Bozeman posts updated Unified Development Code draft, opens public review

Bozeman City officials announced on Tuesday that the updated draft Unified Development Code (UDC) is now available for public review on the project’s Engage page, and urged residents to review the changes and attend upcoming information sessions.

Aaron George, the city’s community development director, told the commission the UDC update grew out of the 2020 Bozeman Community Plan and several years of public engagement. “We are excited to announce the new updated draft UDC is available online on the projects engage page,” George said, and noted the draft includes a revised zoning map, a color‑coded table of contents, and two handouts that summarize the top edits to make public review easier.

Why it matters: The UDC governs where types of development are allowed, review processes, form and intensity standards, utilities, parks and natural resources, and design standards. City staff said the draft incorporates both changes required by recent state law and policy direction from the commission. George spelled out key user‑friendly improvements such as a slider map to compare existing and proposed zoning, clearer lot and building standard displays, and an updated allowed‑use table.

Staff flagged what has not changed: the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District is being handled separately and will be released under a separate landmark project next year. George also said the draft includes some map corrections to resolve inconsistencies between the future land‑use map and zoning and incorporates community‑requested map adjustments that staff and commissioners directed during summer work sessions.

How to weigh in: George said the draft was posted on Friday the 19th and will remain open for public review and comment through commission adoption. Staff encouraged written comments to comments@bozeman.net and listed two public information sessions on Oct. 1 (one online at noon and one in person at 6 p.m. at the Bozeman Public Safety Center). The draft will go to the Community Development Board on Nov. 3 and to the City Commission public hearing on Dec. 2.

What’s next: City staff asked residents to use the summary materials to focus review, and reiterated that drafts can change based on public input and further commission direction. The commission did not take questions during this presentation and the item moved on to later action items.