No action is required for this Council agenda item as it is informational only.  On July 27, 2026 at a Council Regular Business meeting, Council will be asked to consider approval of the West Billings Neighborhood Plan as recommended by the Interim Planning Commission.

The West Billings Neighborhood Plan updates the 2001 West Billings Plan and the 2016 West End Multi-Modal Planning Study, providing a comprehensive framework for guiding future land use, transportation, and infrastructure investment in West Billings. Together with the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan and the recently adopted Billings 2045 Plan, it serves as Billings' new Future Land Use Plan and satisfies the requirements of the 2023 Montana Land Use Planning Act.

The Plan establishes a Future Land Use Map, updated multimodal transportation recommendations, and implementation strategies that support coordinated growth, infrastructure planning, and future development decisions. Developed through extensive public engagement, the Plan reflects community priorities while providing long-term guidance for zoning, capital improvements, and infrastructure investment to ensure West Billings continues to grow in a coordinated, efficient, and sustainable manner.

The West Billings Neighborhood Plan serves to update the 2001 West Billings Plan and the 2016 West End Multi-Modal Planning Study. Taken together, this plan, the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan and the Billings 2045 Plan, will serve as Billings’ new Future Land Use Plan and bring the City of Billings into compliance with the 2023 Montana Land Use Planning Act, which imposes new requirements on such planning documents. 

The West Billings Neighborhood Plan provides a coordinated framework for guiding land use, transportation, and infrastructure investment in one of Yellowstone County’s fastest-growing areas. The plan area encompasses approximately 15,000 acres between Shiloh Road and 64th Street West, from Interstate 90 to the Rimrocks, and includes land within the City of Billings, Yellowstone County, and areas outside the County and City zoning jurisdiction.

Since adoption of the 2001 West Billings Plan, the area has experienced rapid population growth, substantial housing development, and major infrastructure expansion, accompanied by a steady conversion of agricultural land to urban and suburban uses. This update responds to those changes by integrating current demographic, housing, economic, and transportation data with extensive public engagement to guide growth over the next twenty years.

Public engagement was a central component of the West Billings Neighborhood Plan update. Throughout the planning process, the City worked with residents, property owners, businesses, stakeholders, and partner agencies to identify community priorities and develop the Plan's recommendations. Outreach efforts included public open houses, future land use workshops, community presentations, an interactive project website, online surveys, and ongoing coordination with the West End Neighborhood Task Force. Feedback received throughout the process directly informed the Future Land Use Map, transportation recommendations, and implementation strategies contained within the Plan.

In conjunction with the recently adopted Billings 2045 Land Use Plan, the West Billings Neighborhood Plan helps formalize the community's vision for future growth, improve predictability for landowners and developers, and align future zoning decisions with available infrastructure and public investment. The Plan establishes a Future Land Use Map that provides long-term guidance for future development patterns while supporting orderly growth, protecting community character, and coordinating infrastructure improvements. 

The Plan also emphasizes the integration of land use and transportation planning. Existing development patterns are characterized by disconnected street networks, limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and constrained transit service. To address these conditions and respond to public input, the Plan promotes interconnected streets, expanded active transportation facilities, enhanced multimodal connectivity, and land use patterns that support future transit service. Together, these recommendations provide a roadmap for accommodating future growth while preserving the character and quality of life valued by West Billings residents.

The Plan provides a long-term implementation framework to guide land use, transportation, infrastructure, and development decisions in West Billings. Its recommendations will be carried out through zoning and subdivision updates, capital improvement programming, infrastructure investment, and development review processes. Continued coordination between the City, Yellowstone County, utility providers, developers, and the community will be essential to ensure growth is orderly, efficient, and consistent with the Plan's vision. The Plan is intended to remain a living document that can be updated as community priorities, infrastructure needs, and development patterns evolve.
 

There are no specific fiscal impacts associated with this item at this time.

Residents, property owners, business owners, developers, and neighborhood organizations within the West Billings planning area are the primary stakeholders in this Plan. The West Billings Neighborhood Plan provides a framework for future land use, transportation, and infrastructure investment that will guide future development, coordinate public improvements, and support continued growth while preserving the character and quality of life of the West Billings community.

July 9, 2026 - Interim Planning Commission Meeting and Public Hearing
On July 9, 2026 the Interim Planning Commission met to discuss the West Billings Neighborhood Plan. The members received a presentation from staff. At the conclusion of the presentation, the Commissioners had no questions. The item was opened for public hearing. No members of the public commented. The public hearing was then closed.  A motion was made by Commissioner Ronquillo to recommend approval of the West Billings Neighborhood Plan to the Billings City Council. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Welzenbach. The motion passed unanimously.  

This is a Work Session so no specific Alternatives are provided. Staff will provide an overview of the West Billings Neighborhood Plan, including its purpose, public engagement process, and implementation framework, and discuss the anticipated schedule for formal recommendation and adoption.