No formal action is expected at this Work Session, but staff is looking for Council direction on whether or not to move forward in 2021 with the process of expanding the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD). Staff, in coordination with SBURA Coordinator Jim Tevlin and with the support of the South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) Board, is prepared to complete the process of expanding the SBBURD. It is important the Council is committed to expansion if it directs staff to move forward, as the expansion process for a District is very similar to creating a District, and is a significant investment of time and resources to execute the expansion.
 

South Billings Urban Renewal Association Coordinator Jim Tevlin working with City staff in the past 6 months has been in contact with property owners and agents interested in having property included in the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District. These properties are all very preliminary in their potential for inclusion in the District, but several of them face significant hurdles to development with property conditions and clean ups and public infrastructure needs that align with the goals and purpose of urban renewal efforts in South Billings. City staff also is proposing that Riverfront Park be included in the District expansion as the SBBURD Urban Renewal Plan calls for park improvements and amenities, and River Front Park has significant infrastructure deficiencies as well as park amenity needs.

The District was formed and amended in 2008, and the Urban Renewal Plan for the District was amended in 2019. However, the District boundary has not been expanded since 2008. While expanding urban renewal districts is not common, it is a tool available to communities under the urban renewal laws, and Billings has most recently used the tool in the East Billings Urban Renewal District in 2015. The process mirrors the process to create a districts, with Council taking action on a resolution of necessity to expand the District, updated Urban Renewal Plan, notification of property owners that would be included in the expansion, Planning Board review of expansion, legal notice of public hearing, and final Council action to expand the District.

The following properties have been the subject of discussion for SBBURD expansion and further information on some of them will be provided at the Work Session. It is important for the Council to understand that until the process formally starts for District expansion, these, or other properties, could be included or removed from the final expansion process. This is by no means a set, final list of possible property participants and staff has made note of this in some of the property descriptions.

Adkins Property - Northeast corner of the intersection of Jackson Street and King Avenue East, about 4 acres, owned by Jason Adkins with an in-holding owned by Robert Ronshaugen. The In-holding property has not indicated definite participation in expansion process at this time. Property is in the County. Property has some possible characteristics of blight and also would involve frontage and infrastructure improvements along King Avenue East and Jackson Street to facilitate development.

Compton Property - 3218 South Frontage Road, about 17 acres, owned by KSKC Properties, LLC (Tim Compton). Property is former Knife River gravel pit that was remediated, annexed into the City and sold to KSKC Properties, LLC in 2015. Property requires remediation work to develop due to the fill material on the site. Water and sewer infrastructure extensions and access are significant in this area but improvements would benefit this and other properties in the area to access City services.

Driscoll Property - 3508 South Frontage Road, about 36 acres, owned by Driscoll Family, LP (sale pending and discussions have been with purchaser so current owner has not indicated definite participation in expansion process). Property is in the County. Development would involve significant frontage and infrastructure improvements along the South Frontage Road.

Hogan Property - 3716 South Frontage Road, about 3.6 acres, owned by Evolution HC, LLC. Property was Annexed by the City Council at its meeting on November 23. A minor subdivision is in process for the property with further commercial development planned.

Riverfront Park (City) -  East of South Billings Boulevard and north of the Yellowstone River, about 300 acres, owned by the City of Billings, Parks and Recreation.Much of the park is natural area but there is a significant area that is day use by the public. Improvement and maintenance needs today include, but are not limited to: Trail connections/improvements (paving) west end and trail development on east end of the park by Washington Street; Road and parking lot repair and paving; Automated irrigation improvements; Shelter addition and repairs.

City staff find that several of these properties have qualifying conditions per MCA 7-15-4202 and 7-15-4206 (2), that all of them require public infrastructure improvements as identified in the 2008 and 2019 project and program recommendations of the adopted SBBURD Urban Renewal Plan, and that including some, or all, of these properties in the District would ensure development with municipal services and building to the infrastructure, site, land use and building requirements and standards of the City of Billings. Staff in coordination with SBURA Coordinator Jim Tevlin is prepared to move the process of expanding the SBBURD forward in 2021.

City Council may:

• Give staff direction to proceed with expanding the SBBURD in 2021; or
• Give staff direction not to proceed with expanding the SBBURD.

There would be costs of staff time and a limited financial impact on the SBBURD TIF funds to complete a District expansion. There are property owner mailings to the affected properties, legal notices, possible document copying/printing, compiling materials for the State Department of Revenue to certify the expansion, and other process costs estimated at about $5,000.