HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-15-26 Public Comment - R. Kerin - Rick Kerin and Mary Frost Comments Regarding - Demolition Code IssueFrom:Richard Kerin
To:Bozeman Public Comment
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Subject:[EXTERNAL]Rick Kerin and Mary Frost Comments Regarding - Demolition Code Issue
Date:Monday, June 15, 2026 2:35:05 PM
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Commissioners – We ask that the City Commission strengthen the regulation andadministration of the DEMOLITION CODE (DC) within the current NCOD and the new one
that the City will promulgate and replace. Our concerns are:
The City is administering and enforcing the DEMOLITION CODE without a full-timeHistoric Preservation Officer (HPO) on staff who is not under the direct supervision of
the Community Development Director to tackle this important section of the currentUDC and save the architectural fabric of Bozeman’s core historic neighborhoods. It
troubles us immensely that the COA (Certificate of Appropriateness) buildingpermitting process (within the NCOD) allows an owner of a historic “contributing”
dwelling to receive a COA by simply having approved plans for a replacement dwellingand then letting the existing home sit vacant for two years to receive a demolition
permit. That is what we surmise to be true within the current DC. Currently, City stafflacks an official dedicated to historic preservation who can objectively ensure the City
looks out for the best interests of these historic structures, which constitute Bozeman’sheritage. An HPO official under the direct supervision of our City Commission or City
manager, not the City’s Community Development Director, is the only way to put ourminds at ease that an amended and enforceable DC can ever be unbiased and objective
administering COAs involving DC permits.
We feel that the only way to sustain and encourage the maintenance, restoration,
rehabilitation, or refurbishment of historic “contributing” dwellings and structureswithin the City, particularly its NCOD, is to disincentivize and deter buyers,
developers and speculators from outright demolishing our sustainable and salvageablecontributing historic properties. Furthermore, we would support and encourage the City
to add a substantial surcharge, demolition fee or penalty—say, on the order of$100,000+—for anyone considering a DC COA permit review. This seems to us to be
the only viable way to dissuade speculators from demolishing dwellings and insteadentice them to restore and refurbish involved dwellings. The fees collected from such a
DC process could be dispensed as grants to worthy applicants pursuing funds forpertinent upgrades and enhancements to their naturally occurring historic structures.
We find that the original mission of the NCOD has been a great success in encouragingthe restoration and rehabilitation of historic dwellings and structures. The City has
realized the investment of billions of dollars in preservation dollars invested in naturaloccurring historic structures, since 1991, when the NCOD was originally established.
So, Is the current DC now undermining and jeopardizing that success and investment bydismissively allowing historic homes to be torn down and replaced by non-
compatible/contributing dwellings that retain no qualities, characteristics or featuresresembling the original structure or one compatible with it? Our core historic
neighborhoods are peppered with many beautifully enhanced historic homes and newlyconstructed ones that have followed and adhered to the intent and rules of the current
NCOD. These owners are now seeing their investment jeopardized or compromised bythe loosely administered and dismissive disregard shown toward this past investment by
conscientious and like-minded property owners who believed in neighborhood integrityand were committed to preserving their historic structures.
We realize that every historic structure cannot be saved. Some owners of naturallyoccurring historic dwellings have allowed their properties to fall into disrepair to the
point they can no longer cost-effectively be renovated or rehabbed. If they are torndown and replaced with new construction, owners should be encouraged to salvage
building materials, rather than landfilling them. Additionally new structures built inplace of the demoed ones need to fit the characteristics (mass, scale, features, etc.) of
existing homes within the neighborhood involved. Part of the new HPO’s job would beto encourage and enable this.
Thank you!
Rick Kerin & Mary Frost
609 South 6th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 570-4913
rick@kerinandassociates.com
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