In 2008, the City Council created the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD) to address infrastructure deficiencies in this area and to facilitate the development of the Miller Crossing subdivision located on King Avenue East, near South Billings Boulevard. The South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Association (SBBURA) was incorporated as a nonprofit member organization in 2009 to represent the property owners in the district and also be the recommending body to the City Council for the expenditure of TIF funds. The SBBURA, City Planning Division and members of the community recognized the need for a more in depth planning effort to complement the SUBBURD Plan that created the district. This comprehensive master plan has been developed to provide an in depth look at the district and set the community vision and goals.

The Planning Board conducted a public hearing on December 13th, 2012, and is forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the South Billings Master Plan. The Council heard a presentation on the South Billings Master Plan at its February 6, 2012, Work Session. At this meeting, the council will consider a Resolution of Intent to Adopt the South Billings Master Plan and set a date for a public hearing to receive comments on the Master Plan. The public hearing will be scheduled for the Council meeting on February 27, 2012. 

The City Council may choose to:
• Approve the Resolution of Intent to adopt the plan and set a public hearing date of February 27th
• Not Approve the Resolution of Intent to adopt the plan and provide direction to staff on moving forward with adoption
• Modify the Resolution of Intent, changing the adoption schedule and the date of the public hearing

This master plan is a guiding document that is an amendment to the 2008 Growth Policy. As such, there is no immediate financial impact as a result of the adoption of this plan. The plan does contain priorities in how the tax increment dollars generated in the SBBURD could be used. The City Council has final expenditure authority for all TIF funded projects.

Over the course of the past year, a consultant team made up of AECOM, ECONorthwest, Sanderson Stewart, David Groshens Consulting, and Jim Collins Architectural Illustration Services guided this master planning effort. The team worked with the South Billings Boulvard Urban Renewal Association (SBBURA), the Southwest Corridor Neighborhood Task Force, the City of Billings Public Works Department, the Big Sky Economic Development Authority, and the City Planning Division.

The process included community and stakeholder meetings, four larger public meetings where every property owner was invited, community partner input, as well as city staff facilitation and input. Social media in the form of a Facebook page as well as a dedicated website were both used to reach out to as many people as possible. Due to the size of the digital file, the draft plan is not attached. The plan is available at www.SouthBillings.com as well as the City of Billings Planning Division website. The City Council was provided hard copies of the South Billings Master Plan at the Feb 6th Work Session. Hard copies of the plan are also on file in the City Clerk’s Office and the Planning Division Office.

This document is consistent with and will be amended through the 2008 Yellowstone County and City of Billings Growth Policy.