Commission approves 519 Redstone accessory structure after striking stormwater condition; staff had recommended denial for architecture

The Gallatin City Planning Commission voted to approve the site plan for a 960-square-foot accessory structure at 519 Redstone Drive after removing a stormwater-condition staff had placed on the application.

Charlie Pierri, staff planner, described the request: an accessory structure on a half-acre lot zoned R-15 with alternative architecture; planning staff recommended denial of resolution 2025-003 because “the architecture [did] not meet code requirements.”

Applicant representative Austin Christian said stormwater staff had placed a condition he could not document with written guidance. “To not have any sort of way to back up a condition … was to me is just completely unacceptable,” he said, describing his conversations with stormwater staff and asking the commission to remove the condition so he could proceed.

Stormwater staff indicated they were developing a toolbox of stormwater-control measures for accessory structures and said the condition could be considered satisfied in this instance while general guidance is developed. Commissioners said they would hear a presentation on the stormwater ordinance at a March work session.

Commission discussion centered on whether it was appropriate to enforce a condition before the city adopted formal guidance. Commissioner Albert moved to approve the plan and strike the stormwater condition (identified as condition 2 in the discussion); the motion passed. The record includes the commission chair’s statement that removing the condition “in no way sets a precedent for how we handle future, similar situations.”

Planning staff said the stormwater toolbox under development may include measures such as tree plantings, rain gardens or other landscaping that could be used in future accessory-structure reviews.