HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-15-25 Public Comment - D. Loseff - UDC Public Comment letter. Building Height Restrictions in B3 and B3-C. UDC 38.220.050From:David Loseff
To:Terry Cunningham; Douglas Fischer; Jennifer Madgic; Emma Bode; Joey Morrison; Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Alison Sweeney
Subject:[EXTERNAL]UDC Public Comment letter. Building Height Restrictions in B3 and B3-C. UDC 38.220.050
Date:Sunday, December 14, 2025 10:01:46 PM
Attachments:bozeman. udc. building height. bardo photos.1. pdf.pdfbozeman. udc. building height photos.1.pdf
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Dear Mayor and Commissioners,
I appreciate your prior revision to reduce the allowable building heights in the B3 to 70' from
the prior proposed 90' height. However, I would still encourage you to further reduce theheight restriction to 60' throughout our walkable historic downtown district commensurate
with the height limit set for the B3-C. At a minimum, please do not heed to requests of ahandful of hungry developers seeking a reversion back to higher levels to improve their
project returns at the expense of our historic district.
I am currently the owner of the Baxter which was built nearly 100 years ago via the efforts ofthe Baxter community. It long predates my ownership and will be intact long after I am gone.
While I am currently the owner, I am basically the steward of this historic anchor of ourcommunity for a brief period of time. Consequently, while I have and will continue to make
upgrades and improvements to this treasured property, I have an obligation to protect,safeguard and preserve this precious historic asset.
Just as I have tried being a good steward of the historic Baxter, many of my
neighbors.....property and business owners and respective employees.....have invested largeportions of their lives and personal savings into supporting, refurbishing, protecting and
enhancing our historic downtown and turning it into one of the most beloved historic areas inour country. The outpouring of families and the entire community for our Christmas Stroll, Art
Walks, 4th of July and MSU Homecoming events, Sweet Pea, and other Community Events,etc. provide ample evidence of the specialness and importance of our entire walkable historic
downtown core to our community. It is our town's history and its soul.
As City Commissioners, you will only occupy your seats for short periods of time compared tothe longstanding history of Bozeman dating back to 1863 and during your short tenures, you
have a similar obligation to be strong stewards and protectors of our precious historicdowntown which encompasses both the B3-C and the broader B3. The decisions you make on
the revised UDC with respect to height limits, setbacks, building plates, etc. will result inlongstanding irrevocable impacts on our precious historic downtown. Respectfully, it is your
obligation as stewards of our downtown during your brief period in office to protect, preserveand enhance our historic downtown and not screw it up by allowing for irrevocable adverse
developments which destroy the soul of our precious asset.
The pressures to accommodate increased building heights, increased density and ongoinggrowth and development is acute. Bozeman is threatened by its success. Not only are
increasing numbers of people discovering and coming to Bozeman, it has also been discoveredby institutional and private equity capital seeking strong economic returns. In many cases this
influx of capital is a necessary and valuable tool supporting the development of new housing
and revitalization of various places in Bozeman such as the old Gallatin Valley Mall and theN. 7th. corridor and new multifamily housing. But this capital needs to be subjected to very
tight UDC controls since much of this new outsider investment money is only driven byincreasing returns without regard to real impacts on our community.....parking impacts,
blocking views, destroying the historic heart of our community. Much of this money is comingfrom sources who don't live in our community and won't suffer the consequences of their
development decisions resulting in a lot of drive-by, hit and run development.......ugly butprofitable boxes along our prime corridors. If you grant them extra height allowances or
eliminate setback requirements or allow for big box exterior fronts, they will happily grabthose accommodations for an extra 1% of investment returns without the slightest concern for
its impacts on our town.
As City Commissioners at this point in time, you are the sole guardians of our precious andirreplaceable historic downtown core. You need to impose tight height restrictions and other
development guidelines much as the way other cities have protected their irreplaceable historicdowntown core areas such as Jackson WY (30'-39'), Boulder (38'), Aspen (42' and lower),
Vail, and even larger cities like Scottsdale AZ (40'-48' in its historic district), Boston's BeaconHill (3-5 stories max), Charleston SC (50 ft max), etc.
I have attached photos of the "ghost of Christmas future" for Bozeman if you fail to impose
appropriate height restrictions on new buildings in our downtown historic core. Basically it issome of the big ugly unimaginative boxes already coming into our town but with my markings
reflecting an added 2-4 stories of height. As a town, we can do better and as CityCommissioners you are the stewards with the power and obligation of safeguarding our
historic district.
Respectfully,David Loseff
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