On March 2, 2020, the Planning Division received an application for major preliminary plat approval for the proposed Homestead Subdivision.  The property is generally located approximately 1,500 feet south of the intersection of South 80th Street West and King Avenue West. This subdivision would create 16 lots from a 71.75-acre parcel of land.  The applicant is proposing to develop a residential subdivision. The land is outside of zoning and is currently dry farmland.
 
The applicant requested a 30 day delay due to a need for the City-County Planning Division to make arrangements to develop a way to have public meetings electronically to meet requirements of separation because of the COVID-19 virus. The Planning Board will conduct its plat review of this subdivision at this meeting and conduct a public hearing and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on the preliminary plat at its May 27 meeting.
 

Staff recommends that the Yellowstone County Planning Board recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to conditionally approve the preliminary plat of Homestead Subdivision, deny the variance request, 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 ensure public health and safety, prior to final plat approval the applicant will receive DEQ approval for the proposed storm water management system and for the proposed water and septic systems for each lot.
2. To protect public health and safety, and provide a safe irrigation water delivery system, prior to final plat approval the applicant will add language in the SIA under the heading VIII Irrigation defining how the irrigation water will be made available to each lot east of the High Ditch.
3. To protect public health and safety and provide for future Dry hydrant maintenance, prior to final plat approval the applicant will expand the existing RSID for the dry hydrant system in Shop World subdivision for the 14 lots on the east side of High Ditch.  They will also expand the Tanglewood RSID for their fire suppression system for the two new lots with frontage of South 84th Street West.
4. To minimize the effects on local service, prior to final plat approval the applicant will coordinate with the USPS for locating and providing the correct amount of space for safely delivering the mail to the residents.
5. To minimize effects on the natural environment, prior to final plat approval a weed management plan and property inspection shall be completed by the County Weed Department.  
6. 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.
7. The final plat shall comply with all requirements of the County Subdivision Regulations, rules, regulations, policies, and resolutions of the Yellowstone County, including laws regarding moving houses onto or off the property, and the laws and Administrative Rules of the State of Montana.  

A variance is being requested for this subdivision.  The applicant has requested a variance from Yellowstone County Subdivision Regulations Section 4.6.B.1 Relation to Undeveloped Areas. When a proposed subdivision adjoins undeveloped land, streets within the proposed subdivision shall be arranged to allow access to the adjoining undeveloped land.
 
Staff is recommending denial of the variance requests.

Further explanation and analysis can be found in Attachment A.

• Pre-application meeting December 5, 2019
• Preliminary plat application submitted to Planning Division March 2, 2020
• Departmental review meeting March 19, 2020
• Preliminary plat resubmitted March 26, 2020
• 30 Day delay due to COVID-19 Virus and adjustments to public meeting requirements
• Planning Board plat review May 12, 2020
• Planning Board public hearing Wednesday May 27, 2020
• Preliminary plat to Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners June 16, 2020
• 60 working-day preliminary plat review period ends June 26, 2020

General location:                                Approximately 1,500 feet south of the intersection of South 80th Street West and King Avenue West
 
Legal Description:                              Parcel 3 of COS 3676
 
Owner/Subdivider:                             Levi Britton
 
Engineer and Surveyor:                     IMEG corp
 
Existing Zoning:                                 Outside zoning
 
Existing land use:                               Farm Land
 
Proposed land use:                            Residential
 
Gross and Net area:                           71.75 acres / 70.94 acres
 
Proposed number of lots:                   16
 
Lot size:                                              Max:    6.07 acres
                                                           Min.:     2.49 acres
 
Parkland requirements:                       The required parkland dedication is 1.56 acres; the applicant is proposing to make a cash in lieu contribution.