This is a zone change request from Residential 6,000 (R-60) and Residential 9,600 (R-96) to Controlled Industrial (CI) on C/S 473 (R-96) and the South 132 feet of Lot 4 in the SW1/4 of Section 9, 1 South, 26 East (R-60) located at 415 and 431 South Billings Boulevard. The property is vacant and has been recently cleared and graded. The applicant is Hanser Properties, LP, and is represented by Ralph Hanser. The Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on October 6, 2009, and is forwarding a recommendation of approval on a 3-0 vote. The City Council conducted a public hearing of the ordinance on October 26, 2009, and approved the zone change on first reading.

State law at MCA 76-2-304 requires that all zone changes be reviewed in accordance with 12 criteria. Using the 12 criteria to determine the appropriateness of the zone change request, the City Council may:

• Approve the zone change request; or
• Deny the zone change request; or
• Allow withdrawal of the application; or
• Delay action for up to thirty (30) days
   

If the proposed zone change is approved, the property is expected to develop, increasing the City’s tax base and contributing to the South Billings Boulevard Tax Increment Finance District.

The Zoning Commission is forwarding a recommendation of approval to the City Council for Zone Change #858 and adoption of the 12 Zoning Commission Determinations on a 3-0 vote.