Overview

The City of Bozeman is seeking proposals from a qualified consultant with expertise in historic preservation to undertake the creation of a Local Landmark Program and revamp existing preservation policies. The purpose of this program is to develop a protocol for listing local historic resources and establish policies to enhance Bozeman's current historic preservation program.

Bozeman has had substantial growth for over 25 years, is the fourth largest city in Montana, and has a long history in progressive land use planning. The COVID epidemic has exaggerated existing trends resulting in extreme housing demand and very high housing costs. With this substantial growth comes increasing threats to Bozeman's historic resources and neighborhood fabric.

Within the historic preservation movement, there is a call to action that local preservation policies need to incorporate intangible heritage and local knowledge within the built environment as well as expand upon people and perspectives to make it more relevant. Policy makers, scholars, and preservation advocates have begun to push back at national standards with regard to how it is not broadly inclusive and representative of all heritage, especially that of underrepresented communities. The City of Bozeman has pledged to review the city's policies around equity and inclusion including how heritage and land use practices can be very negative and harm marginalized communities. By developing a local landmark program and preservation policies that better reflect the layers and voices of Bozeman's history and people, we can work to include those viewpoints and experiences that are not proportionately represented.

The primary objectives of the work are:

• Rebrand the historic preservation program with a focus on "people-centered preservation" rather than just "place-centered preservation";
• Develop recommendations and provide guidance and tools for rebranding the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) and how it could evolve;
• Identify the discrepancies between the zoning districts and how it impacts the NCOD and the preservation program;
• Reframe and redefine historic preservation policy and the definition of integrity with a focus on inclusion and equity around cultural significance rather than just historic significance;
• Develop standards for a local preservation landmark program;
• Offer resources that can help incentivize preservation and adaptive reuse rather than demolition;
• Ensure regulations and policies are consistent with the Unified Development Code and other adopted planning documents.

Scope of Services

It is expected there will be two phases of this project with the ultimate goal to establish a local landmark program.

Phase 1 – Using the 2019 NCOD Policy Direction Report as a baseline, the consultant will help implement and develop ways to rebrand and revise the current historic preservation program with emphasis on creating a local landmark program and policies. Prior to creating ordinance language, manuals, or other supporting documents, the consultant will outline these mechanisms to bring forth to the City Commission which may include, but are not limited to the following items:

• Identifying policy goals and a process to strengthen the current preservation program and create a local landmark program, which includes articulating a long term vision, achievable strategies, educational opportunities, and community engagement;
• Detecting the discrepancies between the zoning districts and how it impacts NCOD, as well as other impediments of the current historic preservation program and existing code sections. This includes coordinating with the on-going update to the City's zoning districts and standards for zone edge transitions within the NCOD;
• Outlining strategies and policy recommendations that could be adopted to evolve or alter the City's current historic preservation program (examples: rebalancing the emphasis of the historic preservation program between historic architecture and the historic events or context of the people that shaped Bozeman's history; determining incentives for historic preservation or maintenance of historic sites and resources; recommending changes to the role and duties of the HPAB);
• Reviewing existing historic property inventory data and make recommendations regarding future planning and development efforts within the NCOD and identifying other areas that could be considered for inclusion in the City's historic preservation program; and
• Providing policy suggestions to support how preservation can contribute to solutions for larger societal issues such as climate change, social justice, affordable housing, economic development, community development, and finance, with an emphasis on innovative and creative tools and techniques that help embrace a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Conducting public engagement with community members, landowners, business owners, the Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB), elected officials, city staff, design professionals, and other stakeholders to gather feedback on the City's current historic preservation program and ways to strengthen it; and
• Collaborating with the consultants (Code Studio) currently working on revising and restructuring the UDC.

Phase 2 – If the Bozeman City Commission directs staff to proceed with implementing policy recommendations of Phase 1, the consultant will:

• Draft an ordinance to amend or repeal and replace the preservation section of the code to implement policy direction provided by the Bozeman City Commission; and
• Draft an administrative manual and associated administrative documents or forms to implement the local landmark program ordinance.

The ordinance and administrative manual may include, but are not limited to the following items:

• Outline the process and procedures to implement the local landmark program with emphasis on required application materials, selection criteria, nomination process, standards, and methods;
• Protection, demolition, and maintenance requirements or standards;
• Incentive measures for preservation or maintenance of historic resources;
• Outline the process and procedures to remove an historic structure or resource from the local landmark program, including required application materials and criteria for removal;
• The role and duties the Historic Preservation Advisory Board;
• Methods and procedures for data management and documentation of historic resources; and
• Use and presentation of data and documentation for educational and outreach programs.

The deadline for inquiries is Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Questions and/or inquiries must be emailed to Sarah Rosenberg, srosenberg@bozeman.net.

The due date for the submittal is Friday, January 6, 2023. Any administrative questions regarding proposal procedures should be directed to Mike Maas, City Clerk, (406) 582-2321, agenda@bozeman.net.

Please visit the RFP on the City website for full details and scope.