Item #1: YC Zone Change 683 - 2230 S 44th St W - The applicant is requesting a zone change from Agriculture-Open Space (A-1) to Residential 15,000 (R-150) on Parcel 1A of C/S 1149, a 10.65-acre parcel of land. A pre-application neighborhood meeting was held on July 18, 2017, April 24, 2017, at the subject property. Tax ID: D00804. Presented by Karen Husman, Planner I

Planing staff recommends approval of Zone Change #683 and adoption of the 11 criteria for this zone change.

OWNER:                               Raymond George Olson  
AGENT:                                Patricia Ann Wilson
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:          Parcel 1A of C/S 1149
ADDRESS:                           2230 S. 44th St. W
SIZE OF PARCEL:                10.65 Acres
EXISTING LAND USE:           Agricultural & Residential
PROPOSED LAND USE:       Residential
EXISTING ZONING:               Agricultural Open Space
PROPOSED ZONING:           Residential- 15,000

County Exempt plat: 
Proposed Family Transfer - Amended Tract 1-A of Amended C/S 1149.

NORTH:    Zoning:       Ag-Open
                  Land Use:   Residential/Agricultural
SOUTH:     Zoning:       R-150
                   Land Use:   Residential
EAST:         Zoning:       R-150
                   Land Use:   Residential
WEST:        Zoning: R-150
                   Land Use:   Residential

The subject property is located west of South 44th Street West.  The current zoning, A-1, has been in effect since 1973 when the County adopted jurisdictional zoning around the City of Billings. There is currently a home with some out buildings on the parcel proposed for this zone change. 
 
The applicant intends to split the lot and create a separate parcel for the existing home.  There is currently an application under review for this parcel with the exemption of “gift or sale to a member of the immediate family” ([MCA 76-3-207(1)(b)].  In order to divide the existing house with two plus acres and leave eight acres, a zone change, or a variance would be required to allow the smaller lot. The applicant has decided to apply for a zone change to achieve compliance to be able to move forward with the lot split.
 
A neighborhood meeting was conducted by the applicant on July 18, 2017, at 2230 S. 44th St. W., the subject property of this proposed zone change.  There were eight residents in attendance at the meeting. Concerns were voiced about more wells on the property that could possibly jeopardize the existing wells in the area. 
 
Planning staff has reviewed this application and is forwarding a recommendation of approval for the proposed zone change based on the 11 criteria for zone changes. The property is adjacent to low density residential uses. It is in line with the existing growth in this area and would be compatible with what is already there.  The proposed zoning would bring predictable land use with it so the surrounding neighbors will know that it can only be used for residential uses. 

Staff recommends approval of Zone Change #683 and adoption of the 11 criteria for this zone change.