On October 1, 2015, the Planning Division received an application for review and preliminary plat approval of a 12-unit condominium subdivision on one lot of Bowman Subdivision.  The property is located on the west side of Duck Creek Road, north of Kautzman Road, generally located at 3620 Duck Creek Road.  The property is not within the County zoning jurisdiction and therefore, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the County Subdivision Regulations, this condominium development must be reviewed as a major subdivision.  The Board of County Commissioners will act on the proposal on December 8, 2015.
 
PROCEDURAL HISTORY

• A pre-application meeting was held on April 30, 2015 for this proposal. It was determined that this is a condominium development which follows the major subdivision review process.
• The preliminary plat application was submitted to the Planning Division on October 1, 2015.
• A Department Review Meeting was held on October 15, 2015, on this plat application.
• The Yellowstone County Board of Planning reviewed this application at its November 10, 2015, meeting.
• The Yellowstone County Board of Planning will conduct a public hearing on this application at this meeting, November 24, 2015.
• The Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to consider the application at its regular meeting on December 8, 2015.
• The 60 working day preliminary review period ends December 28, 2015.

Staff recommends the Planning Board recommend that the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners conditionally approve the preliminary plat of the Duck Creek Condominiums Subdivision and adopt the Findings of Fact as presented in the staff report.

PROPOSED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Pursuant to Section 76-3-608(4), MCA, the following conditions are recommended to reasonably minimize potential adverse impacts identified within the Findings of Fact. 

1. To minimize effects on local services and to provide correct easements for the necessary private utilities, prior to final plat approval the applicant will contact the private utility companies, identify where easements will be needed on the site, and show them on the final plat.
2. To minimize effects on local services and provide for public health and safety, prior to final plan approval, the applicant will install the dry hydrant system as approved by the BUFSA. A Rural Special Improvement District for Maintenance also will be established for the dry hydrant system on Lot 2.
3. To minimize the effect on local services, prior to final plan approval the applicant will provide documentation that they have contacted the USPS and have approval for the proposed type of postal receptacle system.
4. To minimize the effects on the natural environment, prior to final plat approval, a weed management plan and property inspection shall be approved and completed by the County Weed Department.
5. Minor changes may be made in the SIA and final documents, as requested by the Planning and/or Public Works Departments to clarify the documents and bring them into the standard acceptable format.
6. The final plat shall comply with all requirements of the County Subdivision Regulations, rules, regulations, policies, and resolutions of the Yellowstone County, and the laws and Administrative Rules of the State of Montana.

None

A brief presentation was given to the planning board about the proposed condominium development.  One comment was made that this area of the County seems to be a mix of residential and commercial uses, and that this seems to fit in with the surroundings.  Several planning board members also asked about the  arrangement of the private road and the public dry hydrant system being public on the private road. Staff explained that the applicant will have to be clear in the easement documents for the road that the fire department has access on the road and all others that plan to have use of the road. An easement for the fire hydrant system also will be prepared to enable maintenance and access for public safety equipment and personnel to the hydrant area.