HomeMy WebLinkAboutStory Mansion Film Series Special Temporary Use Permit
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Chris Kukulski, City Manager
Andy Epple, Director of Planning
SUBJECT: Story Mansion Film Series – Special Temporary Use Permit
MEETING DATE: July 6, 2009
BACKGROUND: In granting the Conditional Use Permit to allow the city to operate the Story
Mansion property as a community center, the Commission imposed a standard 9:00 p.m. cut-off time for
outdoor activities on the grounds. In taking this action, the Commission did allow for individuals or
groups to propose outdoor activities that would go past 9:00 p.m. if they applied for and received a
Special Temporary Use Permit (STUP) from the City Commission to do so.
Mr. Ron Gompertz, on behalf of the Friends of Story Mansion, has applied for a STUP to allow “Story
Under the Stars, a Cinematic Community Experience” to operate outdoors on the Story Mansion grounds,
past 9:00 p.m., on four consecutive Friday nights this summer. Specifically, “Story Under the Stars” is an
“open air cinema” series which would occur on the Friday evenings of August 14, 21, and 28, and
September 4, 2009. Film showings would begin between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. those evenings, and would
end by 11:00 p.m. The stated purpose of the film series would be “…to raise money for the non-profit
Friends of Story Mansion, build awareness of the need for fundraising for the Story, and provide an
enjoyable, family friendly community event.” Please see Mr. Gompertz’s narrative description (attached)
for these and other details regarding the operation of the film series.
PLEASE NOTE: Two comments in Mr. Gompertz’ narrative need to be corrected. Both occur on page 2,
paragraph 3 in the sentence which reads: “FSM [Friends of Story Mansion] acts as the public face of the
[Mansion] property, overseeing management of the Mansion, and raising $391,222 in private or grant
money within two years after January 2010, as required by the Bozeman City Commission.” (Italics
highlight language needing correction). In actuality, the City of Bozeman oversees the management of
the Mansion through its Parks and Recreation Department, and the deadline for raising $391,222 in
private or grant money is January 2011.
Also, at the end of the first paragraph on page one of his narrative, Mr. Gompertz states: “This will be the
premier public event in Bozeman’s new city park: The T.B. Story Mansion.” (his italics) This statement
should be clarified to refer to “Bozeman’s proposed new city park, and it should be noted that no name
has yet been selected for the park when it is expected to be established later this summer.
As of this writing, no negative comments have been received regarding this proposal. A question has
arisen regarding how the outdoor film showing on a Friday night might impact Friday-to-Sunday
reservations of the property for weddings. Staff believes any potential conflicts in this regard can be
worked out by those individuals managing the Story Mansion reservation system, based on current and
on-going development of Commission policy on the matter.
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RECOMMENDATION: That the Commission approve this Special Temporary Use Permit application,
subject to the following conditions:
1. Screen, speaker, and audience orientation (Option A or B) be subject to approval by the
Director of Parks and Recreation prior to set-up;
2. The use and operation of the grounds be subject to and consistent with all other applicable
policies and ordinances of the City of Bozeman.
FISCAL EFFECTS: None identified.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Please contact Allyson Bristor with any questions.
Report compiled: July 1, 2009
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