Item #5: County Zone Change #665 – Exposition Gateway Overlay District  – An amendment to the Unified Zoning Regulations pertaining to the development of land within the Exposition Gateway Area of the East Billings Urban Renewal area generally located east of N 10^th Street to Exposition Drive and from 6^th Avenue North to 1^st Avenue North. The district overlay will not change the underlying zoning but will provide for enhanced site development requirements and restrict some industrial uses. The Yellowstone County Board of Planning initiated the amendment on June 23, 2015.

Staff recommends that the County Zoning Commission conduct the public hearing and recommend approval of the text and map amendment to the Board of County Commissioners to amend the Unified Zoning Regulations for the purpose of establishing the Exposition Gateway Overlay District Zone for the Exposition Gateway Concept Plan Area.
 

OWNER:
AGENT:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
ADDRESS:
CURRENT ZONING: Controlled Industrial
EXISTING LAND USE: Mixture of commercial and industrial businesses and some vacant parcels
PROPOSED USE: Existing uses to remain but transition over time to a gateway to Billings that contains hospitality related uses and facilities to support events at Metra Park and across the community. Hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and other uses are anticipated based on the City and County Adopted Exposition Gateway Concept Plan.
SIZE OF PARCEL: Approximately 35 acres of property and road rights-of-way is included in the proposed text amendment

There are no other applications for this property currently.

The Exposition Gateway Area straddles City and the County boundaries at the east end of the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD). The Exposition Gateway Concept Plan was adopted by the County and City in May 2013. The plan outlined a potential future for the area through strategic public investments, creative marketing, and the use of a variety of development tools, as a lively, evolving, and a unique community and regional destination. In order to protect the public and private investments planned for this area, a zoning overlay district that will apply both inside the city limits and on county lands has been drafted through a collaborative effort of Planning staff and the staff and board members of the Billings Industrial Revitalization District. A future zoning district distinct and unique for the Exposition Gateway Area is also planned. Until this new zoning district is formulated and adopted, this overlay district shall apply to all the property within the Exposition Gateway Area (See attached Draft Overlay Zoning District and Area Map). This Overlay District would be a new section of code. Staff is proposing that it be established as Section 27-1470 in the Unified Zoning Regulations.
 

NORTH:	Zoning: Public and Land Use: Park area and Rimrocks up to Swords Park
SOUTH:	Zoning: Industrial Land Use: Railroad Corridor and Phillips 66 Refinery
EAST:	Zoning: Public Land Use: Metra Park across Exposition Drive
WEST:	Zoning: EBURD - Central Works Land Use: light industrial and commercial businesses and uses

The Exposition Gateway Area straddles City and the County boundaries at the east end of the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD). It is an area that could hold a very diverse and dynamic combination of uses, activities, spaces, and streets. It has the potential to energize and anchor the east end of the EBURD and strengthen the highly valued Metra Park complex. Both the City and the County have a stake in the future of the area. The Exposition Gateway Concept Plan was adopted by the City and County in May 2013. The plan outlined a potential future for the area through strategic public investments, creative marketing, and the use of a variety of development tools, as a lively, evolving, and a unique community and regional destination.
 
Significant public infrastructure improvements are being constructed in this area this year, including water, sewer, storm water, on-street parking, paving and streetscape improvements. In order to protect the public and private investments planned for this area, a zoning overlay district that will apply both inside the city limits and on county lands has been drafted through a collaborative effort of Planning staff and the staff and board members of the Billings Industrial Revitalization District. The Yellowstone County Board of Planning initiated the amendment on June 23, 2015. A future zoning district distinct and unique for the Exposition Gateway Area is also planned, but until this new zoning district is formulated and adopted, this overlay district shall apply to all the property (about 35 acres of property and road rights-of-way) within the Exposition Gateway Area (See attached Draft Overlay Zoning District and Area Map). The district overlay will not change the underlying zoning but will provide for enhanced site development requirements and restrict some industrial uses. The Overlay is intended to begin to move the Exposition Gateway Area in the direction of the adopted Exposition Gateway Concept Plan and make this area of the community a focus of hospitality and entertainment.


The schedule for adoption of the Zoning District Overlay is proposed as follows:
June 9, 2015 – Staff asks Planning Board to initiate zone change
June 23 – Planning Board acts on zone change initiative
July 1 – Zone change application submitted to Planning Division
August 4 – City Zoning Commission
August 10 –  County Zoning Commission
August 24 – City Council acts on 1^st reading (2^nd reading, September 10)
August 25 – County Commissioners act on resolution
 

Planning Staff recommends the City Zoning Commission recommend approval of Zone Change 939.