This is a zone change that will amend the City of Billings zoning map and amend the zoning regulations to create an overlay district to allow separate off-street parking regulations to apply within the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD), a tax increment finance district east of the Central Business District. The EBURD Master Plan identifies existing parking requirements in this area as a major deterrent to future development. Current code establishes off-street parking standards based on use. The requirements result in a substantial portion of the developable property to be set aside for parking. As a first step in implementing the EBURD Master Plan, the Planning Division requested the County Planning Board initiate this amendment and on July 28, 2009, the Board granted the request. The Zoning Commission opened the public hearing on February 2, 2010, for this amendment and agreed to continue the hearing until March 2, 2010, so additional information could be presented regarding the various changes to City Code. The Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on March 2, 2010, and is forwarding a recommendation of approval, and inclusion of the Clawson property in the district on a 4-0 vote. The City Council conducted a public hearing on March 22, 2010 and voted to approve the map and text amendment on 1st reading.

The Big Sky Economic Development Authority approved funds to hire a consultant to prepare a new Parking Overlay Zone for the EBURD. In October 2009, the Planning Division organized a steering committee to help select the consultant and work with the consultant to develop amendments to the city code for the EBURD area. The consultant, Nelson Nygaard Consulting Associates, has prepared a memorandum that reviews several tools for better management of parking demands within the district. The memorandum recommends six major tools the city could use:
• Eliminate the off-street parking minimum requirements within and near the EBURD district
• In conjunction with the elimination of off-street parking minimum requirements, adopt a policy goal to maintain 15% vacancy of on-street parking spaces within the district.
• Adopt a parking benefit district that uses permits and/or meters to manage on-street parking demand. Revenues would be returned to the district for on-street parking improvements and other enhancements to meet parking demand.
• Adopt local requirement for unbundled parking costs.
• Adopt local requirement for certain employers to allow employees to “cash-out” parking subsidies for off-street parking spaces.
• Adopt a multi-modal transportation impact fee district.
The steering committee reviewed the 6 major tools and held a public meeting on these options on January 21, 2010. Public input was received particularly on the first two options – elimination of the off-street parking minimums and the 15% vacancy goal for on-street spaces. The steering committee and staff recommended action on the first three strategies and the zoning map and text amendment address the elimination of off-street parking minimum requirements.

Adoption of the Zone Change and Text Amendment should not have a direct financial impact on the City. Implementation of the new amendments could have a financial impact on the City depending on the level of support needed and how implementation is decided by City officials and the Council.

The Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on March 2, 2010, and is recommending approval of the zone change, and inclusion of Mr. Clawson's property within the proposed district.