The Roman Catholic Bishop of Great Falls (owner) and McCall Development (agent) has submitted a petition to annex land to the City of Billings under Section 7-2-4600, MCA. The subject property is a parcel totaling about 12 acres. The property is located south of Elysian Road and just west of the existing Josephine Crossing Subdivision. The property is currently part of the Catholic Cemetery property but is being sold to McCall Development for development of a 5th Filing of Josephine Crossing Subdivision. The property owner is requesting annexation in order to obtain City services for development of the property. An application for a zone change from  Public zoning to a Planned Development zoning similar to the Josephine Crossing Planned Development will be considered after the annexation is considered by the City Council on August 25. A subdivision application is also under review and will come before the Council in September.

The property is located within the five-year annexation area of the City's Limits of Annexation Map and appears to meet many of the City's criteria in its Annexation Policy. A detailed review and analysis of the Annexation Policy criteria will be provided in the Council's public hearing memo. The City Council’s policy is to consider annexations at two separate Council meetings. At the first meeting, the Council acknowledges receipt of a petition and sets a public hearing date. At the second meeting, the Council conducts the hearing and decides if it will annex the property. The zoning and annexation hearings will occur at the same City Council meeting on August 25.

Section 7-2-4600, MCA, allows owners of more than 50% of the property to petition the City for annexation. The only alternative that is consistent with City Council policy is to acknowledge receipt of the petition and set a public hearing date.

Analysis by City staff of how City services may be provided to this property, the potential financial implications of developing the property, and a recommendation on the annexation will be prepared and presented at the public hearing.

Staff recommends that the City Council acknowledge receipt of the annexation petition and schedule a public hearing for August 25, 2014 to consider annexing this property.