The Growth Plan Surrounding Bozeman

The growth plan surrounding Bozeman is a hot discussion these days. People are moving here in droves and it’s not predicted to slow down anytime soon. In 2020 Bozeman home sales turned out record numbers (even during a pandemic) and sales continued to be robust through the end of the year. There is almost no housing inventory left in Bozeman right now. Naturally, buyers started looking in the surrounding town of Belgrade, which saw their average sales price jump from $364,736 to $524,394 (Source: Gallatin Association of Realtors Market Watch).  Four Corners is also growing because you can still get an affordable deal there. The Triangle Community Plan was created to address the foreseeable pressures of this population growth.

What Is the Growth Plan Surrounding Bozeman?

The Triangle area is loosely described as the area between Four Corners, Bozeman and Belgrade. The area is still mainly agricultural but there are some signs of burgeoning residential, industrial and commercial development happening. Here are some interesting takeaways from the Triangle Community Plan:

• Four Corners is becoming a bedroom community for employees of the Big Sky area economy.
• Development pressure in Bozeman is really evident in the west side of town, especially with the completion of the new Gallatin High School.
• Avoid urban sprawl and focus on contiguous community clusters.
• Encourage development that supports agricultural activity, while protecting and preserving wildlife and natural resources.
• The triangle is likely to see several new schools constructed in the next 10-20 years.
• Affordable housing with a variety of housing options needs to be seriously considered.
• Neighborhood trails, connector trails and commuter trails like you see in Bozeman will be a top priority to encourage residents not to drive.

Long-time residents reminisce about how Bozeman’s busiest corridor (19th Avenue) used to be a dirt road not that long ago. If we stay on our current growth trajectory, Gallatin County will hit 200,000 people by 2040. Bozeman proper is pretty much filled in and the city recently approved a growth plan that will extend the boundaries from 20.4 square miles to 70.8 over the next 20 years. It will be interesting to see what the Triangle area will look like in the next five, 10, 15 years. If you’re looking into Bozeman, check out my previous post about why it’s so desirable here. I can also answer questions about the real estate market or fun things to do if you decide to visit. Contact me at liz@windermere.com.