HomeMy WebLinkAboutFindings of Fact and Order for Story Mansion Minor Subdivision.pdf
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Doug Riley, Associate Planner
Andrew C. Epple, Director, Planning and Community Development
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Story Mansion Minor Subdivision Findings of Fact and Order
(#P-09012)
MEETING DATE: December 7, 2009
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor to sign the Findings of Fact and Order for the
preliminary plat of the Story Mansion Minor Subdivision.
BACKGROUND: On November 16, 2009 the City Commission held a public hearing on an
application for preliminary plat approval for the Story Mansion Minor Subdivision. The
Commission approved the proposed subdivision, subject to conditions to ensure the final plat
would comply with all applicable regulations and all required criteria. State law provides that
the governing body shall “provide a written statement to the applicant detailing the
circumstances of the condition imposition.” The statement must include: 1) the reason for the
condition imposition; 2) the evidence that justifies the condition imposition; and 3) information
regarding the appeal process for the condition imposition.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Fiscal impacts are undetermined at this time.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission
Attachments: Findings of Fact
Report compiled on: December 1, 2009
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BEFORE THE BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
GALLATIN COUNTY, MONTANA
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE
CITY OF BOZEMAN FOR PRELIMINARY
APPROVAL OF THE STORY MANSION MINOR
SUBDIVISION.
FINDINGS
OF FACT
AND ORDER
This matter came before the Bozeman City Commission on November 16, 2009 for
review and decision pursuant to the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act, Section 76-3-101
through 76-3-625, Montana Codes Annotated, and the City of Bozeman Growth Policy and City
of Bozeman Unified Development Ordinance. The applicant presented to the Commission a
proposed Preliminary Subdivision Plat consisting of a proposed division of 2.15 acres of land
into two lots as submitted in its original form on September 23, 2009, #P-09012.
The Commission held a public hearing on the preliminary plat and considered all relevant
evidence relating to the public health, safety, and welfare, including the recommendation of the
Bozeman Planning Board, to determine whether the plat should be approved, conditionally
approved, or disapproved.
It appeared to the Commission that all parties wishing to appear and comment were given
the opportunity to do so, and therefore, being fully advised of all matters having come before it
regarding this application, the Commission makes the following Findings of Fact, as required:
FINDINGS OF FACT
I.
On September 23, 2009, the City of Bozeman submitted an application for approval to
create a Minor Subdivision on 2.15 acres. The subject property is legally described as a tract of
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land described as Lot 1A, Block 3, Amended Butte Addition, City of Bozeman, Gallatin County,
Montana. The property is annexed and is zoned of R-1 (Residential Single-Household, Low
Density District).
II.
The comments of the Development Review Committee, along with those of the Planning
& Community Development Staff, were incorporated into a staff report with suggested
conditions of approval, which was provided to the City of Bozeman Planning Board.
III.
Public notice was provided via publication of a legal notice in the newspaper on October
18, 2009, posting the subject property on October 14, 2009, and certified mailing of notices to
adjacent property owners and first class mailing of notices to other property owners within 200
feet of the subject property on October 14, 2009.
The City of Bozeman Planning Board held a public hearing on November 3, 2009. The
Planning Board found that the application was properly submitted and reviewed under the
procedures of the City of Bozeman Unified Development Ordinance. Staff reviewed the staff
report and the evidence which justified the imposition of conditions.
The Planning Board then opened the public hearing for public comment. No public
comment was provided.
The members of the City of Bozeman Planning Board reviewed the requested preliminary
plat and discussed park lighting policy, restrooms for the park, parking for the Mansion, State
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Historic Preservation Office review, the future value of the subdivided property and the final plat
format.
The City of Bozeman Planning Board reviewed the application against the requirements
of the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act and found that, with conditions as recommended,
the Minor Subdivision Preliminary Plat Application would comply with those requirements; and
The City of Bozeman Planning Board moved to recommend conditional approval of the
subdivision with the conditions as detailed in the staff report, and passed on a vote of 8-1.
