This is an update on the Project Re: Code work in the community for the City Council. This update comes after intensive public and stakeholder meetings and engagement June 19 through June 20. The week included:

• Two public meetings to provide information and collect input - one at City Hall in the evening and one at the Downtown Billings Alliance Office during a lunch hour.
• Six stakeholder meetings with local groups and organizations
• Meetings of each of the Re: Code Working Groups - County Issues, Urban Issues, Landscaping and Signage
• Two internal staff meetings with Planning and Community Services Department Staff

This three-day effort focused specifically on:

• Rolling out an interactive webpage for Re: Code to further inform and engage the community on the process draft sections of code that are out for review and comment at: https://project-recode.com/
• Presentation and explanation of the new Draft Residential and Commercial Districts code sections
• Presentation and explanation of the new Used and Standards code section
• The week also included finalizing and approval by the Urban Issues Working Group and their Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Task Force sub group of draft ADU regulations

Public and stakeholder engagement was good, with the lowest turn out at the lunch time public open house meeting at the Downtown Billings Alliance offices. The introduction of the website and pushing it out through Department email lists and the City's Neighborhood Task Forces is expected to draw more input and information sharing in the weeks ahead.

The next steps in the Re: Code effort is to:

• Keep working groups moving forward with next segment of drafting (site development standards)
  • City Landscaping Standards
  • Parking Standards
  • Signage
• Communicate new District allowances in regard to gaming businesses 
• Complete edits to the draft Districts and Uses code sections
• Encourage increased community review of proposed zoning map through the website
• Add new FAQs to website on topics that came up at recent meetings: nonconformities and spot zoning
• Post ADU draft code sections for public review
• Prepare short-term rental regulations draft for discussion

 

This is an informational item for the Council and no action is needed at this time.