HomeMy WebLinkAbout002 Commission Authorization May 12, 2026Memorandum
REPORT TO:City Commission
FROM:Chris Saunders, Community Development Manager
Erin George, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:Authorization to Begin Amendments to Chapter 38, Unified Development
Code on Three Topics and Adoption of Associated Engagement Plan
MEETING DATE:May 12, 2026
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Community Development - Legislative
RECOMMENDATION:Authorize initiation of three amendments and engagement plan
STRATEGIC PLAN:4.2 High Quality Urban Approach: Continue to support high-quality planning,
ranging from building design to neighborhood layouts, while pursuing urban
approaches to issues such as multimodal transportation, infill, density,
connected trails and parks, and walkable neighborhoods.
BACKGROUND:The Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA), Title 76 Chapter 25, Montana
Code Annotated (MCA) is the enabling legislation adopted by the Legislature
that authorizes the City of Bozeman to adopt land use regulations. Sections
76-25-304 and 76-25-401 MCA authorize the governing body of Bozeman to
adopt regulations for zoning and subdivision review processes and
standards. Section 76-25-304, MCA limits the parties who may initiate a
zoning amendment and amendments initiated by the City must be initiated
by a majority vote of the governing body.
Staff requests Commission authorization to proceed with three focused code
amendments. Timing for each is described in the attached engagement plan.
1) Wetlands and Watercourse Submittal Materials Technical Text
Amendment. The City adopted revised regulations for watercourses and
wetlands in 2025. The City relies on other outside agencies who have state
and federal authority to review certain natural resource information and
status for essential information to enable review of proposed land
development that affects wetlands and watercourses. There have been
recent changes in policy and practice by outside agencies that change when
information becomes available to the City. This change needs to be reflected
in the municipal code submittal requirements for land development
applications.
2)2026 Housekeeping 1 - Short Term Rental RA and Clarifications on Non-
conforming Status and B3 Non-residential Parking. During the merger of
Ordinance 2149 into the updated Unified Development Code adopted under
ordinance 2025-12 an unintended change occurred to allowance of short-
term rentals in the RA district. This project will clarify application of
regulations to existing short-term rentals. There was also an error in the
parking requirements that take effect on October 1, 2026 where a table was
not properly carried forward to address the unique requirements of the B3
zoning district. Both of these items are time sensitive and need to be
corrected.
3) 2026 Housekeeping Code Amendments 2. The City regularly updates its
regulations to keep current with changing laws, clarify text that is not
sufficiently clear, correct incorrect references, and correct errors and
omissions.
The engagement plan for the three amendments is presented as a single
document attached to this memo.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None identified at this time.
ALTERNATIVES:As identified by the City Commission
FISCAL EFFECTS:None identified at this time.
Attachments:
May 12, 2026 Combined Engagement Plan.pdf
Report compiled on: April 30, 2026