HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-04-26 Public Comment - R. Hillman - Response to URGENT_ Request for Cultural Resource Inventory _ Historical Review – Application No. 23245 (811 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman)From:Planning Technician
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:Fw: [EXTERNAL] URGENT: Request for Cultural Resource Inventory / Historical Review – Application No. 23245
(811 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman)
Date:Friday, September 4, 2026 1:11:16 PM
Attachments:Outlook-mjhul0km.png
Trenton Ruffalo
CD Tech II | Community DevelopmentCity of Bozeman | 20 East Olive St. | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771P: 406.582.2373 | E: trenton.ruffalo@bozemanmt.gov| W: www.bozeman.net
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From: Hillman, RJ <RJ.Hillman@mt.gov>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2026 12:45 PM
To: Scott Bieluch <s.bieluch@gmail.com>; mtshpo <mtshpo@mt.gov>
Cc: Planning Technician <PlanningTech@bozemanmt.gov>; Brown, Peter <pebrown@mt.gov>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] URGENT: Request for Cultural Resource Inventory / Historical Review –
Application No. 23245 (811 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman)
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Hello Mr. Bieluch,
Thank you for reaching out about this project and your concerns. Unfortunately, the
Montana State Historic Preservation Office {MT SHPO} does not have jurisdiction to
review or comment. Our authority under the National Historic Preservation Act/Section
106 is limited to certain federal undertakings, and Montana Antiquities Act review is
limited to projects on state-owned land. This project has neither a federal nor state
nexus that would provide jurisdiction for our involvement.
Because this is a local preservation issue, we recommend you reach out to the Bozeman
Historic Preservation Commission. For more information about the city’s local
preservation program, see their webpage
https://www.bozemanmt.gov/departments/community-development/historic-
preservation
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions, comments, or concerns.
Thank you,
RJ Hillman
Review and Compliance
Phone: (406)444-7719
Email: RJ.Hillman@mt.gov
https://www.mhs.mt.gov
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From: Scott Bieluch <s.bieluch@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2026 11:04 AM
To: mtshpo <mtshpo@mt.gov>; Brown, Peter <pebrown@mt.gov>
Cc: Hillman, RJ <RJ.Hillman@mt.gov>; Bush, Jessica <JBush2@mt.gov>; Planning Technician
<planningtech@bozemanmt.gov>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] URGENT: Request for Cultural Resource Inventory / Historical Review –
Application No. 23245 (811 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman)
SUBJECT: URGENT: Request for Cultural Resource Inventory / Historical Review –
Application No. 23245 (811 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman)
Dear Montana SHPO Compliance Officer and Bozeman Historic Preservation Board,
I am writing to formally request a comprehensive Cultural Resource Inventory and
Section 106/State Antiquities Act review regarding Application No. 23245 (811 W.Mendenhall Mixed-Use Project) in Bozeman, Montana.
The developer is currently seeking final administrative approval for a massive five-
story complex featuring a deeply excavated subterranean basement parking garage.This proposed development sits directly adjacent to historic, undisturbed residential
footprints along the West Lamme Street and West Mendenhall corridors, which
feature some of the oldest continuous residential and light-commercial structures in
the Gallatin Valley.
Given the unprecedented depth and scale of the proposed subsurface excavation,
there is a high probability of disrupting undocumented historic foundations, late 19th-
century infrastructure artifacts, or culturally significant sub-surface deposits.
To prevent the irreversible destruction of Bozeman's historic fabric, I demand that the
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) intervene and require a formal
archaeological and historical assessment before the City of Bozeman issues finalsite-plan approvals or grading permits. The city must ensure full statutory compliance
with historical preservation guidelines before allowing heavy excavation to proceed.
Thank you for your immediate attention to preserving our local heritage.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Bieluch805 W. Lamme Street
Bozeman, MT 59715