HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-25 Public Comment - S. Rhodes - comment on UDC amendments for Dec. 2ndFrom:Sale Rhodes
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]comment on UDC amendments for Dec. 2nd
Date:Wednesday, November 26, 2025 11:10:50 AM
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Hello,
I am submitting the below public comment for consideration to encourage amendments to the
UDC that prioritize the sustainability of our shared water and natural resources.
Bozeman has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, with no signs of stopping.While we have seen our communities and economy grow, we must turn our awareness to the
increasing ecological footprint of this growth and establish responsible stewardship practicesto ensure that we are building a Bozeman we all still love living in for years, and generations,
to come.
Currently, the UDC does not highlight the importance of minimizing negative impacts toecosystems and water resources. We must center natural resource stewardship as a priority in
all development, whether parks or subdivisions. This looks like standardization, andenforcement, of wetland and watercourse buffers and setbacks that align with scientifically
backed best practices. Establishing and ensuring that these are undertaken will necessitateexpertise within the DRC. I encourage the city to hire for at least one, if not several FTE to fill
the position of considering ecological and water resource impacts of proposed projects. Thelack of this expertise within the city planning and review staff is a drastic oversight that puts
Bozeman way behind its counterparts and needs to be remedied immediately.
In addition to this, consolidating all water resources requirements, regulations, andinformation into a single package for developers or other project pursuers is needed. This will
clarify the requirements early on and leave little room for loop holes. This will also improveunderstanding of the importance of wetlands and watercourses, and the way they interact with
each other and our whole ecosystem.
The recommendations proposed by the Gallatin Watershed Council include detailed changesto each section of the UDC, making implementation of these amendments clear and plausible.
I am so proud to live in a place shaped by its natural resources and I dearly hope that my
children will get to experience the same privilege as they grow up.
Thank you, Sale Rhodes