HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-26z Public Comment - P. Moore - Interim Zoning OrdinanceFrom:City of Bozeman, MT
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]*NEW SUBMISSION* Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Date:Tuesday, April 14, 2026 3:14:34 PM
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Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Submission #:4762504
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Submission Date:04/14/2026 3:14
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Full Name
Patrick Moore
Email
riverartisan@gmail.com
Phone
(320) 841-1487
Comments
See attached
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Letter to encourage open discussion of IZO recomendation from the INC .pdf
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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April 14, 2026
Letter to the Bozeman City Commission
Re: Lack of Public Discussion Re: Interim Zoning Recommendation from the INC
My name is Patrick Moore, and I reside at 409 Mineral Avenue on Bozeman’s West side. I am an elected
steering committee member of the Valley Unit Neighborhood Association (VUNA).
I am writing to express my profound dismay regarding the City Commission's decision not to act on a formal
recommendation from the Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) to discuss a proposed Interim Zoning Ordinance
(IZO). This IZO would provide a temporary, necessary pause on the demolition of existing structures and the
processing of new applications for large-scale buildings (exceeding 20,000 square feet) within the
Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD). Such a pause is critical while NCOD Design Guidelines
are being updated and adopted to ensure our city's character is preserved during this transition.
I learned during last week’s INC meeting, via a report from Commissioner Fischer, that the Commission
declined to even discuss the INC’s recommendation. Apparently, the topic lacked the three votes required to
place it on the official agenda. The refusal to hold a public discussion on this matter is deeply puzzling and
raises serious questions about the level of respect the City Commission holds for the INC and the citizens it
represents.
In my role with VUNA, I regularly volunteer my time to serve as a conduit between the city and my neighbors. I
inform residents about Commissioner walks, street sweeping schedules, and traffic initiatives. I have walked
door-to-door with flyers for the Fowler Avenue Connection project and encouraged participation in surveys
regarding downtown parking and mountain bike trail development. I spend several hours each month informing
myself so that I can effectively support "Engage Bozeman" within my neighborhood.
This leads me to ask: is this engagement a one-way street? It seems the Commission values the INC when it
serves as a megaphone for city information, yet ignores the Neighborhoods when we collectively ask for a seat
at the table to discuss policy.
During the April 9th INC meeting, Commissioner Fischer mentioned that the City Attorney had concerns
regarding an IZO. However, when asked for specifics, he described these objections as "nuanced" and
declined to elaborate. He offered only to relay our "disappointment" to the rest of the Commission.
I am here tonight to tell you that "disappointed" is an understatement; I am insulted. Our volunteers put in
extensive time gathering input from our neighbors, compiling responses, and sharing results. For a moment, it
felt like a new dawn for inclusive, transparent, and interactive local government. Instead, our efforts and the
resulting INC recommendation were summarily ignored. Consequently, the public is denied the opportunity to
hear the City Attorney’s "nuanced" legal opinions or understand why our elected officials believe an interim
ordinance is supposedly a poor idea.
I urge you to reconsider this issue and vote to place the IZO on the agenda for your next meeting. There is no
time to waste. The NCOD review is currently underway, and we cannot risk seeing historic structures
demolished for 90-foot buildings before clearer design guidelines and Landmark Program details are finalized.
Implementing an interim zoning ordinance is a logical step that the City has successfully taken in the past.
At the very least, we deserve a public discussion. I have neighbors on Bozeman’s West end who care deeply
about the historic character of our downtown core. I do not want to tell them that their representative body
refused to even talk about their concerns. That would be a significant blow to the spirit of transparency and
public trust that I am working, on behalf of the city, to inspire in the Valley Unit Neighborhood.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Moore
409 Mineral Ave
Bozeman, Montana 59718