Building our Future Together - Development Code Update

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This project is all about implementing the vision and goals established in our city’s guiding documents such as the 2020 Community Plan (aka Growth Policy), the Climate Plan, and strategic priorities like affordable housing.

These broad visions, goals, and priorities are implemented through the Unified Development Code or “UDC” or “the code.” The UDC sets forth regulations around what kinds of development can occur in which areas through development standards and zoning districts.

The goal for this engagement effort is to consult the community on how to improve usability of the UDC and how the regulations in the UDC can help us accommodate growth while meeting community goals in our Community Plan, Climate Plan and others.

Throughout the project residents, developers, builders, and the community at large will be consulted on specific topics relevant to how different people interact with the code. Specific focus areas will be:

  • Formatting, organization of the UDC

  • Zoning Districts

  • Sustainability

  • Parking

  • Transportation

This project page will be the place to go for updates on how to engage in person, virtually, or on your own time. You can subscribe to email updates specific to this project by clicking “Follow Project” on the right hand side of this page. We're glad you're here!

This project is all about implementing the vision and goals established in our city’s guiding documents such as the 2020 Community Plan (aka Growth Policy), the Climate Plan, and strategic priorities like affordable housing.

These broad visions, goals, and priorities are implemented through the Unified Development Code or “UDC” or “the code.” The UDC sets forth regulations around what kinds of development can occur in which areas through development standards and zoning districts.

The goal for this engagement effort is to consult the community on how to improve usability of the UDC and how the regulations in the UDC can help us accommodate growth while meeting community goals in our Community Plan, Climate Plan and others.

Throughout the project residents, developers, builders, and the community at large will be consulted on specific topics relevant to how different people interact with the code. Specific focus areas will be:

  • Formatting, organization of the UDC

  • Zoning Districts

  • Sustainability

  • Parking

  • Transportation

This project page will be the place to go for updates on how to engage in person, virtually, or on your own time. You can subscribe to email updates specific to this project by clicking “Follow Project” on the right hand side of this page. We're glad you're here!

  • Community Development Board Work Session Debrief

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    Last week the project team participated in a virtual work session with the Community Development Board. They discussed progress on the project so far, including some of the draft regulations for residential zoning districts and a summary of community engagement efforts conducted through the end of 2022. Check out the presentation and meeting recording at the links below to learn more!


    Link to meeting video

    Link to presentation

  • Engagement Update

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    Happy New Year, Bozeman!


    The MSU “Street Team” has been out and about the last semester with a mobile engagement station to gather input for the city’s development code update. You might have seen them at city parks, the Winter Farmer’s Market, HandMADE Fair, or most recently at the Christmas Stroll. Architecture students Rebecca Hennings and Krista Hunton have been leading the outreach efforts for the MSU Street Team and were joined by Daisy Parnell, Jenavieve Lynch, and City Planner Tom Rogers.

    Your input on things like housing diversity, height limits, and sustainable design will help the consultant team, Community Development Board, and City Commission improve regulations around new development to help our community meet climate goals, achieve the vision in our Community Plan, and address housing supply and affordability in Bozeman.

  • Online Project Surveys

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    Over the last few months, we’ve conducted in-person activities with informational pamphlets and surveys about topics related to the UDC update. These materials are now available online for you to review, interact with, and provide feedback on! The responses we gather both online and in-person will be used to inform the direction of our revisions to the UDC.


    Follow the link below to go to our virtual library, available in English and Spanish, and provide your input. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!


    UDC Engagement Library (link)

  • Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

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    There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and engage with the project over the next few weeks both virtually and in-person. Keep an eye out for the following events and engagement opportunities, with even more to come after the holidays:


  • City Commission Work Session #3 Debrief - Sustainability

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    The project team had a third UDC-focused work session with the City Commission this week, focused on sustainability. Here's what we discussed:


    • The city's approach to regulating urban agriculture (both residential and larger-scale commercial operations)
    • Requirements for EV charging in new developments
    • The sale of home-grown and home-produced agricultural products


    The City Commission provided the following guidance to the project team:


    • Aim high for EV-charging requirements - pursue options that encourage more "EV-ready" and installed solutions, as opposed to "EV-capable"
    • Allow for height encroachments for rooftop greenhouses
    • Allow the development of context-sensitive urban agriculture in commercial zones
    • Consider more thoroughly the impacts of allowing sales of home-based agricultural goods in residential zones


    Visit the City Commission page here to view the meeting recording and minutes (link). The consultant team's presentation is available in the Presentation Materials section of this website (link).

  • Reminder - Sustainability Work Session Tomorrow, 11/15

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    The project team has their next work session with the City Commission tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15. The discussion will focus on how the new UDC will address issues related to sustainability. You can find the materials, an agenda, and the link to join the meeting online or in person on the city’s website.


    We will post a summary of the meeting as well as presentation slides to this site shortly after the session.

  • 11/15 City Commission Work Session - Sustainability

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    The project team has their next work session with the City Commission on Tuesday, November 15. The discussion will focus on how the new UDC will address issues related to sustainability. You can find the materials, an agenda, and the link to join the meeting online or in person on the city’s website.


    We will post a summary of the meeting as well as presentation slides to this site shortly after the session.


  • Code Connect #1 Debrief

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    The project team hosted the first Code Connect webinar last Thursday, Oct. 27th. About 20 community members tuned in to learn about our progress on the UDC rewrite, ask questions, and offer input. If you weren’t able to attend the session, you can view the recording of the meeting here (LINK), and find the presentation slides in the Documents section of this site.



    Video: View the Oct. 27th meeting recording (external link)

    Slideshow: View the Oct. 27th meeting slides


    Follow along here on engage.bozeman.net/udc for future updates, and be sure to join our next Code Connect session on Thursday, Dec. 1st. Thank you!

  • Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

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    There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and engage with the UDC update next month, both virtually and in-person.

    Keep an eye out for the following events and engagement opportunities, with link to virtual events also posted on this site:


    • City Commission Work Session (Topic: Sustainability) – Tuesday Nov. 15, 6:00pm

    • Winter Farmers Market – Gallatin County Fairgrounds – dates coming soon!

    • Code Connect #2 (virtual) – Thursday Dec. 1, 6:00pm – Click here for more information

    • Downtown Christmas Stroll – Dec 3rd 4:30-7:30pm


  • Reminder - Code Connect this Thursday!

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    Our first Code Connect webinar will happen this Thursday, October 27th at 6:00pm. Join to hear the project team provide an update on their progress so far, discussing formatting of the updated UDC and changes to zoning districts, and answer any questions you might have.


    Code Connect meetings will take place every other month throughout the course of the project, to inform the community about the project and gather input on proposed approaches.


    Meeting information:

    Topic: Bozeman UDC Update - Code Connect

    Time: Oct 27, 2022 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85953798231


    Meeting ID: 859 5379 8231

    Dial in by phone: +1 719-359-4580 US

    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kefGd6iFMq

Page last updated: 08 Jun 2023, 02:51 PM