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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHP Work Session Slides July 2026Historic Preservation Program Work Session Local Landmark Program & Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) Design Standards Project Update July 28, 2026 Agenda Where we have been •Overview of Historic Preservation Program •Local Landmark Project Phase 1 Recommendations Where we are now •Update on the status of each project Where we might be going •Questions for you National Register Listed Sites & Historic Districts Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 38.240.020 Design Guidelines 1987 1991 2006 Historic Preservation Program 1991 Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) & Historic Districts Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) Bozeman City Limits NCOD in Context •Bozeman led the state and we have a robust program. •Our program is overdue for a comprehensive review and update. •Challenges include: •Historic preservation practice has evolved since the early 2000s •Federal guidelines were overhauled in 2017 and we have not kept up •Our historic resource inventories are out of date •Areas and sites outside of the NCOD may deserve more recognition •The 2006 design guidelines are vague and challenging to implement Historic Preservation Program Local Landmark Project Phase 1 Phase 1 of the Local Landmark Project kicked off in 2023 and involved research, data analysis, and significant community engagement. The final policy report presented to Commission in 2025 contained several recommendations, including: •Development of a program to recognize structures, sites, and districts that have historic or cultural significance in our community •Completion of historic preservation code updates not addressed during the larger UDC update •Overhaul of the NCOD Design Guidelines Local Landmark Project Phase 1 “The City should prioritize completing an update to the design guidelines as soon as possible. Existing design guidelines should remain in place until a full overhaul is completed. At that time, the old guidelines can be repealed, and the new guidelines can take effect. Recommendations for full design guidelines overhaul include but are not limited to:” Agenda Where we have been •Overview of Historic Preservation Program •Local Landmark Project Phase 1 Recommendations Where we are now •Update on the status of each project Where we might be going •Questions for you Ongoing Projects Project: Local Landmark Phase 2 Consultant: Community Planning Collaborative Project: NCOD Design Standards Consultant: Hire new in winter 2026 •Create a Local Landmark Program •Update the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) Design Guidelines •Revise BMC 38.240.020 o Demolition o COA Process & Deviations Ongoing Projects – Local Landmark •Started: framing a Local Landmark Program •Historic Preservation Advisory Board heard about examples across the country and gave input on the purpose and eligibility criteria •Currently: on hold while code revisions move forward first •Timeline: to be determined, possibly early-2027 •Up Next: finish developing the program •Next steps would include deciding what applies to a designated Landmark – regulation, honorary recognition, incentives, etc. •We would then determine the process for applying the identified actions Ongoing Projects – Local Landmark •Currently: drafting revisions to the demolition code •HPAB heard about reasons for and limitations to regulating demolition of structures on private property •Also heard about current regulations and reviewed data on the number and type of demolitions approved in recent years •HPAB provided feedback on what they would like to see addressed through code revisions •Up Next: present & discuss draft code revisions •Timeline: August 19 HPAB Meeting Ongoing Projects – Design Standards •Community Engagement Summary NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS Ongoing Projects – Design Standards Ongoing Projects – Design Standards What are the character defining features of the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District? Ongoing Projects – Design Standards Ongoing Projects – Design Standards And how do we plan neighborhoods with character? (EXAMPLES) 38.210-230 – lot standards for sidewalk & boulevard width, setbacks, tree spacing •building standards for floor height, building height & width, setbacks •building standards governing windows and door placement 38.260.010 – street-facing façades, frontage 38.260.040-050 – coverage and open space, pedestrian-oriented design •streetscapes, boulevards & street trees 38.260.100-110 – building massing, wall plate height 38.540 – landscaping, urban forestry master planning 38.260.070 – zone edge transitions 38.510 – non-motorized circulation, access to sidewalks, pathway design •balcony & rear property line standards for light, air, privacy •location & screening of service areas Ongoing Projects – Design Standards Ongoing Projects – Design Standards •Currently: seeking policy direction from Commission •We continue to hear concerns about protecting “neighborhood character” •Concerns about the effect of bulk/mass/scale of new buildings on existing neighborhoods continue to dominate the conversation •These issues are clearly front of mind in engagement feedback, more so than detailed regulation of historic architectural design features •Up Next: engage a new consultant to complete project •Timeline: to be determined, possibly Winter 2026 Agenda Where we have been •Overview of Historic Preservation Program •Local Landmark Project Phase 1 Recommendations Where we are now •Update on the status of each project Where we might be going •Questions for you Questions Do you agree with the proposed sequence of work? 1.Revise historic preservation code sections 2.Update the NCOD Design Guidelines 3.Develop & adopt a Local Landmark Program 1 Questions Do you want to modify the dimensional standards established in base zoning districts through the NCOD? •If yes, which standards should the NCOD modify (i.e., height, width, setbacks, lot coverage, etc.)? •Further, why are the modifications necessary only in this part of the city? 2 Zoning Districts in the NCOD •The NCOD is a large and diverse area. o Downtown o Older, single-family style neighborhoods o 7th Ave corridor o Northeast historic and new manufacturing o University area density •The NCOD contains 12 zoning districts. Bulky Buildings in the NCOD •We mapped 11 of the buildings that are frequently referenced as being tall, boxy, and incompatible with the neighborhood •Most are in B-3 (7) and B-2M (2) zoning districts •Many are right on the edge of the zoning district Questions What outcome(s) do you want to see from regulating demolition of structures?3