[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6093618,"mediaKeyId","2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc","parentId",2846061,"title","Gallatin County Commission actions, April 1, 2025: proclamations, conservation funding, plats and dedications","audioSeconds",5286,"startMs",361000,"endMs",5647000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc&start=361&end=5647","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc/thumbnail_361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093618/Gallatin-County/Montana/Gallatin-County-Commission-actions-April-1-2025-proclamations-conservation-funding-plats-and-dedications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093618-6bf961fab58fc262df82c8229649b284/orig.mp4?Expires=1771036701&Signature=MKydWVqgqMm-OHKWh5pDu~uiqizTp5MEFRt2OHQM17RQb4TJDR-Qx6WAdjcAF6bRzGzAO8a3RTB0IzFitVS2menaut-7ENFC6OBrwmVvFQunQ37zF~dR2UnYI~jj1r9Cc2HEXK~V22tK3X7qdNb2jXB3pFO4etpu9P1J5kzjXrSPG1kbG8Tylt4fTD7MgoyWktyB7ScND6QTDahd1UmeUVqlqF3NA4njvuFNulvONv48rdfb4SwTWofXoAJSOQjE2Bjm9w-gzkbOMIOkGTX54-Z6Cgyl4eq8D4A5MCty2vLgphdfjv8IcNTwZkW28VF7gq0ImThC1x4yfLLfILiJ-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MT / Fallon County","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","At its April 1 meeting the Gallatin County Commission took a series of formal actions: it adopted a proclamation designating April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, approved a $417,500 expenditure from the Open Lands Fund for the Brower Farms conservation easement, approved abandonment of a portion of Bentwing Road and the associated amended plat for Minor Subdivision 121A, accepted public dedications for North and South Dolaheri (Delray) Lane, approved subdivision improvements and final plat for the Marigold subsequent minor subdivision, and approved the consent agenda. The board also approved other routine contracts and grant applications included in the consent agenda.

Key votes and motions

- Proclamation: The commission unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, read into the record by Glenda Noyes of CASA Gallatin. Public commenters including Joe Aldrow of Gallatin County Department of Child and Family Services and Sheriff Dan Springer spoke in support of CASA and volunteer advocates. Motion to accept proclamation: Commissioner (unnamed); outcome: approved.

- Brower Farms conservation easement (Open Lands fund): Staff (Sean O'Callahan, Openlands coordinator) presented a final purchase-and-sale and assignment agreement for Brower Farms (168 acres in the Churchill area). The commission approved level-2 final approval and a payment request of $417,500 from the Open Lands Fund. Jordan Vana (Montana Land Reliance) said NRCS funding was expected and closing was anticipated in late May or early June. Motion to approve payment/agreements: Commissioner (unnamed); outcome: approved.

- Bentwing Road abandonment & amended plat (Minor Subdivision 121A): The county's clerk and recorder, Eric Semrad, described Petition No. 861 to abandon a portion of Bentwing Road that is enclosed by Lot A. A viewing committee reported the road serves a single landowner (Montana Conservation Raptor Center/Big Sky Wild Care). The commission approved Resolution No. 2025-027 to abandon the specified portion and then approved the amended final plat to reflect the abandonment. Motion to approve abandonment (Res. 2025-027): Commissioner (unnamed); outcome: approved. Motion to approve amended final plat: Commissioner (unnamed); outcome: approved.

- Marigold Subsequent Minor Subdivision (public dedications, improvements agreement, final plat): Planning staff presented resolutions and an improvements agreement for the Marigold subsequent minor subdivision. The commission approved the public dedications for North and South Dolaheri Lane (Res. 2025-028 and 2025-029), accepted the improvements agreement with a financial guarantee (letter of credit for $59,850) requiring sidewalks by Dec. 6, 2026, and granted final plat approval after staff found conditions met. Motions: Commissioner (unnamed); outcomes: approved.

- Consent agenda: Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included claims totaling $494,166.49, multiple contract approvals (including a Hidden Creek predevelopment loan commitment and a concert contract for the County Fair), grant applications to Montana DES and others, and meeting minutes. Motion to approve consent agenda: Commissioner (unnamed); outcome: approved.

