Per the purchase and sale agreement (PSA) executed by City Council at its October 12 business meeting, staff recommends the Council approve initiating the amendment of the adopted Future Land Use Map for Lampman Park from the P1 to URL Land Use Category.

The City Council executed a PSA on October 12 with Cal Kunkel to purchase Lampman Park for residential development. Lampman Park is approximately 6 acres of dedicated parkland in the Lampman Subdivision. Prior Council action (RES 13-19314) authorized consideration of the property's disposition. Contingencies in the PSA require the City's adopted Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to be amended from a park land use category to a residential land use category. The executed PSA identifies the FLUM amendment to go from the Parks and Open Space (P-1) category to the Urban Residential Limited (URL) category. The PSA also contains a contingency that the property must be zoned N2. The rezoning of the parcel would occur after the FLUM category designation is changed to URL. If acceptable zoning is not obtained within the applicable release period in the PSA, the buyer may terminate the agreement and receive a return of earnest money. Upon completion of the required approvals and contingencies, the City will convey the property to the purchaser and relinquish ownership. This action tonight by the City Council to initiate amendment of the FLUM for Lampman Park is required per MCA 76-25-201 (6)(a).

The City Council executed a PSA on October 12 with Cal Kunkel to purchase Lampman Park for residential development. Lampman Park is approximately 6 acres of dedicated parkland in the Lampman Subdivision. Prior Council action (RES 13-19314) authorized consideration of the property's disposition. Contingencies in the PSA require the City's adopted Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to be amended from a park land use category to a residential land use category. The executed PSA identifies the FLUM amendment to go from the Parks and Open Space (P-1) category to the Urban Residential Limited (URL) category. The PSA also contains a contingency that the property must be zoned N2. The rezoning of the parcel would occur after the FLUM category designation is changed to URL. If acceptable zoning is not obtained within the applicable release period in the PSA, the buyer may terminate the agreement and receive a return of earnest money. Upon completion of the required approvals and contingencies, the City will convey the property to the purchaser and relinquish ownership.

This action by the City Council to initiate amendment of the FLUM for Lampman Park is required per MCA 76-25-201 (6)(a). After Council initiates the FLUM amendment process, staff will prepare the analysis per the statutes and bring the amendment to the Interim Planning Commission (IPC). Review and a recommendation to the Council from the Commission is required per MCA 76-25-201. Upon receiving the Commission recommendation, Council will consider a resolution amending the FLUM for Lampman Park. Following FLUM amendment, the buyer may proceed with the administrative zone change process to rezone the property to N2, per the PSA contingencies.

This FLUM amendment for Lampman Park is the first FLUM amendment carried out by the City per the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA) since the Council adopted the FLUM in May 2026. Staff is navigating the process for the first time, determining public involvement process and time frames, staff and IPC analysis and meeting schedules, and ensuring MLUPA compliance in MCA 76-25. Staff estimates the process to amend the FLUM will take about 90 days, but the outreach elements of the map amendment are still being determined. The staff will work with the buyer as the FLUM amendment process starts to coordinate on schedule and timing for the following zone change process in early 2027.

Sale of Lampman Park per the executed PSA will generate $834,800 minus realtor fees for the City. The Parks Recreation and Public Lands Department has indicated to Council that it expects the sale proceeds to go back to PRPL for one-time expenses. PRPL will be bringing an updated resolution to Council regarding proceeds from the Lampman Park sale to consider that these proceeds remain in the PRPL.  

• City of Billings
• PRPL Department
• Property buyer Cal Kunkel 
• Billings residents seeking housing options

Given the City Council has already executed a PSA that requires it to amend the Future Land Use Map for completion of the property sale. To avoid violating the PSA it approved on October 12, the Council has one alternative, which is to initiate amendment of the FLUM Land Use Category for Lampman Park.