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HomeMy WebLinkAbout003 - Narrative cushingterrell.com April 30, 2026 Community Development Department City of Bozeman 20 E. Olive Street Bozeman, MT 59771 Re: Site Plan Review Application – Whitefish Credit Union Dear Planning & Development Review Committee, Please accept this request for a Site Plan Review (SP) by the City’s Development Review Committee (DRC) for Whitefish Credit Union. Included in the submittal are the required application forms: • Project Narrative (this document) • Development Review application • Traffic Memo • Amended Plat • Stormwater Report • Stormwater O&M • Ditch Noticing Checklist • Geotechnical Report • Site Plan Drawings • Other miscellaneous documents and correspondence Site Plan General Information: Name of Project: Whitefish Credit Union Project Location: SW Corner of South 19th and West Kagy Boulevard, Bozeman MT 59718 Project Legal Description / Location: MINOR SUB 503C, S14, T02 S, R05 E, Lot 2A-1 City of Bozeman, County of Gallatin, State of Montana. Previous review applications completed for this property include: - Pre Application Meeting Date: 10/7/2025 - Concept Review 26056 1. Project Narrative: a. Design Intent – As Whitefish Credit Union’s introduction to the City of Bozeman, the design team focused on adapting the established language of Whitefish Credit Union’s other buildings to feel uniquely “Bozeman”, rather than a copied version of a project from another city. By incorporating large overhangs, canopies, and a glazed curtain wall system, the scale and style of the design relate to the nearby buildings of campus and surrounding areas. 2 cushingterrell.com b. Natural Environment – Per Section 38.410.010.B of the UDC, the design of this project takes into account the existing topography by conforming the proposed drainage patterns to match that of the existing. The east side of the property contains a new shared use path and existing boulevard trees and landscaping that will be preserved as well. Existing topsoil that is stripped from the site will be reused as well to the extent possible to minimize the import and export. c. Project Goals – While safe vehicular flow is a priority for a financial institution with both a lobby and a drive-through, the design team also focused on celebrating and activating the hustle & bustle of 19th & Kagy. A pedestrian-specific entry, complete with outdoor seating and bike parking, was situated at the corner to invite members to use alternate transportation when possible. A glass corner extends from earth to roof to add design interest for those waiting at the busy intersection. d. Project Time Frame – Construction of the project will begin as soon as possible after city approval is granted and building permit is obtained. The duration of construction is anticipated to last roughly 1 year with an expected completion in fall/winter of 2027. e. Proposed Uses – i. Credit union member branch – 4,733 SF ii. Operations/Executive Offices – 10,324 SF f. Site Improvements – i. Earthwork/paving - The majority of the vacant site will be cleared of vegetation, graded, and paved with asphalt and concrete in areas surrounding the proposed building. The project site will be accessed from the existing access points to the north (from West Kagy Blvd) and to the south (from S. 19th Ave). The property currently contains 13 existing parking stalls that are being utilized by adjacent properties. These existing parking stalls are to remain in place. The project will entail a proposed drive-through teller lane canopy which can be seen on the provided site plan. ii. Landscaping – The overall strategy for the landscape design is to celebrate the regional ecosystem by utilizing native plant communities as the main concept behind screening and softening the appearance of vehicular areas, installing diverse plant species, and creating a welcoming presence along the streetscape and site entries. Existing street trees and drought tolerant grasses will be maintained in the existing boulevards. Existing trees, planter beds, and grass areas will be maintained in and around the existing developed parking lots on the southern portion of the site. New landscape beds comprised to create inviting pedestrian and vehicular entries will be designed around new improvements. Landscape screening will be strategically placed between the parking and streetscape to allow for snow storage. Minimal sod will be installed only at key locations near the building and roadway intersection. An existing 3 cushingterrell.com exempt well exists on-site that serves the plantings on this parcel and adjacent parcels. It will be evaluated for capacity to supply water to irrigate the new plantings. If well capacity does not support, the irrigation would be drawn from the domestic water system from the building. iii. Utilities - Domestic water and sanitary sewer service lines will be extended to the proposed building from the existing City of Bozeman municipal system which is located in an existing utility and access easement that extends through the property. The water services will include a domestic water supply, and a separate fire sprinkler service line. Sanitary sewer will connect to the sewer service stubbed into the property. The existing irrigation well on the property will be utilized for irrigation water for the proposed landscaping sprinkler system. iv. Stormwater – The developed site will be graded to drain stormwater via pipe network and infiltration chambers sized in accordance with current City of Bozeman design standards. Although the storm system will be sized for the required storm event, larger storm events that overtop the system will outfall to the north of the property where the site historically drains to. The stormwater system will be designed as to not adversely impact downstream properties from flooding. g. Building –The form of the building seeks to create harmony with the clear order of the curtain wall system, set in a “frame” of balanced A-symmetry in the lower wing forms. Both entries have a canopy for weather protection and to aid in wayfinding for visitors. Articulation in the building form and repetition of openings provide an opportunity for a disciplined but varying material palette. Exterior materials will be a mixture of weathered steel panels, real stone veneer, and wood cladding, with extensive glazing as the main feature. i. Building Massing & Articulation is provided per the requirements of BMC 38.520.040. Changes in roofline and variations in building materials are present throughout the exterior façade design. Additional specific articulation features include windows, weather protection features, structural expression, building entries, and changes in building material. These elements establish clear and welcoming building entries while adding visual interest and appropriate scale to the design. ii. The applicable transition requirements of BMC 38.260.070 have been included. This site is within B-2M zoning and is abutting the REMU district on the eastern side of the site which requires a type 2a transition. For this transition, a 10’ minimum setback is required; the building is in compliance with a setback of 12’-2”. h. Parking Demand – The “All personal and general service uses” use from Table 38.530.040-2 in the City of Bozeman Unified Development Code was used to calculate the total number of required standard parking stalls for this proposed development. All the required parking is accommodated on-site. See the Site Plan for the parking layout. The site contains some existing paved parking, including landscaping islands that we are not proposing to change 4 cushingterrell.com Handicapped/Accessible parking will be provided in accordance with ADA standards. This will include two van accessible stalls and loading zone as well as one standard ADA stall. These stalls will be spread between the customer parking area and the employee parking areas of the site, nearest to the respective entrances. i. Solid Waste – The development current contains an existing solid waste area with an enclosure near the SE corner of the site which will continue to be utilized for the proposed credit union. j. Relief – The following items are requested to be considered for relief. i. BMC 38.260.140 – Windows, A. Transparent Area 1. The project meets the required percentage of glazed area at the side street for the ground floor and upper floors and is meeting the requirement at the primary street for the upper floors. Relief is requested for the ground floor level facing the primary street. Standards stipulate 60% of the area from 0-12’ to be glazed, while the building provides 48% of the area (but ~60% of the length). The fully public areas at the ground floor are 100% glazed, excluding structural columns, and are a key feature of the building design’s glazed corner on Kagy and 19th. Traditional punched openings are provided where offices are located. Being that this is a financial institution, a degree of privacy and security is necessary at these offices. Added glazing at these offices would create uncomfortable conditions for the occupants and would take away from the variety and depth of the overall building design. ii. BMC 38.260.140 – Windows, B. Blank Wall Width 1. The ground story façade along the primary street has limited areas of blank wall, with one portion being 15’-2” max in width. The requirement is 15’-0” max in width, so the design is beyond this by 2”. Relief is requested for this small extension to the blank wall width as to keep the windows centered in their respective rooms. Sincerely, Adam Schlegel, Civil Engineer cc: WFCU_BOZ project file.