IV.
The application was considered by the Bozeman City Commission at its regular meeting
on November 16, 2009, at which time the recommendation of the Planning Board and
information compiled by City staff was reviewed.
V.
A. Primary Review Criteria
1. Effects on Agriculture
The site is located within the developed (urban) part of the City and has no
agricultural components that would be impacted by the proposed subdivision.
2. Effects on Agricultural Water User Facilities
There are no agricultural water user facilities located on the subject property.
3. Effects on Local Services
Water/Sewer. City water and sewer lines currently exist in the adjacent streets.
The Mansion is serviced via connection to the sewer and water mains located in
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Willson Avenue. The proposed utility easement located across Lot 1A-2 (east of
the Mansion) will contain these service lines. The Carriage House is connected to
the sewer and water mains in Grand Avenue. No easement is needed for these
lines as the service lines and Carriage House are located on proposed Lot 1A-1.
As required for all subdivisions in the City, the Engineering Department has
documented that there is adequate capacity and pressure within the City’s water
distribution and sewer collection systems to provide service for the proposed
minor subdivision.
Police/Fire: The property is well within the City’s Police and Fire emergency
response area.
Streets. The subject property is bound by four fully improved Streets. Proposed
Lot 1A-1 will have extensive frontage to both Grand Avenue and Harrison Street
(the Mansion takes access off from Grand Avenue to the West). Proposed Lot 1A-
2 will have extensive frontage to Willson Avenue, College Street and Harrison
Street. No improvements to the local streets are proposed with the subdivision.
Pathways: The existing improvements to adjacent streets include boulevard
sidewalks and pedestrian facilities.
4. Effects on the Natural Environment
The site has been developed and utilized for urban uses for some time. No
changes or impacts to the existing trees or shrubs on the site are proposed as part
of this subdivision. As required for all subdivision applications, a noxious weed
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management plan prepared by the applicant and submitted to the Gallatin County
Weed Control Office. That plan was approved on October 13, 2009 by the Weed
Control District.
5. Effects on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
No known endangered species or critical game ranges have been identified on the
subject property. Historical use of the property for urban purposes in this location
of the City essentially eliminates the potential for development of any wildlife
habitat.
6. Effects on Public Health and Safety
The intent of the regulatory standards as set forth in the Bozeman Municipal Code
is to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. The subdivision has
been reviewed and, with the required conditions and code provisions, has been
determined to be in general compliance with the title. Any conditions deemed
necessary to ensure compliance with public health and safety have been listed by
the Development Review Committee and are noted accordingly as conditions of
approval in this staff report.
B. Compliance with the survey requirements provided for in Part 4 of the Montana
Subdivision and Platting Act.
The preliminary plat has been prepared in accordance with the survey requirements of the
Montana Subdivision and Platting Act. As noted in condition #1, the final plat must
comply with state statute and the Bozeman Municipal Code.
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C. Compliance with the Bozeman Unified Development Ordinance.
The following requirements are standards of the Bozeman Unified Development
Ordinance and shall be addressed with the final plat submittal:
1. Pursuant to Section 18.06.040.D.6, conditional approval of the preliminary plat shall be
in force for not more than one calendar year. Prior to that expiration date, the applicant
may submit a letter of request for the extension of the period to the Planning Director for
the City Commission’s consideration. The City Commission may, at the written request
of the applicant, extend its approval for no more than one calendar year, except that the
City Commission may extend its approval for a period of more than one year if that
approval period is included as a specific condition of a written subdivision improvements
agreement between the City Commission and the applicant, provided for in §18.74.060,
BMC.
2. Pursuant to Section 18.06.060, the applicant shall submit with the application for final
plat review and approval, a written narrative stating how each of the conditions of
preliminary plat approval has been satisfactorily addressed, and specifically (tab, page,
paragraph, etc.) where this information can be found.
