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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-26 Public Comment - D. Strahn - Derek Strahn's Comments re_ Height Restrictions, 3-8-26From:Derek Strahn To:Bozeman Public Comment Cc:Emma Bode; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer; Alison Sweeney Subject:[EXTERNAL]Derek Strahn"s Comments re: Height Restrictions, 3-8-26 Date:Sunday, March 8, 2026 3:14:48 PM Attachments:Strahn"s Height Limits Comment Letter.pdf 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. March 8, 2026 Dear Bozeman City Commissioners: As a longtime resident of Bozeman, a resident and homeowner in the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD), and a former Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Bozeman, I am writing to express my concern about height restrictions in the engagement plan for the NCOD Design Guidelines rewrite. To put it bluntly, the ninety feet height restriction now being contemplated for approval by City of Bozeman is too high. Such an increase would have a dramatic impact on the historic character of Downtown Bozeman and the surrounding historic residential neighborhoods of the NCOD. I want to be clear. While I am, heart and soul, an historic preservationist, I have never been an anti-growth advocate. Older neighborhoods in my view are not, and should never be, untouchable museum pieces. Nonetheless, they should be central to any thoughtful, forward-looking community’s smart-growth approach to local planning. Finding solutions that prioritize compatible new development with existing character- defining resources, including Bozeman’s historic districts, is essential for the continued vitality and livability of our beloved community. Voting to increase the height of new buildings to ninety feet in Bozeman’s historic core would not only be an unpopular decision, it would also be forever damaging to our local identity. Given public concerns about improper public notification regarding this matter, it would also likely trigger expensive lawsuits which the City clearly cannot afford. The obvious solution to this challenging and contentious situation is not to proceed full steam ahead with the scheduled upcoming vote on Tuesday, but rather to pause any further decision-making on this matter until the public has had adequate time to research and ponder the ramifications of such a momentous decision. My sense is that few city residents, aside from those closely associated with the development community, strongly support the construction of ever-increasingly large buildings in the downtown area. In the interest of all concerned, the City Commission should seriously consider the merits of placing the proposed height increase on the ballot in order to enable the largest possible number of local residents to voice their opinion. With the recent resignation of our Historic Preservation Officer, the City of Bozeman should not be approving new large buildings in the NCOD until this important matter, the revised NCOD guidelines, and the ongoing Landmark Project are completed. There is room in Bozeman for both a robust historic preservation program and a thriving local economy that centers in part upon new development, affordable housing, and smart growth. Take the needed time, properly advertise, educate, and let the people have a greater voice in planning the all-important future of our beloved community. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, B. Derek Strahn 412 West Harrison Street, Bozeman, MT 559715 406-587-0254 derek.strahn@gmail.com March 8, 2026 Dear Bozeman City Commissioners: As a longtime resident of Bozeman, a resident and homeowner in the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD), and a former Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Bozeman, I am writing to express my concern about height restrictions in the engagement plan for the NCOD Design Guidelines rewrite. To put it bluntly, the ninety feet height restriction now being contemplated for approval by City of Bozeman is too high. Such an increase would have a dramatic impact on the historic character of Downtown Bozeman and the surrounding historic residential neighborhoods of the NCOD. I want to be clear. While I am, heart and soul, an historic preservationist, I have never been an anti- growth advocate. Older neighborhoods in my view are not, and should never be, untouchable museum pieces. Nonetheless, they should be central to any thoughtful, forward-looking community’s smart-growth approach to local planning. Finding solutions that prioritize compatible new development with existing character-defining resources, including Bozeman’s historic districts, is essential for the continued vitality and livability of our beloved community. Voting to increase the height of new buildings to ninety feet in Bozeman’s historic core would not only be an unpopular decision, it would also be forever damaging to our local identity. Given public concerns about improper public notification regarding this matter, it would also likely trigger expensive lawsuits which the City clearly cannot aVord. The obvious solution to this challenging and contentious situation is not to proceed full steam ahead with the scheduled upcoming vote on Tuesday, but rather to pause any further decision-making on this matter until the public has had adequate time to research and ponder the ramifications of such a momentous decision. My sense is that few city residents, aside from those closely associated with the development community, strongly support the construction of ever-increasingly large buildings in the downtown area. In the interest of all concerned, the City Commission should seriously consider the merits of placing the proposed height increase on the ballot in order to enable the largest possible number of local residents to voice their opinion. With the recent resignation of our Historic Preservation OVicer, the City of Bozeman should not be approving new large buildings in the NCOD until this important matter, the revised NCOD guidelines, and the ongoing Landmark Project are completed. There is room in Bozeman for both a robust historic preservation program and a thriving local economy that centers in part upon new development, aVordable housing, and smart growth. Take the needed time, properly advertise, educate, and let the people have a greater voice in planning the all-important future of our beloved community. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, B. Derek Strahn 412 West Harrison Street Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-0254 derek.strahn@gmail.com