Bozeman Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting - October 14, 2026

The Bozeman Sustainability Advisory Board convened on October 14, 2026, to discuss the Northwest Bozeman Area Plan and the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan. The board received staff updates, approved the September meeting minutes, and heard public testimony on development pressures and wetland conservation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Items: Kiki Hulls, a Bozeman resident, asked about the city's dark sky ordinances and coordination with the county regarding light pollution from a storage facility.
• Northwest Bozeman Area Plan:
  • Kiki Hulls, a resident on the western edge of the city, provided historical context on a 150-acre property purchase, stated that 62% of Bozeman's original wetlands have been lost, advocated for 150-foot riparian setbacks, and questioned how the city will ensure plan aspirations for parks and natural areas are enforced rather than developed.
  • Deb Lewis, a resident of the Laurel Glen area, raised concerns about significantly increased traffic on Durston Road and Love Lane, the lack of safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure for east-west travel, and suggested the city analyze existing housing vacancies before expanding into greenfield areas.

Discussion Items

• Northwest Bozeman Area Plan (J.1): Chris Naumann (Senior Planner, Sandbell) presented the draft plan for the approximately 3,000-acre planning area. The presentation emphasized a framework driven by natural resources, proposed adjusting future land use densities to arterial corridors, and introduced alternative street alignments to minimize wetland impacts. Sean Coates (Utilities Director) confirmed the Gooch Hill sewer lift station is in very early preliminary design stages with no site identified. Board members discussed the economics of infill versus annexation, the importance of protecting mature trees and wildlife corridors, the need for walkable neighborhood design, and the potential for new roads to significantly impact wetland complexes.
• Bozeman Creek Vision Plan (J.2): John Henderson (Assistant City Manager) presented the vision plan, created in partnership with the grassroots organization C Bozeman Creek. The plan is driven by flood mitigation, proposing an engineering solution to divert up to 750 cubic feet per second (CFS) into Mill Ditch to handle a 100-year-plus flood event (1,250 CFS), while upgrading downtown structures to carry 500 CFS. Concept designs include daylighting portions of the creek through Rouse Street and in front of City Hall, and reconfiguring Bogart Park. Policy recommendations focused on flexible setback standards and city resources for proactive creek stewardship. Board members voiced strong support for the vision, raised concerns about downstream water temperature impacts on fish from the diversion, urged creative parking solutions, and requested copies of the presentation for review.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: The board unanimously approved the meeting minutes from September 9, 2026.
• No Formal Action: Both agenda items were FYI/Discussion items. No votes were taken. Board feedback will be directed to staff for consideration in the plans' next drafts.
• Next Steps:
  • A public open house for the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan is scheduled for November 9, 2026. City Commission consideration for plan adoption is targeted for December 15, 2026.
  • The next public draft of the Northwest Bozeman Area Plan is expected in early November, with a public hearing before the City Commission scheduled for December 15, 2026.
  • The City Commission will discuss advisory board structural changes at an October 20, 2026 work session.