HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-26 Public Comment - V. Hockett - Comments on ZETFrom:Vince Hockett
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments on ZET
Date:Tuesday, October 27, 2026 9:16:47 AM
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Dear City Commission,
I strongly encourage you to implement zone edge transitions, particularly wherebusiness/commercial zoning lines up with any residential zone. Set back, step backs, and
street side requirements are small things that can keep the character of Bozeman whileenabling development in desired areas. Without a conscientious approach to these transitions
we will look like any city in America, not the city we want to become. We arealready walking down this path when you look at the development in the last 10 years on the
Northside. A walk along Mendenhall with brief forays down Tracy, Wilson, and Grand couldbe had anywhere.
The step back on the Armory Hotel is a perfect example of what can be achieved. While the
building is the tallest on the block, when you walk down Mendenhall the building across thestreet feels taller and more massive. The solutions are plenty if we have the courage to be a
city that wishes to control its future. While we need developers, their ambitions are driven bythe bottom line and not by creating a community we want to call home.
I also encourage you to use this opportunity to put tools in place to periodically look at
transitions you have not yet identified. There are small areas of the city where currentbuildings exist, buildings and homes that will be here for many years, next to or
within commercial zones. You must give yourself the ability to review these from time totime to ensure the value of those currently using or living in those areas. Their home/building
values matter no less than the developers and it is your responsibility to look out for all ofthem.
When we don't think about transitions and requiring things from developers from the
perspective of what we want Bozeman to become, we get saddled with the congestion andparking malaise like what currently exists in front of the AC Marriott. As a citizen, I have no
idea what the plan was for parking with that hotel, let alone their seemingly rights to block allthe parking on the west side of Tacy for visitors and buses. It feels awful as a local resident.
My question. is who didn't think of this so close to a residential neighborhood?
So, how we choose to be participants in the growth and development of our city is important. We have to have tools in place to manage what comes to us to ensure the bright, shiny
development project of the day does not impact our ability to see the long-term vision we wishfor Bozeman.
Participation in purposeful government takes courage and I hope you have the courage to see
that the best economics for Bozeman are to sustain the feel and sense of what Bozeman is. People visit not because we look like every other town in America, they visit because of the
feel of a western gateway to what is great about being outside. That is in our control tomaintain, if we have the courage to resist the temptation to become like everyone else.
With Respect,Vince Hockett
303 North Black Ave