River Rock Estates is a new subdivision South of Rimrock Road and west of 46th Street West next to Rimrock West Subdivision that is seeking final plat approval.  On September 24, 2007, the Billings City Council conditionally approved the preliminary plat of River Rock Estates Subdivision to provide the following prior to final plat approval:  "To minimize effects on local services, a detailed Park Master Plan shall be prepared by the developer and reviewed and approved by the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department and City Council prior to final plat approval."  This Park is adjacent to the west of the existing Rimrock West Park.  The intention of locating River Rock Park next to Rimrock West Park is to combine both parks in a seamless fashion for both subdivisions to utilize all the park land.  

The Developer Retained a Landscape Architectural firm to develop the master plan.  Two public meetings were held on May 26th and June 21st, 2011, at Arrowhead Elementary School.  The meetings were legally advertised and all property owners in the Rimrock West Subdivision were notified for each meeting by postcard sent to their addresses.  At the first meeting preliminary alternatives were presented and public comment received.  At the second meeting a draft master plan was presented incorporating comments received in the first meeting.  New comments received at the second meeting.  

The final draft of the master plan was presented at the July meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board meeting.  The Board recommended approval of the River Rock Park Master Plan in its present form with an additional recommendation that it be stated in the Subdivision Improvement Agreement (SIA) documents for the Certificate of Survey 3295 (currently known as Silver Creek Subdivision), that upon 60% of the building permits having been pulled, a re-evaluation of the River Rock and Rimrock West Parks Master Plans will be triggered.  The Board unanimously approved the master plan.  The purpose of this recommendation is to provide a way for the Certificate of Survey 3295 tract of land to participate in future development of these two parks since property owners that will reside in this tract will utilize these two parks as parkland for their subdivision.        

The following alternatives were analyzed:  1.  Approve the River Rock Park Master Plan as recommended by Staff and the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board with the additional recommendation from the Board that it be stated in the Subdivision Improvements Agreement (SIA) documents for the Certificate of Survey 3295 (currently known as Silver Creek Subdivision), that upon 60% of the building permits pulled, a re-evaluation of the River Rock and Rimrock West Parks Master Plans will be triggered for the purpose of including future property owners that will reside in the Certificate of Survey 3295 tract of land to participate in the future development of these two parks.  2.  Not approve River Rock Park Master Plan.

The park master plan was funded by the developer.  The development of the park will be funded by a Special Improvement District and maintained by a Park Maintenance District that will be assessed to the property owners of River Rock Estates.  There will be no impact to the City.

Staff and the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board recommends approval of the River Rock Park Master Plan with the additional recommendation from the Board that it be stated in the Subdivision Improvement Agreement (SIA) documents for the Certificate of Survey 3295 (currently known as Silver Creek Subdivision), that upon 60% of the building permits pulled, a re-evaluation of the River Rock and Rimrock West Parks Master Plans will be triggered for the purpose of including future property owners that will reside in the Certificate of Survey 3295 tract of land to participate in the future development of these two parks.