HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-26 Public Comment - R. Rydell - NCOD Overlay and Historic PreservationFrom:Robert Rydell
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Emma Bode; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer; Alison Sweeney
Subject:[EXTERNAL]NCOD Overlay and Historic Preservation
Date:Monday, March 9, 2026 1:16:53 PM
Attachments:letter to city re NCODhistoric preservation guidelines 9 march 2026.docx
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Dear Commissioners; Attached please find our letter concerning your deliberations on the
NCOD Overlay guidelines and Historic Preservation.
Thanks very much,Bob and Kiki Rydell
9 March 2026
Dear City Commissioners: As you consider adopting the engagement plan for the Bozeman
Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the NCOD, it is important that any surveys that are
included as part of the plan include specific visual comparisons for proposed development
projects that will allow neighborhoods, city staff, and commissioners the opportunity actually to
“see” how new projects would comport with historic preservation goals and with the NCOD.
With respect to the latter, it is terribly important that the second bullet point about the goals of
the engagement plan be changed to replace “Address Bozeman’s community character, local
conditions and priorities” with “Address Bozeman’s historical character, local conditions and
priorities.” Note that “historical character” does not mean “no change” or “no development.”
It simply means that new developments within the NCOD contribute to maintaining the
character of existing neighborhoods. There is far too much erasure of the past in national parks
and monuments, not to mention schools and universities where people of color are increasingly
at risk of being “whited out” of America’s story. Erasing the character of neighborhoods is part
of the broader pattern of what is happening across the country with respect to America’s
history more generally. Think of what happened and is happening to the East Wing of the
White House. If historic preservation and a sense of history don’t matter, then the values of
“big and beautiful” really will trump American values—in Washington, D.C. and here.
Sincerely,
Bob and Kiki Rydell
622 South Grand Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715