Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting - July 15, 2026

The Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) met on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 6:00 PM to approximately 9:00 PM. The meeting focused on two major action items: receiving a public engagement summary and preview of updated design standards for the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) from the Lakota Group, and a work session to continue discussion of demolition regulations. Board members present included Danielle Nicholas, Allyson B. Brekke, James Webster, Ashley Wilson, Michael Wiseman, and Lisa Weilbacker. Mitchell Korus was excused. The board also introduced new members and leadership.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (June 17, 2026): Motion by Ashley Wilson, seconded by Danielle Nicholas. The motion carried 5-0 (Lisa Weilbacker abstained). The minutes were approved with a noted correction to the spelling of a public commenter's name.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Items: No public comment was offered.
• Action Item F.1 (NCOD Design Standards): No public comment was offered during the meeting, but the board noted significant community feedback received via email and from a neighborhood focus group held the previous week, expressing concerns about over-regulation of small homeowners and lack of focus on mass and scale.
• Action Item F.2 (Demolition Regulations): No public comment was offered.

Discussion Items

• FYI/Discussions (Moved Up):
  • New board member Lisa Weilbacker was welcomed. Michael Wiseman was introduced as the new HPAB Chair, and Ashley Wilson as the new Vice Chair.
  • Staff announced two walking tours on July 22 and July 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM, starting at Beall Park, to observe zone edge transitions in preparation for the August 25 City Commission work session on building heights and transitions.
  • The August 19 HPAB meeting will include a discussion of B3 height and zone edge transitions, with board members planning to attend or watch the Community Development Board presentation beforehand.
• Action Item F.1: Public Engagement Summary and Preview of Layout for Updated Design Standards for the NCOD (The Lakota Group):
  • The Lakota Group presented findings from extensive public engagement, including over 300 participants (stakeholder interviews, open house, online survey with 248 respondents, of which 56% lived in the NCOD). Key themes: need for clarity, predictability, stronger guidance on massing and scale, and better balance between preservation and flexibility.
  • The proposed framework includes four tiers: Preservation (for designated historic resources), Preservation-Eligible (areas with potential for future designation), Character (neighborhoods with distinct identity, e.g., the Northeast neighborhood), and Context (remaining NCOD properties). Each tier would have varying levels of regulatory vs. advisory standards.
  • Board members expressed significant concerns:
    • The survey was criticized as exclusionary and too technical.
    • The tiered approach was seen as overly complex, especially after the recent adoption of the Unified Development Code (UDC).
    • Several members argued the focus should be on demolition and new construction mass/scale, not micromanaging homeowners (e.g., window treatments).
    • The preservation-eligible tier requires more data and a clear methodology; the character tier was questioned as unnecessary for NCOD design guidelines.
    • A consensus emerged to reduce the tiers to three: Preservation, Local Landmark, and Context, with preservation-eligible areas addressed through the local landmark process.
  • Staff clarified that the draft is preliminary and that further policy direction from the City Commission is needed on how to address mass and scale conflicts between base zoning and the overlay.
• Action Item F.2: Work Session to Continue Discussion of Demolition Regulations:
  • Chair Wiseman compiled recommendations for demolition code revisions based on previous board discussions. The board reviewed these notes and decided to forward them to the project consultant, Community Planning Collaborative.
  • Key points included requiring survey updates when a demolition permit is applied for, and ensuring demolition regulations are integrated with the local landmark program.

Key Outcomes

• Direction to Lakota Group: The board directed the consultants to refine the tiered approach, aiming for three tiers (Preservation, Local Landmark, Context) and to focus design standards on clarity, predictability, and major issues like new construction massing, scale, and demolition, while avoiding overly prescriptive standards for minor home improvements.
• Demolition Code Recommendations Forwarded: The board voted unanimously (6-0) to send the compiled recommendations to the Community Planning Collaborative for further development. The motion, made by Ashley Wilson and seconded by Allyson B. Brekke, carried with all members in favor.
• Future Meetings: The August 19 HPAB meeting will include discussion of B3 height and zone edge transitions, and a draft of revised demolition code will be presented for review.