HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-26 Public Comment - M. Sweeney - Support for an interim zoning ordinance during NCOD updateFrom:Michael Sweeney
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Support for an interim zoning ordinance during NCOD update
Date:Tuesday, March 24, 2026 9:09:55 AM
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Dear City Commission:
Recently, several hundred residents both from within and outside of the NCOD participated in
a basic survey organized by the Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) to gauge interest inenacting an Interim Zoning Ordinance (IZO). 428 residents responded to the survey, with 83%
supporting that the City Commission consider an IZO for one year while NCOD guidelines areupdated.
The argument that this interim pause (IZO) would harm the delay in building affordable
housing is not well founded. Without the input that the IZO would allow, there is no guarantee
that affordable housing will be a priority. We do not have a housing supply crisis, we have a
housing affordability crisis, as explained by McClure and Schwartz. The latest Bozeman
Economic & Market Update report states that we have a huge surplus of multifamily housing!
In fact, the average multifamily market-wide vacancy rate went up from 12.6% in 2024 to
18.7% in 2025. The vacancy rate for the approximately 1,900 units built in 2024 and 2025
was 44.2% (pp 41-42).
A local government may adopt an IZO as “an urgency measure to regulate or prohibit uses
that may conflict with a zoning proposal that the governing body is considering." NCOD
guidelines are about to undergo an overhaul. I support the City Commission adopting an IZO
to temporarily prohibit demolitions and new large developments (e.g. over 30,000 sq ft)
within the NCOD until the update is complete and until the City is able to hire a new Historic
Preservation Officer.
Thank you for your consideration,
Michael Sweeney (5th generation Gallatin Valley resident)