Dorn Lowe, LLC has submitted a petition to annex land to the City of Billings under 7-2-4600 MCA. The subject property is composed of one tract totaling about 13.39 acres and located at the west end of Bell Avenue.  The property is west of Shiloh Road and North of Monad.  The property is used for agricultural purposes at this time and does not have an address. The property owner is requesting annexation in order to obtain City services for development of the property for multi-family housing. The property is zoned Agricultural Open Space and the property owner has submitted a zone change application for Residential-Multi-Family to run concurrently with this annexation petition for Council consideration on May 29. The property is located within the five year annexation area of the City's Limits of Annexation Map. The property appears to meet some of the City's criteria in its Annexation Policy, although the proposal for high-density, multi-family development of the propery appears to conflict with the Growth Policy, and City services delivery is still being analyzed by staff. A detailed review and analysis of the Annexation Policy criteria will be provided in the Council's public hearing memo. The City Council’s policy is to consider annexations at two separate Council meetings. At the first meeting, the Council acknowledges receipt of a petition and sets a public hearing date. At the second meeting, the Council conducts the hearing and decides if it will annex the property.

MCA, Section 7-2-4600 allows owners of more than 50% of the property to petition the city for annexation. The only alternative that is consistent with City Council policy is to acknowledge receipt of the petition and set a public hearing date.

City staff will analyze how City services may be provided to this property, determine the potential financial implications of property development, and make a recommendation on the annexation at the public hearing on May 29.

Staff recommends that the City Council acknowledge receipt of the annexation petition and schedule a public hearing for May 29, 2012 to consider annexing this property.