No action is required for this Council agenda item as it is informational only.  On July 27, 2026 at a Council business meeting, Council will be asked to consider approval of the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan.

The Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan Update updates and replaces the 2006 Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan, establishing a long-range vision to guide growth and development in the Heights through 2045. Developed as part of the City's implementation of the 2023 Montana Land Use Planning Act, the Plan responds to continued population growth, changing development patterns, and evolving infrastructure needs. Together with the Billings 2045 Plan and the West Billings Neighborhood Plan, it completes the City's updated Future Land Use Plan and provides a policy framework for future planning and development decisions.

The Plan establishes goals, strategies, and an updated Future Land Use Map to guide future land use, housing, transportation, economic development, public infrastructure, parks, community facilities, and public safety. Developed through extensive public engagement, the Plan reflects community priorities while providing long-term guidance for zoning, capital improvements, infrastructure investment, and development review. Together, these recommendations support coordinated, sustainable growth while preserving the Heights' family-friendly character and ensuring public facilities and services keep pace with future development.
 

The Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan Update updates and replaces the 2006 Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan, establishing a long-range vision to guide growth and development in the Heights through 2045. The update was initiated in 2024 as part of the City of Billings' broader effort to update its Growth Policy and comply with the 2023 Montana Land Use Planning Act (Senate Bill 382). The updated Plan responds to the Heights' rapid population growth, evolving development patterns, major infrastructure improvements, and new statewide land use planning requirements. It establishes goals and strategies to guide future growth and development over the next 20 years.

Together with the Billings 2045 Plan and the West Billings Neighborhood Plan, the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan completes the City's updated Future Land Use Plan and helps bring the City into compliance with the 2023 Montana Land Use Planning Act.

Development of the Plan included an extensive public engagement process beginning in 2024. Public outreach included a steering committee, stakeholder meetings, public open houses, an interactive project website, online surveys, and opportunities for residents to provide comments throughout the planning process. Feedback consistently emphasized maintaining the Heights' family-friendly character while improving transportation, expanding housing options, supporting local businesses, investing in parks and community facilities, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with continued growth.

Building on this analysis, the Plan evaluates existing conditions, identifies future needs, and establishes goals and implementation strategies for land use, housing, economic development, utilities, transportation, public safety, parks, and community facilities.

The Plan recognizes that the Heights is expected to add more than 10,000 residents by 2045, requiring approximately 6,500 additional housing units and significant investment in infrastructure and public services. To accommodate this growth, the Plan encourages a broader range of housing types, supports strategic investments in infrastructure, and identifies opportunities to strengthen commercial areas while preserving the neighborhood's family-friendly character.

Transportation is a major focus of the Plan. Recommendations include improving traffic operations and safety, expanding pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, supporting Safe Routes to School projects, enhancing transit service, and coordinating future roadway improvements, including those associated with Skyway Drive and the Billings Bypass.

The Plan also promotes economic development by encouraging reinvestment along the Main Street corridor, supporting additional neighborhood-serving businesses, and identifying opportunities for mixed-use development and walkable commercial areas. Recommendations related to utilities, parks, community facilities, and public safety focus on ensuring infrastructure and public services keep pace with future growth.

The Plan includes a Future Land Use Map that establishes the desired development pattern for the Heights by identifying future land use designations and mixed-use activity centers that support housing diversity, economic development, and efficient infrastructure investment. The Plan concludes with an implementation strategy and checklist to guide future decision-making and measure progress toward achieving the community's vision.

Upon adoption, the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan will serve as an advisory policy document for the City of Billings, Yellowstone County, and other public agencies when considering future planning, zoning, subdivision, capital improvement, and infrastructure decisions affecting the Heights neighborhood.

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

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

Interim Planning Commission - July 9, 2026
On July 9, 2026 the Interim Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan. Staff requested the hearing be continued to July 16, 2026 in order for items to be corrected within the Billings Heights Neighborhood Plan. Commissioner Welzenbach inquired if there were any goals or implementation strategies regarding the County Water District of Billings Heights. Ms. Welzenbach continued that the Heights Water District limits development within the Heights due to connection costs and associated development requirements. Staff said they would verify any content related to the Heights Water District and if there is not an implementation strategy one could be added. Ms. Welzenbach said she would further review the Plan in relation to the water issues and might propose adding language to the implementation section. The Board opened the public hearing. One member of the public, Jeff Ketelsen, commented that the City of Billings does not have impact fees, and therefore, members of the public pay all costs for development. Mr. Ketelsen continued that in order for residents to connect from the Heights Water District to the City of Billings Water it would be $10,000 per residence. There were no additional members of the public to comment. A motion was made and seconded to continue the public hearing for the Heights Neighborhood Plan to July 16, 2026. The motion was passed unanimously. 

Interim Planning Commission - July 16, 2026
On July 16, 2026 the Interim Planning Commission had a public hearing on the Billing Heights Neighborhood Plan. The Interim Planning Commission heard a presentation from staff. The major point of discussion was including a new goal under Utilities regarding, "Explore ways to offset or reduce the County Water District of Billings Heights (CWDBH) water utility costs incurred by builders and developers. Potential approaches could include streamlining or reducing costs through the CWDBH permitting process and/or reducing applicable CWDBH regulatory fees, or through tax incentives. This could be considered in relation to the evaluation of the merger of the City of Billings and the CWDBH, but should be addressed regardless of the merger outcome." After the presentation concluded, the hearing was open for public comment. There was no public comment. The hearing was then closed.

Commissioner Welzenbach made a motion to add the goal (stated above) under Utilities to explore ways to offset or reduce the County Water District of Billings Heights (CWDBH) water utility costs incurred by builders and developers including tax incentives and prior discussed approaches. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 

Commissioner Stahley made a motion to amend goal 1 under Transportation to state, "Improve vehicular transportation in the Heights (improve complete street safety and reduce travel times, congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions.)" The motion was seconded by Commissioner Parish and passed unanimously. 

Commissioner Parish made a motion to recommend the plan with amendments for approval to the Billings City Council. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stahley and passed unanimously. 
 

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