HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-26 Public Comment - D. Carty - Reduce max building height in B-3 to 60 feet, and make all Zone Edge Transitions _neighborhood friendly_ From: Daniel Carty
To: Bozeman Public Comment
Cc: Ellie Staley;Emily Cope;Joey Morrison;Douglas Fischer;Jennifer Madgic;Alison Sweeney;Emma Bode
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Reduce max building height in B-3 to 60 feet,and make all Zone Edge Transitions"neighborhood
friendly"
Date: Monday,August 17,2026 6:35:26 PM
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Mon, Aug 17, 2026; 6:40 p.m.
[Please distribute this email (1) to all members of the Downtown Urban Renewal Board
(DURB) for their meeting on Tue, Aug 18, at 12 noon, (2) to all members of the Downtown
Business Improvement District Board (DBID) for their meeting on Wed, Aug19, at 12 noon,
and to all City Commissioners for their meeting on Aug 25. Thank you.]
Dear DURB members, DBID members, and City Commissioners:
I am writing to comment on the DURB's and DBID's respective work sessions on maximum
allowable building height in B-3 and on zone edge transitions (ZETs) in general (as
follows):
(1) The 90-foot maximum height allowance in B-3 by right will adversely affect alf adjacent
property owners and aff nearby neighborhoods—and it will weaken current affordable
housing incentives. Please recommend reducing the maximum building height allowance in
B-3 to 60 feet by right (which is the same maximum height as in B3-C).
(2) Zone Edge Transitions (ZETs) should focus on mitigating the adverse effects of tall
buildings. The shadows cast by tall buildings, especially when such buildings are to the south
and west of lower intensity zones, need to be considered. And, ZETs aren't the proper tool to
mitigate the adverse effects of industrial or manufacturing uses adjacent to residential uses.
(3) ZETs should be required in more locations. And, new developments should not be allowed
to cede a small strip of land to the City in order to avoid ZET requirements. Additionally, if
buildings taller than 60 feet are allowed anywhere, a 60-foot right-of-way is not enough of a
transition.
(4) Finally, please consider other UDC changes to improve the human experience from the
sidewalk and mitigate the adverse effects of noise, light pollution from exterior and interior
lighting, and years-long construction on adjacent neighbors and nearby neighborhoods.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Daniel Carty
213 N. 3rd Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715