3. Pursuant to Section 18.42.060, all easements, existing and proposed, shall be accurately
depicted and addressed on the final plat and in the final plat application.
4. Section 18.78.050.H requires that any noxious weeds be identified and mapped by a
person with experience in weed management and knowledgeable in weed identification.
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A noxious weed management and revegetation plan, approved by the County Weed
Control District, shall be submitted with the final plat.
D. Compliance with the required subdivision review process.
A subdivision pre-application was submitted on August 24, 2009. The pre-application
was reviewed by the DRC on September 2, 2009 and summary review comments were
forwarded to the applicant in preparation of the preliminary plat application.
A preliminary plat application was submitted on September 23, 2009. The preliminary
plat was reviewed by the DRC on September 30, and October 7, 2009. On the final week
of DRC review, a favorable recommendation was forwarded for consideration by the
Planning Board and City Commission. Public notice for this application was placed in
the Bozeman Daily Chronicle on Sunday, October 18, 2009. The site was posted with a
public notice on October 14, 2009. Public notice was sent to adjacent property owners
via certified mail, and to all other property owners of record within 200 feet of the subject
property via first class mail, on October 14, 2009. No letters of public testimony were
received at the Department of Planning & Community Development in regards to this
project.
On October 28, 2009 a minor subdivision staff report was drafted and forwarded with a
recommendation of conditional approval to the Planning Board for consideration at its
November 3, 2009 public hearing.
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The Planning Board recommended conditional approval of the preliminary plat. The City
Commission made final decision at their November 16, 2009 public hearing. The final
decision for a Second or Subsequent Minor Subdivision from a Tract of Record
Preliminary Plat must be made within 60 working days of the date it was deemed
complete or in this case by December 7, 2009.
E. Provision of easements for the location and installation of any planned utilities.
No new utilities are planned or necessitated as part of this subdivision. The Mansion is
connected via service lines to the sewer and water mains located in Willson Avenue. The
proposed utility easement located across Lot 1A-2 (east of the Mansion) will contain
these service lines. The Carriage House is connected via service lines stubbed in from
Grand Avenue. No easement is needed for these lines as the service lines and Carriage
House are located on proposed Lot 1A.
F. Provision of legal and physical access to each parcel.
Both proposed lots will have legal and physical access from the adjacent streets.
ORDER
On November 16, 2009, the City Commission opened the public hearing for the
Preliminary Plat to take public comment and consider the plat as submitted. Following
deliberation and vote as noted in the minutes from said meeting, the Commission found, on a 3-0
vote, that the proposed subdivision would comply with the City of Bozeman Growth Policy, the
requirements of the City of Bozeman Unified Development Ordinance and the Montana
Subdivision and Platting Act, if certain conditions were imposed. The evidence, as stated or
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referenced in the Findings of Fact, justifies the imposition of the conditions ordered herein to
ensure that the final plat complies with all applicable regulations and all required criteria.
THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Preliminary Subdivision Plat of The
Story Mansion Minor Subdivision for the property owners, City of Bozeman, be approved,
subject to the following condition:
1. The final plat shall comply with the standards identified and referenced in the Bozeman
Municipal Code. The applicant is advised that unmet code provisions, or code provisions
that are not specifically listed as conditions of approval, does not, in any way, create a
waiver or other relaxation of the lawful requirements of the Bozeman Municipal Code or
state law.
This City Commission order may be appealed by bringing an action in the Eighteenth
District Court of Gallatin County, within 30 days after the adoption of these Findings by the City
Commission, by following the procedures of Section 76-3-625, M.C.A. The preliminary
approval of this subdivision shall be effective for one year from the date of adoption of these
Findings by the City Commission. At the end of this period the City Commission may, at the
written request of the subdivider, extend its approval as provided for in the Bozeman Unified
Development Ordinance.
DATED this day of , 2009.
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BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
______________________________
KAAREN JACOBSON, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ _________________________________
STACY ULMEN, CMC TIM COOPER
City Clerk Assistant City Attorney
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