City Growth Policy Implementation Moves Forward . . . s l o w l y

City Growth Policy Implementation Moves Forward . . . s l o w l y

Friends of Park County proposes interim application of anti-sprawl policies to accelerate implementation and reduce risk of litigation of city decisions.

It was three years ago this month that Friends of Park County made its debut before the Livingston City Commission, calling for sweeping changes to the generic sprawl-as-usual draft city Growth Policy.For the next six months, Friends of Park County testified dozens of times to the Livingston Planning Board, presenting more than 50 pages of written testimony including data and specific language changes.  We were joined by other organizations and many individuals whose participation was encouraged by the way the Planning Board welcomed and acted on residents’ suggestions.By April of 2023 when the Planning Board presented the revised draft Growth Policy to the City Commission, it had been transformed: In general, it favors compact growth, a strong downtown and traditional residential development instead of sprawl.  But under Montana Law a Growth Policy is mostly advisory until it is implemented through new city zoning ordinances and maps, new capital improvement plans, new annexation policies and other regulations and programs.It has been two and one-half years since the City Commission approved the Growth Policy – halfway through the five-year period when the Growth Policy is in force before its next update and implementation is just getting started.The delay can be attributed to the sudden death and replacement of the former City Manager and the hiring of a new Planning Director.  There was also a historic flood, skyrocketing housing costs, controversies over new public facilities and a few other distractions.Now important implementations steps are underway.The first is the preparation of a downtown Master Plan which will cover not only the historic downtown but Sacajawea Park and city facilities near the river and a small area north of the railroad tracks. The Master Plan will include:

• Identification of priority development / redevelopment projects in the study area;
• A Housing & Parking Study specific to study area;
• Recommendations for plan implementation.

A community workshop on the Downtown Master Plan was held on November 16.As for the zoning ordinance, it is undergoing a preliminary technical review by Great Western Engineering, paid for by the state.  The next step will be the issuance of a request for proposals from private consulting firms for a thorough overhaul.  The city has budgeted $125,000 for this work although at a City Commission meeting on October 17, City Manager Grant Gager indicated additional funding might be necessary.Gager expects the zoning ordinance revision process to take around a year, which means it would be completed at the end of 2024, just in time to start the process for updating the Growth Policy again.Friends of Park County has identified several key issue to be addressed and work products delivered related to implementation of the Growth Policy, including:

• Implementation of Future Land Use designations that are at greatest variance with existing zoning. For example, the lands southeast of the Yellowstone River are designated in the Growth Policy as Parks and Natural Areas, while the existing zoning for this area shows this area as being designated for residential development (see the two conflicting maps below).
• Inconsistency between land zoned for almost unlimited types and intensity of commercial development outside of downtown and the Growth Policy goal of keeping downtown vital and successful.
• Implementation of Smart Growth principles to be applied to new subdivisions and other development.
• Addressing the conflicting goals between protecting the natural features of the Yellowstone River and encouraging more access and recreational development.

Compare and contrast. (The colors may both be green but what they mean is very different!)

Friends of Park County believes the City would benefit from adopting an ordinance making key Growth Policy goals and objectives criteria to be used in the review of development proposals, including subdivision applications, PUDs, rezonings, city service extensions and annexations.  Such an ordinance need not be lengthy or complex.In addition to implementing the Growth Policy, the ordinance would provide a stronger legal basis for the decisions the City may be making in the next 12 to 16 months while the zoning ordinance is updated.And the next time the Growth Policy is updated….Friends of Park County believes the City needs to greatly narrow the time between the update of the next Growth Policy and its implementation, so that the City’s Growth Policies actually are translated from a plan into a place.

What you can do:

Thank the City Commission and City Manager for moving forward with the Downtown Master Plan and update of the zoning ordinance and endorse any of Friends of Park County’s recommendations that you support.City Commission Chair Melissa Nootz          406 220-9014 mnootz@livingstonmontana.orgCity Manager Grant Gager                             406 823-6000 ggager@livingstonmontana.orgPlanning Director Jennifer Severson              406 222-4903 jseverson@livingstonmontana.org