New MT Project Sparks Outrage Over What’s Coming Next

BUTTE, MT - A 68-acre chunk of Bozeman’s north side is on track to become the city’s next sprawling commercial-residential hub—but the ambitious proposal is already stirring unease among residents and urban planners alike.

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Dubbed the Gallatin Center, the project would reshape a large parcel off North 19th Avenue, just south of Cattail Street and west of the Town Pump and WinCo.

The development wraps around the U.S. Postal Service office and stretches down to Baxter Lane, potentially transforming a rare pocket of open land into a dense mix of major retailers, restaurants, and apartment complexes.

The land is currently zoned for business park and community business (B-2), but the developers, led by longtime landowner Eugene Graf, are pushing for a rezoning to B-2M—a mixed-use designation that allows for ground-floor residential blended with commercial offerings.

For some, it’s a logical next step in Bozeman’s growth. For others, it’s a red flag.

“Another Bozeman Strip Mall?”

Local social media groups have lit up with concerns about the proposal, with residents questioning how another large-scale development will impact traffic, infrastructure, and Bozeman’s already strained housing market.

“This city doesn’t need another strip mall with a mattress store and five drive-thrus,” one commenter posted on Facebook. “We need thoughtful planning not more concrete.”

Graf, however, defended the project’s vision.

His family has owned the land for decades and was instrumental in pushing for the I-90 interchange that opened the area up to regional commercial use. Now, he said, interest from big-name tenants is strong—even if he won’t say who just yet.

“We’re talking to quick-serve restaurants, major retailers, and residential developers,” Graf said to Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “This zoning change opens the door to a good mix of businesses that will complement what’s already there.”

City Board Gives Early Green Light

On Monday, the city’s Community Development Board voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend the zoning change.

Still, some board members signaled the need for a more thoughtful approach.

Chris Egnatz urged Graf to consider a truly “vibrant mixed-use space”—one that activates the ground floor with retail, bars, or even a brewery, instead of leaning too heavily on chain stores or cookie-cutter apartment blocks.

“This area is really screaming for that through-conduit between the commercial and what is residential,” Egnatz said to Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

What Happens Next?

The Bozeman City Commission is expected to vote on the zoning change at its July 1 meeting. If approved, site development could begin as early as this fall.

But as construction looms, so do the bigger questions: What does Bozeman want to become—and at what cost?