We're also hearing from some opponents who are saying that some of the city's design standards applicable to the Black-Olive were amended with a less-than-transparent process in 2015. Those changes, they're claiming, were intended to benefit developers and left nearby homeowners out of the process.

 

Specifically, they're referencing this memo by then-planning director Wendy Thomas, which presented design guidelines for downtown-area commercial development but wrote that the process of drafting them "left insufficient time for added collaboration."

 

I haven't had a chance to check out those allegations in a rigorous way.

We just heard from an attorney, Chris Gray, saying he's representing a group of "affected and interested citizens."

 

He addresses commissioners on the design standards issue a few opponents have been raising, saying he's submitted a public records request for information on the noticing there and asking commissioners to delay in their decision so that can be addressed.

Holloran says a traffic study done for his project reported that downtown traffic has increased only by 1 percent (over a timeframe I didn't catch).

 

"One percent — and that's factual data," he says — as audience members chuckle in disbelief.

 

He also suggests parking isn't really an issue on downtown's south side.

 

“We haven’t seen any data that says there’s a parking shortage south of Main,” he says. “I think there’s a lot of speculation — and perhaps it’s a convenient issue as opposed to an actual parking problem.”

Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy asks Holloran about his car-share plans.

 

“We’ve had great discussions with a number of car-share companies,” he says, saying his company plans to contract with a national provider.

 

He also says HomeBase is "prepared to underwrite" a for-profit provider, providing a subsidy to help lure them into Bozeman if necessary.

Andrus says she isn't going to supporting her motion to approve the project, citing the building's five stories and compatibility with neighborhoods to the south.

 

“I do believe that we need density and infill around our downtown,” she says. 

 

She adds: “I do think it is the wrong project in a place where we need the right project.”
 

Commissioner Jeff Krauss says he won't support the Black-Olive, either, citing its parking provision.

 

“Parking is the critical infrastructure for downtown vitality,” he says.
 

He adds: “When you look at the parking deficit, it feels like the site’s overbuilt.”
 

 

 

 

Mayor Taylor cuts to the chase: "The parking plan is insufficient."

 

“And frankly," he adds, "I think there’re too many loose ends in it all the way around."

 

That's three votes against Black-Olive, unless Mehl is able to finagle some sort of condition on the project approval that gets three commissioners to "yes."

Taylor has more to add, saying density makes sense in downtown but that he's worried about Black-Olive's parking provision.

 

“I’m willing to say 20 years from now the parking situation might be totally different and this may but work fine," he says. "But how do we get there in way that maintains our community?”

 

He adds: “I think this building is not that far off from what would be acceptable in this space.”

 

Additionally, he extends the meeting to 11:30.

Commissioners now discussing whether they can figure out a way to address their parking concerns and grant Black-Olive approval tonight (several are saying they're quite nearly on the fence with their vote).

 

Mehl is now making a non-controversial motion requiring the project to have a minimum of 32 bike storage spots.

Holloran doesn't sound like he's ready to give up on the Black-Olive concept yet.

 

"We'll just have to regroup and decide what's best for the project," he says.

 

"It's a great debate," he also says. "Parking is the issue driving the project."