On October 2, 2017, Sanderson Stewart, agent for Falcon Ridge I, LLC, owners, applied for preliminary major plat approval for Falcon Ridge Estates Subdivision, 3rd Filing. The proposed subdivision creates 35 new lots for single-family residential development. The subject property is generally located on the south side of Masters Boulevard, east of Golden Acres Drive. The property is zoned Residential Multi-Family-Restricted (RMF-R). The Yellowstone County Board of Planning conducted a public hearing on November 28, 2017.
 

In accordance with state law, the City Council has 60 working days to act upon this major preliminary plat. The 60 working day review period for the proposed plat ends on December 29, 2017. State and City subdivision regulations also require that preliminary plats be reviewed using specific criteria, as stated within this report. The City may not unreasonably restrict an owner's ability to develop land if the subdivider provides evidence that any identified adverse effects can be mitigated. Within the 60 working day review period, the City Council is required to:

1. Approve;
2. Conditionally Approve; or
3. Deny the Preliminary Plat.
 

Should the City Council approve the preliminary plat, the subject property may further develop under private ownership, resulting in additional tax revenues.

VARIANCES REQUESTED
No variances from the City Subdivision Regulations have been requested.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

• A pre-application meeting was held on August 17, 2017 to discuss the proposal.
• The preliminary plat application was submitted to the Planning Division on October 2, 2017.
• A departmental review meeting was conducted on October 19, 2017.
• The preliminary plat was resubmitted with revisions based on department reviews on October 26, 2017.
• The Planning Board reviewed the plat on November 14, 2017.
• The Planning Board conducted a public hearing on November 28, 2017, and forward a recommendation to the City Council.
• The City Council will consider the preliminary plat on December 18, 2018.
• The 60 working-day preliminary plat review period ends December 29, 2017. 

PLAT INFORMATION
 
General location:                                South Masters Boulevard, east of Golden Acres Drive
 
Legal Description:                              Being Lot 10A of Amended Plat of Lots 10 & 15, Block 4, Falcon Ridge Subdivision, 1st Filing,
                                                        and Lot 11A of Amended Plat of Lots 11-14, Block 4, Falcon Ridge Subdivision, 1st Filing
 
Owner/Subdivider:                             Falcon Ridge I, LLC
 
Engineer and Surveyor:                      Sanderson Stewart
 
Existing Zoning:                                 RMF-R
 
Existing land use:                               Vacant
 
Proposed land use:                             Single-family and maybe some two-family residential development
 
Gross and Net area:                           10.444 acres; 7.436 acres
 
Proposed number of lots:                    35
 
Lot size:                                            Max:    15,450 square feet
                                                        Min:     6,033 square feet
 
Parkland requirements:                      Parkland dedication requirements for this proposed plat have been met with previous filings.

Staff gave a a brief presentation about the proposed Falcon Ridge Estates Subdivision, 3rd Filing to the Planning Board.  At the end of the presentation, Board President Darrell Tunnicliff asked if there were any questions from the board and there were none.  He then asked if the agent or applicant wished to speak.  Mac Fogelsong, agent, stood to answer any questions from the Board.  Board members asked two questions. One question was regarding how the development will coordinate postal delivery sites and the other question was regarding a connection across the new road segment for the park connectivity?  Mr. Fogelsong answered that they will design the proposed pull out area for the USPS delivery area and get it approved with the USPS agent.  Further, he stated the road segment will most likely have a cross walk to connect the two park areas across Southern Bluffs Road.  President Tunnicliff stated he was glad the developer is installing park areas and not just leaving vacant areas to be developed later.

The public hearing was opened and there was no one there to speak for or against the proposed subdivision. The public hearing was then closed. A motion was made to forward a recommendation of conditional approval, the motion was seconded and the board unanimously voted for the motion.

The proposed development demonstrates consistency with the 2016 Growth Policy, the 2014 Transportation Plan Update, and the Billings Area Bikeways and Trail Master Plan. These findings are discussed within the attached Findings of Fact.