Bozeman Community Development Board Meeting - July 20, 2026

The Community Development Board of Bozeman, Montana, met on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall and via video conference. The meeting focused primarily on an update to the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, including community engagement results, draft policy recommendations, and next steps. The board also reviewed upcoming agenda items and approved previous meeting minutes.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the June 15, 2026, Community Development Board meeting were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Disclosures and Announcements: Board member Jason Delmue highlighted a walk led by Commissioner Jennifer Madgic for the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan on July 31, 2026, at 7:30 AM starting at City Hall (corrected from the initially stated July 24).
• Bozeman Creek Vision Plan – Engagement Summary & Community Priorities (Item F.1): Assistant City Manager Jon Henderson presented a mid-project update, joined by Steve Noble and Jim Madden of See Bozeman Creek. Key points included:
  • The plan aims to mitigate flooding, improve water quality, enhance trail connectivity, support economic vitality, and protect the creek’s ecological health.
  • The project scope covers Ice Pond Road to I-90. Community engagement included an open house on June 2, 2026, at Storoptimus Park with 300–400 attendees, and outreach to neighborhood associations, the Downtown Urban Renewal District, and other stakeholders.
  • Flood modeling utilized a rain-on-snow scenario (estimated 1,250 CFS) in addition to the FEMA 100-year flood (~1,000 CFS) and 500-year flood (~1,680–1,700 CFS). The modeling is not authoritative for regulation.
  • Draft recommendations (11 “big ideas”) include: diverting flood flow via Mill Ditch (as a flood control device, not perennial due to water rights constraints); converting a section of Rouse Avenue (Maine to Olive) into a greenway; creating “sponge park” concepts at Beale Park and City Hall; improving trail connectivity across downtown and north of Story Mill; and revisiting setback requirements (current 75-foot fixed setback, with potential climate-conditioned floodplain-based setbacks).
  • Funding is expected from a diverse capital stack including grants, philanthropy, private contributions, and local enterprise funds (stormwater utility, parks maintenance), but not general tax increases or bonds at this stage.
  • The city commission recently approved $150,000 to maintain momentum. Next steps include a presence at the Sweet Pea Festival (August 8, 2026), further advisory board meetings, a public draft in early November, and a target city commission adoption date of December 15, 2026.
• Board Discussion and Feedback:
  • Mark Egge asked about typical creek flows (~200 CFS) and flood history.
  • Jason Delmue inquired about Mill Ditch perennial flow and water rights; staff clarified it is now planned as a flood-only channel.
  • Chris Egnatz supported expanding setbacks based on a climate-conditioned floodplain, and emphasized closing the downtown trail connectivity gap.
  • Eric Bonnett expressed strong support for the downtown greenway concept and asked about affordable housing integration; staff noted development would occur adjacent to, not in, the floodplain, leveraging the greenway for housing. Bonnett later suggested flexibility in where housing funds are used.
  • Ben Lloyd urged focus on flood mitigation and trail connectivity rather than tying affordable housing to the creek plan, stating it “might be a little too much.”
  • Joey Morrison and Lauren Mitro discussed upstream storage, property rights, and the challenges of setbacks on small lots (eighth- to quarter-acre parcels).
  • Chris Saunders (staff) noted existing 75-foot setbacks and floodplain-based expansion; variance options exist.
• Upcoming Items for August 3, 2026 (Item F.2): Chris Saunders announced a work session on zone edge transitions and maximum height in the B3 district, as requested by the City Commission. Additional FYIs included:
  • City Commission work session on advisory boards (July 21, 2026).
  • City Commission work session on Landmark and NCOD design guidelines (July 28, 2026).
  • August 17, 2026, CDB meeting will be a text amendment public hearing relating to wetlands and watercourses (procedural updates).

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: Motion to approve the June 15, 2026, minutes carried 7–0.
• No Action Taken on Vision Plan: The Bozeman Creek Vision Plan update was informational; the board provided feedback that will inform future iterations. Staff will return with a more polished draft in late September/early October 2026.
• Next Scheduled Meeting: August 3, 2026, with a work session on B3 height and zone edge transitions.