Getting to the Bottom of the Student Household Distortion in Bozeman...

Bozeman blows away the competition!  The city has produced housing at one of the highest rates in the country for at least the last decade.

To answer the question, we can look at the zoning code directly or indirectly, via considering whether we see patterns of development consistent with a supply restriction from zoning.  In this post, we will take the first approach, while we will look at the issue from the second perspective in a subsequent post.   Compared to a sample of college towns, Bozeman’s zoning looks relatively permissive on several key metrics.

These are small units, in a terrific location, with their own onsite parking, rented at a fairly affordable price. Sure the buildings are a little old, unassuming, and not of any real historical value (that I’m aware of). But this is what the American Planning Association (APA) calls Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, or NOAH. And they suggest protecting it in a variety of ways…

On Tuesday, June 4th, Bozeman voters will have the chance to vote FOR or AGAINST the creation of a local government study commission. This opportunity for a review of our local government is afforded to residents every 10 years by a unique provision of the Montana Constitution.

The Better Bozeman Coalition has decided to file an amicus curiae brief (or friend of the court) in the Montanans Against Irresponsible Densification (MAID) lawsuit challenging four land use measures passed by the Montana State Legislature in the spring of 2023.

The City of Bozeman adopted a new Affordable Housing Ordinance in 2022. The ordinance provides deep incentives to developers who can offer at least 50% of the housing units at an affordable price. The deep incentives include elimination of on-site parking requirements. At the moment, the first development proposing to use the deep incentives package is being reviewed by the City. The Guthrie would be a 111 unit, 5 story apartment building, proposed for construction at Villard and North 5thAvenue. Is it right for Bozeman?

Have you ever ducked under a tree when it’s raining or too hot to sit out in the sun? We’re grateful when we do. On some level, we’re hardwired to seek comfort from trees. When we were little, we learned that animals, like us, can breathe because of trees. Despite Bozeman’s plentiful plans and codes, the City has lost many trees to demolition and development in the past year.

Bozeman is running out of water. The city is drought prone and in a phase of population growth. According to its website, “without water conservation, Bozeman could be facing a water shortage within the next 10 years.” And while the issue is becoming more of a priority, there is a major loophole that must be addressed: cash-in-lieu or “paper water” allows developers to buy water rights that do not exist.

The video “Subdivide and Conquer” documents the fight over upzoning in Austin, Texas. It is a cautionary tale for the residents of Bozeman.

Does higher density actually create affordable housing?

A New York based developer, Left Lane Development, has proposed building a hotel and residences at 606 and 608 East Main Street in Bozeman. These properties are located immediately west of the Bozeman Public Library. The project includes the construction of a parking structure on what is now part of the Bozeman Public Library parking lot. The terms of the proposed construction would significantly impact the library parking lot an and impose restrictions on the use of the library property as a whole.

A Public Housing Authority would increase local control and allow for the residents of Bozeman to have more input into how the city develops and addresses our housing crisis.

The City of Bozeman is changing its Unified Development Code (UDC) and the proposed changes would allow up to 8 dwellings, 10,000 square foot, 3 story buildings in what are today single family neighborhoods.