yet during deliberations on the new UDC, the CommunityDevelopment Board did not once acknowledge the importance of Bozeman’s historicneighborhoods. This omission is deeply concerning.
Growth is inevitable, but it must be guided by respect for our shared cultural and historicalresources.
Thank you for your consideration,
Elizabeth Darrow & Jim Walseth