The Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board authorized city staff to negotiate a grant agreement with the Northeast Neighborhood Association for a landscaping project at Cottonwood and Wallace, with the motion approved 6-0. The project will beautify three of four boulevard corners at the intersection through a combination of donated design work, plants, labor, and materials from local residents and businesses including Hillside Nursery and Higher Ground Landscaping. City staff identified potential complications around volunteer insurance but expressed confidence in moving forward.
Jason Delmue, a Northeast neighborhood resident, explained the grassroots initiative began after spotting the deteriorating corner while biking. Adjacent business owners, including board Chair Nolan Campbell, committed to maintaining the landscaping after installation. The work is scheduled for late September or early October to ease watering and establishment before winter. Gallatin County Representative Scott Macfarlane raised concerns about potential future street improvements at the intersection, but city staff confirmed no projects currently require upgrades to that location.
Midtown District Construction Updates
City staff reported significant progress on multiple construction projects. The Whittier School parking lot project is largely complete with landscaping installed this week, bringing the asphalt lot into code compliance with new stormwater facilities and landscape buffers. Lighting poles along North 5th Avenue and at the intersection of 7th and Aspen remain pending due to Canadian pole manufacturer delays expected to resolve in October. The BMX park has received new seating and trees, with over $500,000 in TIF funds invested in improvements over time. Downtown electrical infrastructure is complete from 5th to Grand Avenue, with the Midtown portion of the streetlighting project nearly finished except for fixtures in front of the hotel. Staff anticipate beginning design work for streetlighting on the opposite side of Main Street from First Interstate Bank to Seventh Avenue.
Northeast Affordable Housing Discussion
City staff presented proposed updates to the Northeast Urban Renewal District's Tax Increment Finance Assistance Program application, requesting board feedback on community housing provisions. Staff recommended updating language to reflect the newly adopted Affordable Housing Ordinance, which targets rental units at 60% to 70% area median income and allows for stacking affordable housing ordinance incentives with federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs. No formal vote was taken during this discussion item; staff indicated they would incorporate board feedback for a future consideration.
Board member Natalie Van Dusen read aloud a written public comment from Amy Kelly Woodsman, submitted before the meeting, suggesting the board increase the scoring weight for projects that preserve neighborhood character and unique district vitality, currently worth only 4 out of 42 possible points. Woodsman referenced upcoming redevelopment of the Bronkins property (Cloverleaf) and Carthage property as major projects that will shape the district's character. Staff acknowledged the board could consider modest point adjustments and noted that a more comprehensive planning effort to codify Northeast district character—potentially leveraging existing RUDAT and Vision Northeast reports—could be pursued as a future work plan item.
Board member Julien Morice raised concerns about whether affordable housing criteria should apply uniformly across all projects given the complexity of meeting affordability targets in small developments with high construction costs. City staff clarified that the scoring system encourages rather than requires affordable housing contributions and helps signal developer priorities to the City Commission. The discussion concluded without a formal action or vote, with staff to return with refined data and board feedback incorporated.