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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-17-26 Public Comment - R. Kerin and M. Frost - Re_ Rick Kerin and Mary Frost Comments Regarding - Demolition Code Issue From: Robert Hawks To: Richard Kerin Cc: Bozeman Public Comment;Jim Webster; Danielle Nicholas;Todd Wilkinson;Mary Lou Osman;Alison Sweeney; elizabeth.darrow(abgmail.com; Bob Eke v; Dell Fuller;Lisa Prugh;skirchoff3(ftmail.com; Daniel Carty; Mona Matheus;iim(nbmountaintimearts.org;Susan Dabney;laurastanley(obgmail.com;Greg Vallor; lansverk(cbearthlink.net; kentcanadabozeman(caamail.com; Pam Bode; Kade Woolverton; Edbo Genet;Tenn wong. Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: Rick Kerin and Mary Frost Comments Regarding-Demolition Code Issue Date: Wednesday,June 17,2026 4:12:00 PM 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. Dear City Commissioners: The enclosed comments well express my concerns about the inadequacy of the current review process, which does not adequately represent the broader interest of our dynamic community. Please keep in mind that the development codes ideally encourage conservation of housing and neighborhoods that provide a natural transition to meet the changing needs of individuals and family. This does not mean that we will always be able to live in our desired location, but rather encourages us to plan and work to meet our goals. Please provide adequate over-site to keep this wonderful city intact. Regards, Bob Hawks, former City Mayor On Mon, Jun 15, 2026 at 14:34 Richard Kerin<rick c&kerinandassociates.com>wrote: Commissioners—We ask that the City Commission strengthen the regulation and administration 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-time Historic Preservation Officer(HPO) on staff who is not under the direct supervision of the Community Development Director to tackle this important section of the current UDC and save the architectural fabric of Bozeman's core historic neighborhoods. It troubles us immensely that the COA (Certificate of Appropriateness)building permitting process (within the NCOD) allows an owner of a historic "contributing" dwelling to receive a COA by simply having approved plans for a replacement dwelling and 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 staff lacks 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's heritage. 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 our minds 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 structures within the City, particularly its NCOD, is to disincentivize and deter buyers, developers and speculators from outright demolishing our sustainable and salvageable contributing historic properties. Furthermore, we would support and encourage the City to add a substantial surcharge, demolition fee or penalty—say, on the order of$1 00,000+—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 instead entice 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 for pertinent upgrades and enhancements to their naturally occurring historic structures. o We find that the original mission of the NCOD has been a great success in encouraging the restoration and rehabilitation of historic dwellings and structures. The City has realized the investment of billions of dollars in preservation dollars invested in natural occurring historic structures, since 1991,when the NCOD was originally established. So, Is the current DC now undermining and jeopardizing that success and investment by dismissively allowing historic homes to be torn down and replaced by non-compatible/contributing dwellings that retain no qualities, characteristics or features resembling the original structure or one compatible with it? Our core historic neighborhoods are peppered with many beautifully enhanced historic homes and newly constructed 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 by the loosely administered and dismissive disregard shown toward this past investment by conscientious and like-minded property owners who believed in neighborhood integrity and were committed to preserving their historic structures. • We realize that every historic structure cannot be saved. Some owners of naturally occurring 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 torn down and replaced with new construction, owners should be encouraged to salvage building materials, rather than landfilling them. Additionally new structures built in place 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 be to encourage and enable this. Thank you! Rick Kerin & Mary Frost 609 South 6th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 570-4913 rickPkerinandassociates.com KEI--,IN & ASSOCIATFS, PC, DESIGNERSCONSULTING ENGINEERS / PLANNERS / The information contained in this e-mail may be privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient,the use of this information(including copying,disclosure,or distribution)may be unlawful.