4.
City Council Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 04/20/2026
- TITLE
- Montana Land Use Planning Act/Billings 2045 Update - Council Direction
- PRESENTED BY:
- Anna Vickers
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Yes
Legal Review:
No
Project Number:
NA
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council receive this informational update on the implementation of the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MCA Title 76, Chapter 25) through Billings 2045. No formal action is requested at this time. Staff is seeking general direction and feedback from City Council on specific elements as the process moves forward.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Council has discussed Billings2045 at four of its meetings to review and discuss the elements of the plan and mapping required, and to provide direction to staff. The focus of this agenda item tonight will be on two items:
- Review of a new layer within the Future Land Use Map Land Use Category Designation Urban Residential Limited to denote Single Family Only Areas of N3. Staff will provide an overview of the draft map layer following input from City Council Members in the past week. This topic is critical as changes to the FLUM has broad implications for the FLUM and how the Land Use Plan addresses housing options across the community.
- Review of the upcoming schedule for Billings2045 Meetings:
- Interim Planning Commission Meeting Tuesday, April 21 (Mayor and City Council invited to attend)
- Interim Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, April 29 - Recommendation to City Council on Billings2045 of Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
- City Council Special Work Session Tuesday, May 5 - Final Discussion of Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
- City Council Regular Business Meeting Monday, May 11 - Action on Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
In 2023, the Montana State Legislature passed Senate Bill 382, the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA), codified in Title 76, Chapter 25 of the Montana Code Annotated. The intent of the Act is to provide a comprehensive land use planning system that promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Montana. The Act outlines that a municipality with a population at or exceeding 5,000 located within a county with a population at or exceeding 70,000 in the most recent decennial census shall comply with the provisions.
The Montana Land Use Planning Act mandates that municipalities develop and implement a Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map (Billings 2045) to guide future development. Billings 2045 will serve as a comprehensive plan that addresses land use, economic development, housing, public services, and natural resources. The Council has discussed Billings2045 at 4 meetings to review and discuss the elements of the plan and mapping required, and to provide direction to staff. A second Community Planning Week April 6 - 9 recently concluded to receive feedback from the community on the draft Land Use Planning elements and the draft Future Land Use Map. Input from these latest outreach sessions is now being compiled to inform updates to the draft materials and compiling the documents to bring a draft to the Interim Planning Commission and Council.
The Council has discussed Billings2045 at four of its meetings to review and discuss the elements of the plan and mapping required, and to provide direction to staff. The focus of this agenda item tonight will be on two items:
The Montana Land Use Planning Act mandates that municipalities develop and implement a Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map (Billings 2045) to guide future development. Billings 2045 will serve as a comprehensive plan that addresses land use, economic development, housing, public services, and natural resources. The Council has discussed Billings2045 at 4 meetings to review and discuss the elements of the plan and mapping required, and to provide direction to staff. A second Community Planning Week April 6 - 9 recently concluded to receive feedback from the community on the draft Land Use Planning elements and the draft Future Land Use Map. Input from these latest outreach sessions is now being compiled to inform updates to the draft materials and compiling the documents to bring a draft to the Interim Planning Commission and Council.
The Council has discussed Billings2045 at four of its meetings to review and discuss the elements of the plan and mapping required, and to provide direction to staff. The focus of this agenda item tonight will be on two items:
- Review of a new layer within the Future Land Use Map Land Use Category Designation Urban Residential Limited to denote Single Family Only Areas of N3. Staff will provide an overview of the draft map layer following input from City Council Members in the past week. This topic is critical as changes to the FLUM has broad implications for the FLUM and how the Land Use Plan addresses housing options across the community.
- Review of the upcoming schedule for Billings2045 Meetings:
- Interim Planning Commission Meeting Tuesday, April 21 (Mayor and City Council invited to attend)
- Interim Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, April 29 - Recommendation to City Council on Billings2045 of Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
- City Council Special Work Session Tuesday, May 5 - Final Discussion of Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
- City Council Regular Business Meeting Monday, May 11 - Action on Operational Plan, Map and Initial Code Amendments
FISCAL EFFECTS
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this item at this time. This is informational only and does not involve budgetary commitments.
STAKEHOLDERS
The entire Billings community, including residence, business owners, and builders and developers are stakeholders in this process and adoption of Billings2045.
ALTERNATIVES
No formal alternatives are presented, as no formal action is being requested of City Council at this meeting. This item is intended to receive feedback and direction from Council as implementation of the Montana Land Use Planning Act and Billings 2045 approaches adoption in May.