The Bozeman City Commission adopted the Phase 1 recommendation for a local landmark program on May 13, and at a subsequent Historic Preservation Advisory Board meeting staff briefed members on next steps: the consultant-led Phase 2 drafting, a hold on Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District boundary adjustments, and a proposed overhaul of the NCOD design guidelines.

Sarah, the HPAB staff liaison, told the board: “Phase 1 report was adopted by the city commission on May 13,” and said staff are “kicking that off with the consultant this month” to draft technical code language and begin community engagement for Phase 2. She said Phase 2 work will include drafting a zone text amendment (code language changes to Chapter 38.3.40 and the historic preservation section) and preparing an ordinance to establish a local landmark program.

Staff described the City Commission directive that NCOD boundary changes be held in abeyance until the UDC (Unified Development Code) update process and related work sessions are complete. Sarah said the commission also directed that the design guidelines be moved into Phase 2 for a fuller overhaul rather than minor edits.

The board heard that the Phase 2 schedule calls for consultant drafting over the summer, community engagement at dates to be determined, and a goal of wrapping up portions of the work by winter. “We’re kicking that off with the consultant this month which is just including, working with them to be drafting it over the summer,” Sarah said. Staff said they will post updated documents to Engage Bozeman and notify the board when materials and meeting dates are available.

Board members discussed the technical complexity of drafting code and design language and requested additional training and briefing opportunities. Sarah and other members described available training: the State Historic Preservation Office’s certified-local-government trainings tied to the Montana History Conference and continuing resources through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). Sarah said she would circulate webinar links and training resources to board members.

On design guidelines, staff said the NCOD guidelines date to the early 2000s (adopted around 2006) with a minimal update in 2015 and no comprehensive modernization. Sarah described plans to hire a consultant with historic-architecture expertise to work alongside staff on a full update that will clarify what content belongs in code versus guidance documents and whether design guidance should also apply to individual local landmarks or be a separate document.

Staff framed the upcoming work as program development and technical drafting rather than an immediate regulatory action by HPAB; the board’s future role will include reviewing draft code and guideline language, making recommendations to the Community Development Board, and then forwarding recommendations to City Commission for formal adoption. The Phase 1 adoption and the Phase 2 kickoff are informational to the advisory board this evening; the City Commission action on May 13 was the formal approval of Phase 1 recommendations.