The October 23, 2025, meeting of the Butte-Silverbow Zoning Board of Adjustment convened to review three primary agenda items: Special Use Permit 25-18 for short-term rentals, Variance 25-10 for signage expansion, and Special Use Permit 25-16 for an event venue. The Board unanimously approved the first two items after hearing from staff and applicants, while the third item was postponed to the next meeting pending additional information on capacity and noise mitigation following mixed public testimony.
All right, it is officially 530. We'll call the uh October 23rd meeting of the zoning board of adjustment to order. And um I'll start with some introductions just so everybody knows who we are. Uh staff, I have Aiden up here, Joella at the computer, and John, right? Thank you. Sorry. And Becky over there at the other computer. Um board members, we've got uh Garrett, Justin, Lexi, Mike, and myself, I'm Steven Cow. So should we uh get going on special use permit twenty-five eighteen? Staff have a report. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we do. Um the first staff report is special use twenty-five eighteen, and it's pertaining to six oh eight eight West Galena Street. The applicant is Wolf and Bear LLC, and the representative is Paul Durham. He is the property manager. Um the zoning placement um in purple. This is in an R3 zoning district or a multifamily zone. Um here's some photos um to the left or to the right is the um structure prior to the individuals doing some modifications, and then to the left is what it looks like at present. Again, here is an overhead view of some of the surrounding area, mostly multifamily and single family residents. Um views looking to the east from the bottom of the street of Galena, and then views looking down um West Galena to the west. The location and character of the property and surrounding buildings. Again, this is located in the R3 or multi-family resident residence, and it is surrounded by multi- and single-family dwellings. The use conforms to objectives of the comprehensive plan and purpose of the ordinance. The comprehensive plan for this particular location is the economic driver, and it represents a traditional urban neighborhood with a predominance of single family attached and detached residential units. They're located within the Butte Historic District and are defined by the character and quality of architectural found at the turn of the century. Future development per the comprehensive plan in this place type is envisioned to include mixed uses, infill development, including vertically integrated uses, pocket parks, greenway connectors, trail heads, as well as duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, condominiums, and apartments. This area mostly consists of single-family and multifamily housing. The purpose, short the proposed short-term rentals operating within an existing multifamily residence, aligns with the future land use goals by introducing low-impact lodging into an area intended for diverse mixed growth. Planning staff does believe that the proposal is consistent with the intent of the zoning ordinance to allow for reasonable and compatible use of the property. The proposed use will not adversely affect nearby properties or their occupants. When considering the low impact commercial nature of the proposal, planning staff believe it would have minimal impact on adjacent properties and property owners. That the pro proposed use will not adversely change the use of the property in question. The established character of the existing neighborhood would not appear to be impacted by this proposal. There would be no changes to the aesthetics or of the surrounding area. Some conditions of approval. Any remodeling of the existing residence performed to accommodate the proposed business will be required to meet all applicable building code, health code, as well as as required by Butte Silverbow Building Code Department and Butte Silverbow Health Department, respectively. All necessary approvals must be granted prior to the applicants receiving final business license approval. The property address must be visible, including past start and entrance must be clearly identified. The applicants shall be limited to the occupancy levels as determined by the Butte Silverbow Building and Fire Departments. The occupancy levels shall be determined prior to business license approval. The applicants will be limited specifically to the businesses stated and approved. Any future business expansion, changes in business or building expansions will require further review by the zoning board of adjustments, and the applicant will be required to acquire a BSB business license for short-term rentals. In conclusion, based on the information provided in the application, staff's analysis of the review criteria and any public opinion as it relates to the criteria. Section 1738-160, special or conditional use permits, decision of board requires staff to refer to the application to the board within 15 days of receipt of the application and all requested information. The board shall within 60 days deny the application and give reason for the denial in writing or approve the application. That's everything. Thank you, Joella. The board members have any questions for staff on this one. Okay.