On April 3, 2017, Blueline Engineering, the agent for the owners, Richard and Mae Sartorie, applied for preliminary major plat approval for Sartorie Subdivision, 2nd Filing. The proposed subdivision creates 9 new lots for residential development. The subject property is generally located at 1880 Hawthorne Lane on the northwest corner of Hawthorne Lane and Kyhl Lane in the Billings Heights. The property is zoned Residential-7000 (R-70). This property is in the County and is going through the annexation process. The City Council will consider the annexation before it acts on this preliminary plat. The Yellowstone County Board of Planning will conduct a public hearing at this meeting. On May 3, 2017 the agent, on behalf of the property owner, requested a 30-day delay of the application, which has placed it on the June schedule for Planning Board review and public hearing.

Staff recommends that the Planning Board recommend conditional approval of the preliminary plat of Sartorie Subdivision, 2nd Filing to the City Council, and adopt the Findings of Fact as presented in the staff report.

PROPOSED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Planning staff recommends the following conditions of approval:

1. To minimize the effects on local services, prior to final plat approval the subdivider will provide a letter from the United States Postal Service acknowledging its agreement with the placement of mail delivery facilities in the subdivision.

2. To ensure all local and state regulations have been met regarding the plat, prior to final plat approval the applicant shall lift the agricultural restriction that was placed on the parcel when it was created.

3. To reduce the effect on local services and ensure utility companies are able to install utilities for the proposed subdivision, the applicant shall show utility easements on the face of the final plat as requested and approved by the utility companies.

4. Minor changes may be made in the SIA and final documents, as requested by the Planning, Legal or Public Works Departments to clarify the documents and bring them into the standard acceptable format.

5. The final plat shall comply with all requirements of the City of Billings Subdivision Regulations, rules, regulations, policies, and resolutions of the City of Billings, and the laws and Administrative Rules of the State of Montana.

No variance has been requested.

A brief presentation was given to the Planning Board by staff about the proposed subdivision. Board President Darrell Tunnicliff asked if there were any questions from the Board. There was a question about the water rights that are with the property and also what was the reason for the 30 day delay request.  Staff responded that the owner is retaining water rights, should the entire farm be subdivided the owner can sell them to others or release them back to the ditch company.  It was explained that the applicants agent requested the delay because of conflicts causing them to miss deadlines.  There was no further discussion from the Board or from the applicants agent.