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 "neighborhoodfriendly"
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 DowntownBusiness 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 maximumallowable building height in B-3 and on zone edge transitions (ZETs) in general (asfollows):
(1) The 90-foot maximum height allowance in B-3 by right will adversely affect all adjacentproperty owners and all nearby neighborhoods—and it will weaken current affordablehousing incentives. Please recommend reducing the maximum building height allowance inB-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 tallbuildings. The shadows cast by tall buildings, especially when such buildings are to the southand west of lower intensity zones, need to be considered. And, ZETs aren't the proper tool tomitigate 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 allowedto cede a small strip of land to the City in order to avoid ZET requirements. Additionally, ifbuildings taller than 60 feet are allowed anywhere, a 60-foot right-of-way is not enough of atransition.
(4) Finally, please consider other UDC changes to improve the human experience from thesidewalk and mitigate the adverse effects of noise, light pollution from exterior and interiorlighting, and years-long construction on adjacent neighbors and nearby neighborhoods.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Daniel Carty213 N. 3rd AveBozeman, MT 59715