Building our Future Together - Development Code Update

We’ve been fielding lots of questions about what the draft development code and proposed zoning map might mean for Bozeman neighborhoods. The R-A district is the proposed district that may replace what is currently zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-S.

The R-A district would allow up to 8 dwelling units in a single building subject to several limiting standards. That has been concerning for many, and we’ve been balancing that concern with what we’ve been hearing about the need to provide more housing options for Bozeman residents.

We understand that taller and larger buildings are alarming to some. Our city has changed over the last ten years of rapid growth. We recognize that it's important to think about our neighborhood character and reduce impacts on surrounding neighbors as best we can. That’s why we’ve included several of the requirements that maintain space for yards and open space, limit height, and provide parking for these additional units. Here are some specific requirements in the proposed R-A district:

• Yards: all the buildings (including garages) may only take up 40% of the total lot area (Building coverage standard)
• Open Space: not less than 100 sq. ft. of open space must be provided for each home (Amenity space standard)
• Height: 3 stories are allowed (as it already is today), and the roof must begin to taper at 25’ (Wall plate height for established neighborhoods)
• Parking: is required for each home, allowed with restrictions within any of the required setbacks (Parking location standards)

Find all the details on the proposed R-A district in the draft code and view where this district would exist as compared to existing districts on the proposed zoning map.

You can provide your comments all the way through the public review process by writing to agenda@bozeman.net, or attending any of the upcoming Community Development Board meetings and City Commission meetings in person or online! See the Key Dates section for upcoming meetings.

The project team will be at the Community Development Board meeting on Monday, September 18th at 6:00pm for a public hearing to present the draft development code and proposed zoning map, and schedule of future public hearings leading toward adoption of the new code. You can join remotely via the city website (External link), or in-person at City Hall, to learn more about the proposed development code and stay involved. Thank you!

The project team will be at the Community Development Board special meeting next Monday, September 11th at 6:00pm, to present the draft development code and zoning map, and schedule of future public hearings leading toward adoption of the new code. The project team will also be available to answer questions asked by the board.

Feel free to join remotely via the city website (link), or in-person at City Hall, to learn more about the proposed development code and stay involved. Thank you!

The latest version of the draft development code is now available! Revisions were made primarily to address typographical errors or omissions from the August 14th version of the draft code - these changes have been noted at the beginning of the latest document.

Click here to access the latest draft of the code.

Missed the Open Houses on the draft code? No worries!

• Check out the recording from the virtual open house
• Flip through the slides
• We got lots of great questions from attendees at all three of the Open Houses, check out the FAQs on the right side of the page, or view the document.

Staff and the project team have completed the draft code and are getting the word out to the public through open houses ahead of the public review process. The public review process includes the presentation and discussion of the draft code to the Community Development Board and City Commission in a series of public meetings and public hearings.

From this point on, your input can be shared directly with these decision makers. The Community Development Board has the authority to act as the city's Zoning Commission and Planning Board. The final decision maker on the UDC is the City Commission after they consider recommendations from the Community Development Board and your public comment.

Submit public comment by emailing agenda@bozeman.net or attending a meeting virtually or in person to provide your comment in real time. All of the information and meeting details for upcoming Community Development Board and City Commission meetings are at bozeman.net/meetings.

See the "Key Dates" section for upcoming meetings on the right side of this page!

The formal public notice that has been published in the newspaper and city website is also in the "Code Documents" section.

The public review process will kick off with a series of Open Houses – two this week, and one virtual session next week, where folks can learn more about the overall code update process and how to stay involved:

• Aug 23rd – Fire Station 3 Community Room, 1705 Vaquero Way, 5:30-7:30pm
• Aug 24th – City Hall (City Commission Room), 121 N. Rouse, 11:30am-1:30pm
• Aug 28th – Virtual - Join Zoom meeting 6:00-7:00pm

A big thanks to the Bozeman community for all of the time and energy that has gone into this project!

The project team is pleased to announce that the Draft Development Code and updated Zoning Map are available for review!

Draft Development Code

Draft Revised Zoning Map

Guide to Key Changes

The public process will kick off with a series of events in the next few weeks, where you'll be able to learn more about the overall code update process and how to stay involved:

• Aug 23rd – Fire Station 3 Community Room, 1705 Vaquero Way, 5:30-7:30pm
• Aug 24th – City Hall (City Commission Room), 121 N. Rouse, 11:30am-1:30pm
• Aug 28th – Virtual: click here to join (External link), 6:00-7:00pm

A big thanks to the Bozeman community for all of the time and energy that has gone into this project!

A new development code is taking shape! Join the City of Bozeman Community Development staff and the Code Studio project team at an upcoming Open House to get acquainted with the proposed layout, new zoning districts & map, transition standards, as well as the upcoming adoption process and schedule.

• Aug 23rd – 1705 Vaquero Way (Fire Station 3) Community Room, 5:30-7:30pm
• Aug 24th – City Commission room, 121 N. Rouse Ave, 11:30-1:30pm
• Aug 28th – Virtual: Click here to join the meeting, 6:00-7:00pm

Over the next few months, you can leave your official comments:

• By emailing agenda@bozeman.net,
• By filling out the city's online form, or
• By speaking at a public meeting.

The code adoption process will formally begin next month with a public hearing by the Community Development Board, followed by the City Commission, with meeting dates available on the city's website. The project team will poste information about those meetings on the project website as well, so be sure to check back often.

For general questions about the project or specific items in the draft code, please visit the "Questions" tab on this project website, where the project team will do their best to provide clarification. Please note that while questions submitted via this Engage.Bozeman site will be monitored, these questions will not be considered official public comment.

As the UDC project approaches the public review and adoption process beginning next month, the project team has prepared a summary of their engagement efforts over the course of the UDC update. This report, available as a pdf at the link below, analyzes the hundreds of comments received at in-person and virtual engagement opportunities throughout the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023.

Click here to view the UDC project engagement report

The draft updated UDC will be released for public review in early August, with multiple public sessions scheduled throughout the summer and fall. After a period of public review, the formal adoption process will begin in September, with the goal of adopting the updated code before the end of the year. Links to virtual meetings and information about in-person sessions will be posted on this site in advance, so be sure to check back here often. Thank you for staying involved!