The City/County Planning Division in cooperation with the Project Re: Code Steering Committee and Working Groups has been working diligently for more than a year on the comprehensive revision of the City and County Zoning code, which was initiated by the Yellowstone County Board of Planning in 2017. The goals of the code revisions should follow the guiding principles as developed by the Project Re:Code Steering Committee.  As a next step, and to follow the current regulation amendment process, staff is requesting the Planning Board initiate the process to amend the County Landscaping Code. The request comes as part of the on-going discussion with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to have an accelerated review schedule for the County Landscaping Regulations.   This staff report includes a proposed schedule for the review and adoption of the County Landscape Code and provides guidance for the scope of the forthcoming amendments.

The BOCC is interested in adopting revised Landscaping Regulations into the existing County Zoning Regulations in the first part of 2019. The following time line and highlights of the code amendment is provided as a framework to complete this early amendment. The proposed schedule is as follows:

• January 23, 2019 - Landscaping Working Group (LSWG) Meeting – WG reaches consensus on primary content of revised County (only) Landscaping Code
• February 12, 2019 – Planning Board considers and discusses initiation of County Landscaping Code Amendment
• February 26, 2019 – Planning Board votes to initiate Landscaping Code Amendment to County Zoning Regulations
• February 27, 2019 – LSWG finalizes consensus on final content of revised County Landscaping code
• March 4, 2019 – Planning Staff advertises County Zoning Commission hearing on April 8, 2019 and BOCC hearing on April 23, 2019 (45 day lead time for BOCC required)
• April 8, 2019 – County Zoning Commission Hearing
• April 23, 2019 – BOCC hearing – Resolution to Adopt Landscaping Code Amendments
• May 28, 2019 – BOCC adopts final resolution amending Landscaping Code

Guidance for County amendments:

• Deletion of Landscaping Section from Entryway/Interchange code (27-1006)
• Deletion of “standard” Landscaping code at 27-1100 and replacement with new Landscaping code
• New code will apply everywhere except Residential zones and Agricultural zones
• New code may include guidance and criteria for Zoning Coordinator to grant Administrative Relief (de minimus variations from numerical standards)
• New code to include enforcement procedures to ensure long-term maintenance of installed landscaping

Not Applicable

Staff recommends the Planning Board discuss the initiation at this meeting and take action at its February 26 meeting.