This is a zone change that will amend several sections of the Billings, Montana, City Code (BMCC) including section 27-604 related to fences; 27-615 related to clear vision areas; 27-618 regarding illustrations of clear vision areas; and deleting sections 22-441 through 22-448, a redundant section related to clear vision areas in the chapter on streets and sidewalks. The City Engineering Division and the Planning Division requested the City Zoning Commission initiate this amendment and on December 2, 2008, the Zoning Commission granted the request. On September 1, 2009, the Zoning Commission held a public hearing and received testimony on the zone change. The Zoning Commission voted to continue the public hearing until October 6, 2009, so revisions to the ordinance could be drafted that specifically apply to the Central Business District (CBD) zone. The Zoning Commission held the continued public hearing on October 6, 2009, and is forwarding a recommendation of approval of the revised ordinance on a 3-0 vote. The City Council held a public hearing of the ordinance on October 26, 2009, and approved the ordinance on first reading.

The City Council held a public hearing on October 26, 2009, and approved the ordinance on first reading. The City Council may:
• Approve the proposed text amendment to the regulations. The existing regulations may not provide the proper clear vision distances to ensure pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety at all intersections within the city limits but the regulations are effective for most situations. The amended regulations will provide improved safety at arterial intersections and where conditions exist that are not anticipated by current code.
• Not approve the proposed text amendments to the regulations.

If adopted, the regulations should have little impact on the city budget.

The Zoning Commission is forwarding a recommendation of approval for Zone Change #853 on a 3-0 vote.