Owner Elizabeth Zeiler has submitted a petition to annex land to the City of Billings under Section 7-2-4600, MCA. The subject property is one parcel totaling about 64 acres. The property is addressed as 1228 and 1236 Mullowney Lane. It is located on the west side of Mullowney Lane just south of the Southern Empire Emporium Restaurant. It wraps around and also has frontage on the South Frontage Road west of the former site of the Big Splash Water Park. The property is mostly vacant and used for agricultural production, however there is a residence and other buildings on the property near Mullowney Lane. The property owner is requesting annexation in order to obtain City services for development of the property. The property is zoned Highway Commercial and Agricultural Open Space. A concurrent zone change application is being processed to change all of the zoning to Highway Commercial.  The property is located within the five-year annexation area of the City's Limits of Annexation Map and appears to meet many of the City's criteria in its Annexation Policy. 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. The zoning and annexation hearings will occur at the same City Council meeting on March 25.

Section 7-2-4600, MCA, 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.

Analysis by City staff of how City services may be provided to this property, the potential financial implications of developing the property, and a recommendation on the annexation will be prepared and presented at the public hearing.

Staff recommends that the City Council acknowledge receipt of the annexation petition and schedule a public hearing for March 25, 2013 to consider annexing this property.