The Bozeman City Commission approved moving forward with a professional services agreement to develop the Gooch Hill area plan, a sub-area planning study for a large section of the western valley that would be served by a new sanitary sewer lift station. The commission authorized consultant Sandbell Rocky Mountain to conduct community engagement and develop the plan, which will examine how to balance growth, infrastructure, environmental preservation, and wildlife corridors as the city expands westward toward Belgrade. The plan, expected to be completed by October 2026, will incorporate data from the Sensitive Lands Plan and coordinate with regional planning efforts including the Triangle Plan and transportation master plan.