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Item 1.
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| City Council Work Session | |
| Date: | 04/18/2022 |
| Title: | Montana Zoning Atlas - Frontier Institute |
| Presented by: | Chris Kukulski, City Administrator |
| Department: | City Hall Administration |
| Presentation: | Yes |
| Legal Review | Not Applicable |
RECOMMENDATION
The Frontier Institute recommends the City of Billings consider the following actions:
1. Allow Billings landowners’ the right to build two-to-four family housing such as duplexes, triplexes and townhomes in zones which currently only permit single-family homes.
2. Eliminate minimum lot area requirements in residential zones. (Recode replaced a minimum lot area requirement with a minimum lot width.)
1. Allow Billings landowners’ the right to build two-to-four family housing such as duplexes, triplexes and townhomes in zones which currently only permit single-family homes.
2. Eliminate minimum lot area requirements in residential zones. (Recode replaced a minimum lot area requirement with a minimum lot width.)
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
Frontier Institute published the Montana Zoning Atlas, an interactive resource which demonstrates how strict local zoning regulations worsen Montana's housing shortage by making it difficult to build affordable homes.
Exclusionary zoning practices restrict the types of homes allowed in a particular neighborhood, often separating single-family homes from multi-family homes like duplexes and triplexes, which are more affordable by design.
The Montana Zoning Atlas uses a parcel-level analysis to examine the use of Single Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas – two common types of exclusionary zoning regulations – within the city limits of Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, Whitefish, Billings and Helena.
About Frontier Institute
Frontier Institute is a Helena-based think tank dedicated to breaking down government barriers so all Montanans can thrive.
Exclusionary zoning practices restrict the types of homes allowed in a particular neighborhood, often separating single-family homes from multi-family homes like duplexes and triplexes, which are more affordable by design.
The Montana Zoning Atlas uses a parcel-level analysis to examine the use of Single Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas – two common types of exclusionary zoning regulations – within the city limits of Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, Whitefish, Billings and Helena.
About Frontier Institute
Frontier Institute is a Helena-based think tank dedicated to breaking down government barriers so all Montanans can thrive.
STAKEHOLDERS
Authors:
Kendall Cotton is the President and CEO of the Frontier Institute. Kendall lives in Helena and is a graduate of Montana State University.
Mark Egge is a Bozeman-based advocate for affordable housing and for sustainable and safe transportation. Mark works professionally as a data scientist and is a former member of the Bozeman Planning Board.
Kendall Cotton is the President and CEO of the Frontier Institute. Kendall lives in Helena and is a graduate of Montana State University.
Mark Egge is a Bozeman-based advocate for affordable housing and for sustainable and safe transportation. Mark works professionally as a data scientist and is a former member of the Bozeman Planning Board.
ALTERNATIVES
No alternatives identified. Informational presentation only.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The report does not consider fiscal impacts to the city.
SUMMARY
Key Findings:
- Over 70% of primary residential areas in Montana’s most in-demand communities either outright prohibit or penalize affordable multi-family housing development.
- Multi-family housing is prohibited in 57% of residential areas in Billings due to a combination of Exclusionary Single-Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas.
- Missoula is overall the least welcoming city examined in the Montana Zoning Atlas. Multi-family housing is prohibited in over 75% of residential areas in Missoula due to a combination of Exclusionary Single-Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas.
- The most welcoming city examined is Helena, which permits more affordable duplexes and townhomes in 100% of primary residential areas and does not impose Minimum Lot
- Over 70% of primary residential areas in Montana’s most in-demand communities either outright prohibit or penalize affordable multi-family housing development.
- Multi-family housing is prohibited in 57% of residential areas in Billings due to a combination of Exclusionary Single-Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas.
- Missoula is overall the least welcoming city examined in the Montana Zoning Atlas. Multi-family housing is prohibited in over 75% of residential areas in Missoula due to a combination of Exclusionary Single-Family Zoning and Minimum Lot Areas.
- The most welcoming city examined is Helena, which permits more affordable duplexes and townhomes in 100% of primary residential areas and does not impose Minimum Lot