Bozeman Community Development Board Meeting - August 17, 2026: Wetland Code Text Amendment
Bozeman Community Development Board Meeting – August 17, 2026
The Bozeman Community Development Board met on August 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to consider a single action item: a text amendment to the Bozeman Municipal Code modifying sections 38.610.030 and .040 (Application of wetland regulations), 38.620 (Watercourse setbacks), and 38.710.120 (Submittal Materials for Review). The amendment removes two submittal requirements—an approved jurisdictional determination (AJD) from the Army Corps of Engineers and a watercourse status determination from the Gallatin Conservation District—to streamline the review process. The board voted 4-0 to recommend adoption to the City Commission.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting (moved by Member Eggnet, seconded).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Catherine Barry, Gallatin Watershed Council: Expressed support for the text amendment, noting that a stakeholder group convened by the Council reached consensus on removing the jurisdictional determinations. She also suggested that the wetland and watercourse delineation report be required earlier in the development review process to better implement the code’s avoidance-minimization-mitigation hierarchy.
- No public comment was offered via video conference or in person from other individuals.
Discussion Items
- Text Amendment (Application 26217): Staff from the Community Development Department and Transportation & Engineering presented the rationale for the amendment. Key points:
- The AJD requirement added 12–18 months to timelines without adding regulatory benefit because all wetlands within city limits are protected by either federal or local jurisdiction. Under the amendment, applicants may assume federal jurisdiction and proceed with the Clean Water Act 404 permit process.
- The Gallatin Conservation District stopped providing watercourse status determinations prior to a 310 permit application, making the submittal requirement impossible to fulfill. Removing it allows applicants to proceed directly to the 310 permit process.
- Stakeholder outreach (including the Army Corps, Conservation District, and consultant Bill Kleindle) achieved consensus on the changes.
- The board discussed the timing of the wetland delineation report. Staff noted that while early information is valuable, requiring it at the concept plan stage could be premature given the non-binding nature of early reviews and the cost and seasonal constraints of delineations.
- Future Meeting Schedule: Staff informed the board that the next scheduled meeting on September 7, 2026, falls on Labor Day (a national holiday). The board agreed to cancel that meeting and hold only one meeting in September, on the 14th, unless items arise.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Recommend Adoption: Member Eggnet moved, and the board voted 4-0 (with all members present voting) to adopt the findings in the staff report and recommend adoption of the ordinance to the City Commission. The ordinance will receive first reading on September 1, 2026.
- Next Steps: The code amendment will proceed to the City Commission. Staff will continue exploring future improvements, including locally set replacement ratios for wetland mitigation, on-site mitigation manuals, and a potential joint permitting system with the Army Corps.
- Meeting Cancellation: The September 7, 2026 meeting was cancelled; the board will next meet on September 14, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
I know it. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the August 17th meeting of the Bozeman Community Development Board. The community development board is a seven-member citizen advisory board comprised of volunteers appointed by the city commission that fulfills requirements of state law. We meet twice a month to make recommendations regarding land use regulations to the Bozeman City Commission. Final decisions are typically not made here. Thank you everyone for joining us. We welcome the presence of those here in the City Commission room. Before we start this meeting, however, I'd like to remind those not physically present here of the ways in which you can follow this meeting and provide public comments. You can watch this meeting in real time and provide public comment should you so choose by joining us via video conference. You'll find the link to join us by going to the city's website at Bozeman. Also highlighted in blue. In the second paragraph of the agenda, follow the prompts to enter the meeting. If you are joining via video conference, and if you would like to offer public comment this evening, use the video conference raise your hand feature when it is your turn to comment. Staff will call on you by name. Please note that we will take public comment from those physically present here first, followed by those joining via video conference. In addition to joining via video conference, there are three other ways you can follow this meeting. These are for viewing or listening only, and you will be unable to provide public comment using any of these methods. You can dial in and listen to this meeting.net, click on departments, then on city commission, and then on live stream and videos. Find this meeting under the upcoming events list and click on view live event. You can always provide written public comment before meetings by sending an email to comments at Bozeman.net or by visiting the city's public comment webpage. Any public comment received by noon today will have been distributed to this board. Laura and Chad? Jason Delview. Ben Boyd. Chris Eggnett. And city staff in the room. Chris Saunders Community Development. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Any disclosures from anyone on the board? Nice meeting. Not seeing nothing. Any changes to the agenda? Guess and no. Seeing none. Public service announcements from anyone. Okay. Looking for a motion. Move to approve. Second that. Thank you. Any discussion? Okay. Trent, please. Aye. Second or metro. Aye. Aye. Member Ignits. Yes.
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