Bozeman zoning panel recommends approval for Gallatin Center rezoning to allow mixed commercial and residential

The Bozeman Community Development Board, sitting as the city—s Zoning Commission, voted to recommend approval of a zone map amendment for the Gallatin Center project (application 24626) on 68.33 acres to change zoning from BP (Business Park) and B2 (Community Commercial) to B2M (Community Commercial, Mixed Use).

City planning staff presented the application and staff report. Tom Rogers of the Community Development Department summarized the site context: the parcel sits west of North Nineteenth, with a UPS regional facility and other industrial uses nearby, WinCo Foods and other regional retail to the north, and existing and planned residential to the west. Rogers told the commission the application requests changing roughly half the site from BP to B2M and that staff—s analysis finds the application meets the state review criteria used for zone map amendments, noting A through D must be found affirmative to move forward. Rogers also said the city uses a robust public-notice process and that a written comment arrived after staff—s noon cutoff.

Applicant representative Eric Ringstock of WWC Engineering described the proposal as an infill, mixed-use option intended to support walkable connections to nearby services and to provide a mix of commercial and residential building forms. Ringstock said a subdivision intake is in process and that wetland delineations have been done or will be updated as part of that subsequent review.

Board members questioned staff and the applicant about mapping and numbering discrepancies in presentation materials; formulae for parking and height differences between B2 and B2M; whether residential uses could appear on the ground floor without a special use permit; and how the zoning change would affect an existing urban camping population north of the site. Staff said B2M is more permissive for residential uses (it allows residential on the ground floor without a special-use permit) and that the site still must go through subdivision and site-plan review before construction, when wetlands, stormwater, and setbacks will be addressed in detail.

No public commenters were recorded for the item. A motion to adopt the findings in the staff report and recommend approval of application 24626 was moved and seconded. The commission recorded a unanimous recommendation to the City Commission; the roll call vote was recorded as 6-0 in favor. The staff report notes city commission consideration is scheduled in early July.

Why it matters: adopting B2M would expand the range of housing types allowed on the site and could reduce some parking requirements compared with B2, which in staff—s analysis better aligns with the community plan—s goals for housing and compact development in this part of town. The item now moves to the Bozeman City Commission for final consideration and any additional conditions.

Next steps: the Zoning Commission—s recommendation and the staff report will be delivered to the City Commission for public hearing and final action on the annexation and zoning application (agenda note: July consideration was mentioned in the staff presentation).