HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-27-26 Public Comment - E. Staley - Downtown Urban Renewal District Board of DirectorsFrom:City of Bozeman, MT
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]*NEW SUBMISSION* Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Date:Monday, July 27, 2026 3:16:54 PM
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Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Submission #:4972971
IP Address:24.72.200.4
Submission Date:07/27/2026 3:16
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Full Name
Ellie Staley
Email
ellie@downtownbozeman.org
Phone
(406) 581-3827
Comments
See attached letter from the Downtown Urban Renewal District Board of Directors
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DURD Public Comment-UDC height B3_CommDev.pdf
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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July 27, 2026
Dear Community Development Advisory Board Members,
As members of the Downtown Bozeman Urban Renewal District (DURD) Board, we are writing to reaffirm our
support for the adopted 90-foot building height allowance in downtown Bozeman and respectfully encourage
the Community Development Advisory Board not to recommend changes to this recently approved standard at
this time.
The Unified Development Code was the result of an extensive, multi-year public process involving significant
input from residents, business owners, developers, appointed boards, and elected officials. Throughout that
process, the DURD Board consistently supported a 90-foot height limit in the downtown core because we
believe it strikes the right balance between accommodating thoughtful growth, encouraging investment, and
maintaining a vibrant, walkable urban center. We were pleased to see that vision ultimately reflected in the
adopted code.
While we understand that some members of the community have requested the height standard be revisited,
we believe it is premature to reconsider such a significant policy change before the community has had an
opportunity to see the adopted regulations implemented. The new code should be given time to work as
intended and be evaluated based on real-world outcomes rather than speculation.
Equally important, predictability and consistency are essential to successful planning and investment. There
are currently several significant downtown projects being reviewed under the recently adopted code. Reopening
a fundamental development standard so soon after adoption creates unnecessary uncertainty for applicants,
property owners, investors, and the community at large. A stable regulatory environment is critical to
encouraging quality development and maintaining confidence in the planning process.
The adopted 90-foot height allowance, combined with the UDC's strong design standards, provides the
flexibility to encourage high-quality, mixed-use development while preserving the character of downtown. It
supports additional housing and commercial opportunities, strengthens local businesses, expands the tax
base, and directs growth to the urban core. This approach aligns with the Downtown Urban Renewal District's
mission to encourage reinvestment and increase taxable value, while also supporting the recommendations of
the 2019 Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Community Development Advisory Board to support maintaining the
adopted 90-foot height standard and allow the Unified Development Code to be implemented and evaluated
before considering further amendments.
Thank you for your continued service to our community and for your thoughtful consideration of this important
issue.
Sincerely,
The Downtown Bozeman Urban Renewal District Board
www.downtownbozeman.org