HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-25 Public Comment - M. Stone - Special Use Permit Project 25266 and Proposed UDC Changes for Daycare CentersFrom:Michael Stone
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Special Use Permit Project 25266 and Proposed UDC Changes for Daycare Centers
Date:Tuesday, December 2, 2025 11:56:59 AM
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Dear Mayor and Members of the City Commission,
I am writing to respectfully bring to your attention to an active zoning matter that I believe hasbroader implications for the Unified Development Code (UDC) revisions currently under
consideration.
As of this writing, Special Use Permit Project 25266, which pertains to the operation of a
daycare center in a R-1 residential area, has remained incomplete for nearly six months.Despite the lack of final approval, the daycare center associated with this project has been
operating continuously during this time, generating repeated concerns from neighbors andraising enforcement questions. The site in question sits at the corner of North 17th Avenue and
Durston Road, where observed traffic during peak pick-up and drop-off hours causessignificant congestion in an area with limited visibility, no sidewalks, and no dedicated curb
cuts or drop-off accommodations.
This ongoing situation highlights precisely why the current Special Use Permit (SUP) process
exists: to evaluate neighborhood-specific impacts before a high-intensity, non-residential useis allowed to operate in a low-density residential zone. The fact that this center has been
allowed to operate while unpermitted — and without the benefit of case-by-case review —demonstrates the practical risks of the proposed UDC change to allow daycare centers "by
right" in the proposed R-A district.
Such a revision would effectively remove the City's ability to evaluate safety, traffic, parking,
and compatibility concerns on a site-specific basis. As demonstrated by Project 25266, even asingle facility can generate substantial impact. Allowing similar uses across all R-A
neighborhoods without discretionary review would leave the City unable to prevent ormitigate similar issues in the future.
I urge the Commission to consider this real-world example as a cautionary case — not only forenforcement, but as a reflection of why discretionary review remains a critical safeguard in
preserving neighborhood character and protecting public safety.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael Stone