Item #4 - Motion/Recommendation to City Council.  City Zone Change #942 – 5640 Grand Avenue, Nicole Cromwell, Zoning Coordinator – A zone change request from Agriculture Open (A-1) to Public, on S5, T1 S, R25 E, E2 Government Lot 1, a 38.83 acre parcel of land. This application is for the new Middle School for Billings School District #2.  The applicant conducted a pre-application neighborhood meeting on September 28, 2015 at the City of Billings Fire Station No. 7, 1501 54^th Street West. Tax ID: D12579. There is a concurrent application for annexation of this property that will be heard by the City Council on November 9.
 

The Planning Division recommends approval and adoption of the findings of the 10 criteria for Zone Change #942.

OWNER: School District #2
AGENTS: Terry Bouck, Superintendent and Pat Davies, P.E. Sanderson Stewart
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: E 1/2 of Government Lot 1, in Section 5, Township 1 South, Range 25 East
ADDRESS: 5640 Grand Avenue
CURRENT ZONING: Agriculture Open-Space (A-1) a County zoning
EXISTING LAND USE: Vacant
PROPOSED USE: New Middle School with Public zoning
SIZE OF PARCEL: 38.83 acres

A concurrent annexation petition has been submitted. A City of Billings Building permit application is pending reviews approvals of the annexation and zone change.

Subject Property - None.

Surrounding Property - The city has annexed property and approved a variety of zone changes in this area of West Billings since 2005. In 2007, the city annexed and re-zoned property on 54th Street West for the new Cottonwood Park from A-1 to Public zoning. All other zone changes are for residential developments or commercial nodes, like the property at 54th St West and Grand Avenue.

NORTH:	Zoning: A-1 (County) and R-70 (City) Land Use: Foxtail Village Subdivision and Agricultural land
SOUTH:	Zoning: R-60-R (City) Land Use: Trails West Subdivision
EAST:	Zoning: R-96 and A-1 (City) Land Use: Church and single family homes
WEST:	Zoning: R-60-R (City) Land Use: Trails West Subdivision

Scholl District #2 is in the process of constructing two new middle schools. This property is currently outside the city limits and has A-1 zoning. In order to proceed with the planned construction, the school site must be annexed and the correct zoning district applied to the property. The School District working with its consultant, Sanderson Stewart, has submitted this zone change from A-1 to Public zoning. Public zoning is an appropriate zoning for all types of public agency developments and land uses. It permits civic uses such as schools, government administration and public recreational facilities. The School District has worked with adjacent land owners during the development of the middle school building and site plans. The School District has a pending Building Permit application submitted to the city Building Division.

The property consists of a 38.83 acre parcel of land generally located on the south west corner of Grand Avenue and 56th St West. The School District purchased the property in 2000 from the Frank family. The school district completed a future facility and space needs analysis several years and ago and submitted a bond issue for voter approval to construct the new middle schools. The bond issue was approved and do to crowding concerns in Billings Heights, the new middle school on Bench and Barrett Road in the Heights was slated for construction first. This location on 56th St West and Grand Ave is being prepared for construction starting this fall and running through 2016. The site is large enough to accommodate another school, possibly an elementary school, at some time in the future.

Grand Avenue and 56th St West are both principal arterial streets as designated by the City and County. The current construction of both streets is a 2-lane paved County road section with gravel shoulders or no shoulders and ditches in some areas. The posted speed limit at this intersection is 50 mph for both streets. The existing level of average daily daily traffic is low, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 vehicle trips per day. As part of the school site design process, Sanderson Stewart is working with the City Traffic Engineer to ensure that access into and out of the school site is safe and reasonable. School buses will enter the school site from 56th St West. The intersection at Grand Avenue is a stop-controlled intersection for 56th St West. It is anticipated there will be modifications to the intersection to accommodate the additional traffic load for the new middle school and for pedestrian crossing and access. Specific improvements will be determined by the City Traffic Engineer but may include a school zone, traffic signal, left turn lanes, deceleration or acceleration lanes on Grand Avenue, a pedestrian crossing, and appropriate signage on both Grand and 56th Street West.
 
The proposed zoning is the preferred zoning for all civic uses including government agencies, schools, and public recreational facilities. The zoning is compatible with adjacent zoning in the city and the county. The public zoning district is specifically designed to be compatible with adjacent residential uses especially when the intended uses are schools or parks. The Public zoning district is intended to reserve land exclusively for public or semi-public uses in order to preserve and provide adequate land for a variety of community facilities which serve the public health, safety and general welfare. Middle schools draw students from a larger district than neighborhood elementary schools and are appropriated located near or close to arterial streets where traffic can be better managed and controlled.

This area of West Billings will continue to grow with additional residential neighborhoods, services and facilities. The placement of a new school facility in a Public zoning district is compatible and expected with this additional growth.

The Planning Division recommends approval and adoption of the findings of the 10 criteria for Zone Change 942.