The Sustainability Advisory Board held an information meeting on October 14 to review two major long-range planning initiatives affecting Bozeman's growth and environmental priorities.
Northwest Bozeman Area Plan
Chris Naumann, senior planner for Sanbell Planning, presented the draft Northwest Bozeman Area Plan, which covers approximately 3,000 acres within the city's community planning boundary. The plan is intended as a supplement to the 2025 Community Plan and provides high-level guidance for growth in the northwestern part of the valley, should property owners choose to annex land and develop.
The plan identifies natural resources—including streams, wetlands, and riparian corridors—as the primary framework element. The existing area contains two drainage basins and extensive wetland complexes, particularly in the southern portion. Naumann emphasized that the plan uses broad brush strokes at the community plan scale and does not include specific annexation decisions, which remain voluntary property owner choices.
Key framework elements include natural resources protection, street and utility corridors, and an active transportation network. The plan proposes minimal modifications to the future land use designations shown in the existing community plan, though it does adjust some residential mixed-use and community commercial mixed-use zones to better align with proposed arterial and collector streets.
Board members raised several concerns. Chair Kristin Blackler asked whether the city had analyzed available infill development capacity before planning for annexation. She also highlighted the value of mature trees in riparian areas and expressed concern about a proposed connection (Gooch Hill) cutting through major wetland complexes. Board member Jesse noted the area's rich wetland resources and questioned whether growth could be accommodated through infill instead.
Naumann responded that the city encourages infill development through code and policy, but annexation remains voluntary and will happen regardless. He noted that infrastructure costs create market incentives for infill, and that future planning processes—including annexation, subdivision, and site plan review—would apply additional protections and analysis. He also clarified that the plan proposes alternatives to a due-north grid that would thread between watercourses rather than bisect them.
Board members also discussed walkability, mixed-use commercial development, shared-use paths on existing roads like Harper-Puckett and Baxter Lane, and opportunities for wildlife habitat protection and wildlife corridor connectivity. Public comment raised concerns about impacts to extensively wetland areas and wildlife, noting that the plan's aspirations for regional stormwater facilities and wetland banking need clear implementation mechanisms.
The draft plan was released October 8 and is undergoing review by multiple city boards. A public event is planned for November 9, with City Commission consideration of adoption targeted for December 15.
Bozeman Creek Vision Plan
John Henderson, Assistant City Manager, presented the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, a comprehensive initiative to address flood risk, improve ecological health, increase public access, and enhance downtown vitality along the creek corridor from Ice Pond Road to its confluence with the East Gallatin River.
The city worked with Allied Engineering to model flood scenarios and found that a 100-year-plus flood event (accounting for climate change impacts like rain-on-snow events) could cause close to $1 billion in property damage. The engineering analysis identified multiple constriction points—including three downtown tunnels, one dating to the late 1800s—that impede flow during high water.
The proposed solution involves diverting approximately 750 cubic feet per second through Mill Ditch while upgrading downtown structures to carry 500 cubic feet per second within Bozeman Creek itself. Henderson stressed that this approach is technically feasible and requires no private property acquisition.
The plan includes three major parkland projects: a redesigned section of Rouse Street between Olive and Main where the creek would be bifurcated, with one channel moved into the roadway to create a public gathering space; a braided channel in front of City Hall with removal of the existing parking lot; and modifications to Bogert Park to relocate the Anderson Pavilion and create additional meanders and public access. All projects emphasize natural landscaping over hardscape solutions, reflecting community input.
Henderson noted that the city does not currently have staff or resources dedicated to preventative maintenance of the waterway and that recommendations include pursuing additional funding and possibly consolidating departments to enable proactive creek management.
The plan also includes policy recommendations related to watershed-scale science collection, flexible setback standards, native plantings, and exploration of transfer development rights and public-private partnerships. See Bozeman Creek, a grassroots organization, is partnering with the city on implementation, particularly for property acquisition and fundraising.
A public open house is planned for November 9, with City Commission consideration of plan adoption targeted for December 15.
Board members expressed strong support for the vision and renderings. Blackler praised the engineering work and suggested using lessons from this project to inform future waterway planning, such as the Northwest Bozeman Area Plan. She also raised questions about potential temperature impacts from channel bifurcation and encouraged creative thinking about underground or above-ground parking to offset removal of downtown surface parking. Board members requested copies of the presentation slides for further review.