There is no action as this is a Work Session but staff will provide an update to City Council on the Interim Planning Commission discussions and schedule for its recommendations, and preview the proposed amendments to the City Zoning regulations and proposed amendments to the City Subdivision regulations (See attached regulation amendment documents).

In 2023, the Montana State Legislature passed Senate Bill 382, the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA), codified in Title 76, Chapter 25 of the Montana Code Annotated. The intent of the Act is to provide a comprehensive land use planning system that promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Montana. The Act outlines that a municipality with a population at or exceeding 5,000 located within a county with a population at or exceeding 70,000 in the most recent decennial census shall comply with the provisions. The Montana Land Use Planning Act mandates that municipalities develop and implement a Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map (Billings 2045) to guide future development. Billings 2045 will serve as a comprehensive plan that addresses land use, economic development, housing, public services, and natural resources.

The Interim Planning Commission per MLUPA is the body that facilitates the local development process for Billings2045 and makes recommendations to the City Council on adoption of the Billings2045 components: Operational Land Use Plan, Future Land Use Map, proposed amendments to the City Zoning regulations and proposed amendments to the City Subdivision regulations. The IPC has met 13 times since May 2025 in its roll as community sounding board and subject matter experts as the Billings2045 process has advanced to the point of final draft documents for adoption.

The Interim Planning Commission per MLUPA is the body that facilitates the local development process for Billings2045 and makes recommendations to the City Council on adoption of the Billings2045 components: Operational Land Use Plan, Future Land Use Map, proposed amendments to the City Zoning regulations and proposed amendments to the City Subdivision regulations. The IPC met on April 29, 2026, reviewed the Billings2045 documents, heard public comment, but voted to delay making a recommendation to the City Council until its May 7 meeting. The IPC members has several items they asked for further information and clarification on before moving ahead with a recommendation to the Council. The items included:

• Verification that the Future Land Use Map Land Use Categories provide enough land to accommodate the 26,200 housing units projected to be needed in Billings by 2045 - Staff has provided the attached Future Land Use Map Use Accommodation for Uses data sheet to demonstrate the capacity for Office, retail, Industrial and Housing that meets the projected needs for these uses in the next 20 years for Billings.
• Clarification of the allowed locations of small neighborhood retail under the Urban Residential Land Use Category of zoning districts and the requirements for neighborhood retail locations in neighborhoods - at street corners, at block ends, etc.
• Additional time to review the Future Land Use Map

This is a Work Session so no specific Alternatives are provided. Staff expects to provide an overview of the status of the Interim Planning Commission review, discussions and meeting schedule for its recommendation to the City Council for May 11, and a preview of the proposed amendments to the City Zoning Regulations and City Subdivision Regulations to address the new processes and requirements of MLUPA.