Owner Mary Beth Gregory has submitted a petition to annex land to the City of Billings under 7-2-4600 MCA. The subject property is a portion of existing Tract 2 Remainder, Certificate of Survey 3295 composed of about 2 acres. It is located on the north side of Grand Avenue just west of the intersection of Grand Avenue and 48th Street West and is addressed as 4743 Grand Avenue. The property is vacant now but is proposed to be additional land for a private Montessori school already planned to be developed on property adjacent to the west. The property owner is requesting annexation in order to obtain City services for development of the property. Since the property will default to Residential-9600 (R-96) zoning if it is brought into the City, a concurrent special review application is being processed to allow the private school in the R-96 zoning district. The adjacent property was annexed and went through special review for the original school site in late August 2012. 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 Council will be asked to act on the annexation and then the special review at its April 22 meeting.

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.

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 April 22, 2013 to consider annexing this property.