Staff recommends conditional approval of the preliminary plat of Amended Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Terra West Subdivision, 3rd Filing, to the City Council, and adopt the Findings of Fact as presented in the staff report. 

PROPOSED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Planning staff recommends the following conditions of approval:  
1. Minor changes may be made in the SIA and final documents, as requested by the Planning, Legal or Public Works Departments to clarify the documents and bring them into the standard acceptable format.
 
2. The final plat shall comply with all requirements of the City of Billings Subdivision Regulations, rules, regulations, policies, and resolutions of the City of Billings, and the laws and Administrative Rules of the State of Montana.

On September 1, 2020, Essex Surveying, applied for preliminary minor plat approval for Amended Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Terra West Subdivision, 3rd Filing. The proposed subdivision creates 3 lots for houses on the property. The subject property is generally located at 3112, 3116 and 3120 Solar Boulevard. The property is zoned Residential 8000 (R-80). The land currently has three houses on it that are a condominium development.

Consistency with the 2016 Growth Policy, the 2018 Transportation Plan and Billings Area Bikeways and Trail Master Plan are discussed within the Findings of Fact which is attached to this report.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY 

• Pre-application meeting July 16, 2020
• Preliminary plat application submitted to Planning Division September 1, 2020
• Preliminary plat to City Council October 12, 2020
• 35 working-day preliminary plat review period ends October 22, 2020

PLAT INFORMATION
General location:                               3112, 3116 and 3120 Solar Boulevard
Legal Description:                              Amended Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Terra West Subdivision, 3rd Filing
Owner/Subdivider:                              Burrowes Family 1995 Living Trust, Marlene Grimm, Daniel and Karen Kohm
Engineer and Surveyor:                     Essex Surveying, Zamian Essex
Existing Zoning:                                 R80
Existing land use:                              Three Existing Homes
Proposed land use:                            Existing Homes on Individual Lots
Gross and Net area:                           0.46 acres / 0.46 acres
Proposed number of lots:                    3
Lot size:                                               Max:   6,700 square feet
                                                            Min:    6,655 square feet
Parkland requirements:                       No parkland is required as this is a minor subdivision.

A public hearing is not scheduled for the City Council meeting; however nearby property owners may attend the City Council meeting.  The Planning Division has received no public comments or questions regarding the proposed subdivision.

One of the purposes of the City’s subdivision review process is to identify potential negative effects of property being subdivided. When negative effects are identified it is the subdivider’s responsibility to mitigate those effects.

Various City departments, private service/utility providers and the affected school district have reviewed this application and provided input on effects and mitigation.  The Findings of Fact, which are presented as an attachment, discuss potential negative impacts of the subdivision and conditions of approval are recommended as measures to further mitigate any impacts. In this case, there were found to be minimal impacts from this proposed subdivision.

In accordance with state law, the City Council has 35 working days to act upon this minor preliminary plat. The 35 working day review period for the proposed plat ends on October 22, 2020. State and City subdivision regulations also require that preliminary plats be reviewed using specific criteria, as stated within this report. The City may not unreasonably restrict an owner's ability to develop land if the subdivider provides evidence that any identified adverse effects can be mitigated.

Within the 35 working day review period, the City Council is required to:
1. Approve;
2. Conditionally Approve; or
3. Deny the Preliminary Plat

Approval of this subdivision does not impact the Planning Division budget.