Category Archives: Thoughts

If widening Kagy ever made sense, it certainly doesn’t now

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Mark Egge

The City of Bozeman’s Capital Improvement Plan item SIF009 allocates nearly a year’s worth of transportation budget to widening Kagy, justified by doomsday forecasts of apocalyptic traffic and delay. Not only has this traffic failed to materialize—the trend is actually going … Continue reading →

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Yes In My Backyard Act

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Mark Egge

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) introduced the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act to shed light on discriminatory land use policies and encourage localities to cut burdensome regulations. Instead of adopting inclusive land use policies that … Continue reading →

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Can’t do Infill – Lot Width Minimums

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Mark Egge

I’m highly interested in building some sort of infill project in the northeast neighborhood. My primary intention is add additional units of housing (in part to offset my own guilt about being “part of the problem”). I also just think … Continue reading →

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New Bicycle Crossing at Peach and Rouse Completely Unacceptable

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Mark Egge

The Montana Department of Transportation has recently reconstructed the Rouse Avenue corridor. At the intersection of Peach Street and Rouse, MDT has taken away the existing bike lanes on Peach Street to install two additional vehicle lanes. Strava’s Global Heatmap … Continue reading →

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Summer Reading List

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Mark Egge

Interested in some light summer reading? Consider picking up a copy of Bozeman’s Unified Development Code! Carve out some time, though—it’s longer than Kafka’s The Trial and The Castle combined. Critics are calling Bozeman’s little book of rules: “A haunting … Continue reading →

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Is Bozeman serious about affordability and sustainability—or not?

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Mark Egge

Bozeman will never achieve its climate or affordability goals without updating its zoning code to allow small lots, small floor plans, and more shared walls. Bozeman’s development code bans small lots. A ban on small lots is, effectively, a ban … Continue reading →

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Running for Bozeman City Commission!

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Mark Egge

After years of screed-ing here about Bozeman growth, development and politics, I’m excited to announce that I’m finally taking the plunge and stepping up to try to take a more active role in defining Bozeman’s growth trajectory. As of last … Continue reading →

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Making Bozeman a Better Place to Bike and Walk

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Mark Egge

An Open Letter to Bozeman City Commission Re: Making Bozeman a Better Place to Bike and Walk 6 January 2019 Madame Mayor, Mr. Deputy Mayor, and Commissioners: Bozeman’s Strategic Plan rightly calls for increased participation in active transportation. Active transportation … Continue reading →

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Bozeman’s Tourism Business Improvement District: An Unfair and Unwelcoming Tax

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Mark Egge

Suppose that, one night in a quiet corner of a dark room, Bozeman’s hotel owners make a pact to all raise their rates by an agreed-upon amount. Hotel revenues will go up, as guests would face the same price increase … Continue reading →

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Vote for Open Lands – Bozeman!

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Mark Egge

I first came to Gallatin County as an 18-year-old in 2004 to attend Montana State University. In many ways, Gallatin Valley as it exists today would be unrecognizable to me then. Yes, it is more prosperous, more diverse, and offers … Continue reading →

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