HomeMy WebLinkAboutBozeman Public School District Informal Review of an 8th Elementary School Site Plan, I-12008
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Doug Riley, Associate Planner
Tim McHarg, Planning Director
SUBJECT: 8th Elementary School Site Plan – Informal Review Application #I-12008
MEETING DATE: June 4, 2012
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Informal (Discussion)
RECOMMENDATION: The City Commission considers the School District’s Informal Review
materials and the comments of the Development Review Committee (DRC) and provides the
applicant with comments and advice for consideration in the preparation of their preliminary site
plan to be presented at a future City Commission meeting.
BACKGROUND: In conjunction with the Bozeman Public School District’s Annexation and
Zone Map Amendment applications, the District has also submitted an Informal Site Plan
Review Application to obtain the City Commission and DRC’s review comments for the
preparation of their more detailed site plan for the elementary school construction on the
southeast portion of the property.
Montana law (M.C.A. Section 76-2-402) addresses the relationship of municipal zoning
regulations to a school district’s use of land. The law requires a public hearing whenever land is
to be used contrary to the zoning regulations. The statute expressly provides that a municipality
“shall have no power to deny the proposed use but shall act only to allow a public forum for
comment on the proposed use.” In this instance the School District’s use of the land will not be
contrary to the proposed PLI zoning designation. However, the District has historically sought
exemptions from miscellaneous development standards on other site developments. As
discussed under the preceding annexation item, and recommended Term of Annexation #5, prior
to the execution of the annexation agreement, a preliminary site plan application would be
required to be submitted and be the subject of a public hearing at a City Commission meeting in
which the specific exemptions being requested can be noticed as required by State Statute and
the Bozeman Municipal Code.
In this regard, in the applicant’s April 30, 2012 letter which they submitted to supplement their
original informal application materials, (copy attached), they discuss the potential exemptions
they may request and their intent in these regards. Staff has urged the applicant to design the
school and site plan to meet as many of the City’s development standards, and/or achieve the
intent of the City’s regulations, to the highest degree possible.
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Development Review Committee (DRC) Informal Comments (items recommended to be
addressed as part of preliminary site plan preparation/submittal):
Planning Department:
- Recommendation for design for the site plan and project to achieve compliance with the
standards of the Unified Development Code (UDC) to the highest degree possible.
- Specific exemptions to zoning standards being proposed by the application to be
presented as part of the future preliminary site plan application in order that they may be
noticed for a public hearing at a City Commission meeting as required by State Statute
and the Bozeman Municipal Code.
- Due to the presence of the extensive parking lot proposed between the Elementary School
and Durston Road, extra effort should be made for landscaping and/or berming
provisions along this frontage to assist in visually breaking up this expanse of parking
(especially considering the future middle school to the west of the elementary school may
be designed similarly).
- Applicant shall work with the Ditch Company on the required easement for relocation of
the ditch along Flanders Mill Road (due to Flanders Mill Road reconstruction along this
frontage) and obtaining all required permits from applicable agencies regarding the
relocation/classification of this ditch and any associated wetlands.
Fire Department:
- Recommendation for an on-site fire hydrant in the northeast corner of the site near the
corner of the school/drive entrance off from Flanders Mill Road.
- Recommendation for a fencing plan (if any fencing is proposed) as part of the
preliminary site plan application for Fire Department review to assure emergency/hydrant
access provisions.
- The curb for the “FIRE LANE – NO PARKING” lane in front of the school to be painted
red/no parking. Acceptable for parent/student drop-off but no unattended parking.
Solid Waste/Sanitation:
- Improve curb radiuses to allow on-site maneuvering of garbage trucks to access dumpster
location(s).
Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee:
- See attached comments. (Staff recommends the applicant consult with the PTS
Committee as part of preliminary site plan preparation).
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: As identified by the City Commission.
FISCAL EFFECTS: None identified as part of Informal Review process.
Attachments: Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee e-mail-comments, Applicant’s Informal
Review submittal materials
Report compiled on: May 24, 2012
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