Meeting context: Several items involved little debate; a number of votes were unanimous. The more substantive hearings with public comment were the Hidden Creek site-plan submission (separately discussed) and the Dry Creek preliminary plat (see separate article).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gallatin County Commission Minutes April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved a child-abuse prevention proclamation, multiple land-use items including road abandonment and final plats, a $417,500 open-lands payment for Brower Farms, and several public-dedication and subdivision items; consent agenda items were also approved.","taxTitle","Gallatin County, Montana","taxId",48744,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093623,"Commission approves Dry Creek preliminary plat after debate over trails, wells and floodplain",3094,2541000,5635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc&start=2541&end=5635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc/thumbnail_2541000.jpg","/articles/6093623/Gallatin-County/Montana/Commission-approves-Dry-Creek-preliminary-plat-after-debate-over-trails-wells-and-floodplain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093623-3c70b6284236db6fc09fbded93463f41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771036701&Signature=LwT~3Z2-09vy9aEnEDdL38UERwMmFdqfZWbd3kUX-hb9vDRqaZ77XZTWSRDrXPINOkE3TACjhG5bpr5WoMmd9DB1~GzeFUARm2SVYRNmlrlvjOqmuZUez8uEcqC3yipIMaEcY9mM7-iRidp8toaPGaZYA20kEUnVEbpTKVFguytMU9OYve5Ow~pxXwPQpn~aXrNtR3PvQC3vM6NiHMlfwmzudPHZ9WL6MgUkIbDP8xOQaHTDE2-OB8-zVCPbj73PSgr3c5oYj~XZ6oq7tbUCFfMJgHk5GdQCuLk75Cw4bBjl2y46arx~WDdYOXPVOMv8OW8xq1jD8EYQiV0jfxpPTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gallatin County Commission on April 1 granted preliminary plat approval for the Dry Creek Major subdivision, a 15-lot residential proposal north of Valley Grove, after hearing staff, applicant and public testimony on trails, floodplain constraints, well usage and lighting.

The proposal and waiver: Hayden Kalajiri, planner for the City of Belgrade, introduced the preliminary plat showing 15 single-family lots and a request to provide open space rather than dedicated parkland. Applicant Mark Fasting of Allied Engineering said the subdivision proposes 11.88 acres of open space in lieu of the roughly 1.49 acres of parkland otherwise required. Fasting said the design exception and open-space approach keep the subdivision consistent with adjacent development patterns while delivering a trail amenity for future residents.

Why it matters: The property abuts Valley Grove subdivision and contains riparian areas and mapped floodplain. Staff and the applicant said buildings would be located outside the designated floodplain, with the lowest floor elevation required at least two feet above the 100-year flood elevation. The project includes a community wastewater system (a low-pressure sewer with grinder pumps and a level-2 treatment system) and on-site domestic wells tied to a water allocation letter; the applicant said the larger parent parcel had a 10-acre-foot allocation that applies to the parcel being subdivided and will be monitored.

Public concerns: Multiple Valley Grove residents opposed trail alignment and potential loss of privacy. Nicole Lowry of 409 Old West Trail asked that the absence of street lights be codified in covenants and that the trail be set back from existing homes; Curtis Lindsey asked for enforcement of worker speed limits during construction. Erwin Barr said the strip labelled \"Valley Grove Park\" on maps is undeveloped and the proposed trail would not tie into an existing trail network. Commissioners and staff discussed the option of making trails a public easement versus private HOA amenity.

Conditions and safeguards: Planning staff recommended, and the commission approved, multiple conditions for final plat, including a well-monitoring program and reporting of metered groundwater use to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), documentation of the 100-year flood elevation on final plats, construction of required hydrants or a buried tank hydrant if existing systems are not available, and requirements for lot-level setbacks. The commission added a condition directing staff to craft covenant language requiring outdoor lighting to be downcast to limit light pollution.

Commission action: The board first approved a waiver allowing open space instead of dedicated parkland, finding the proposal \"provides land permanently set aside for park and recreation use sufficient to meet the needs of persons who will ultimately reside in the development.\" The commission then approved preliminary plat subject to staff and planning-board-recommended conditions and the added lighting covenant. The Belgrade Planning Board had previously voted unanimously in favor of the project.

Next steps: Final plat approval will follow completion of conditions including fire protection arrangements, final wastewater system design and recorded covenants specifying lighting and water-monitoring obligations.","Gallatin County Commission approved preliminary plat for Dry Creek subdivision (15 lots), granted a waiver for parkland in favor of open space, and set conditions including lighting standards and a well-monitoring program after public comment on trails, privacy and traffic.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093627,"Gallatin County approves Hidden Creek site-plan submission to City of Bozeman amid traffic concerns",1458,1286000,2744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc&start=1286&end=2744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2846061-c7c361e6596d40a1e5dfa74de61c3ddc/thumbnail_1286000.jpg","/articles/6093627/Gallatin-County/Montana/Gallatin-County-approves-Hidden-Creek-site-plan-submission-to-City-of-Bozeman-amid-traffic-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093627-931dad8aedd591b7fee51a6c5ba14162/orig.mp4?Expires=1771036701&Signature=NLXtv2i4kkqGrG98~7nSfXnSqTc6FGpyPjkLizu8EJ7PLZQLxVyF5hiXh7cnk-0QfODEDyh-7FbSBQ9nDyI3wVhOHiQvncbd5hvLNcm9~lQBdLUtKY3k5imLCW5Q56Ovy3D~10hfYDN4q8A4jUJNEg3jTqrio5-T3AMY-wdq~-MJZ6w6HLacSw8Jf00VVBSjwDJAuc9AgH~6EUYoRzSoMGHG4dV8oanB1YptTG64d46qLELgLPa-Ln93d6Va9NndSCGzN6D8y-wcKodU5aibE-G4AGESeTYmqF5ihwM0flr~6wVyssXbYg6MMjX93nmgw6ZMLNbVAepTq8ej1GLbig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gallatin County Commission on April 1 approved the Hidden Creek affordable housing project\u0000site-plan submission to the City of Bozeman after developers described changes to the plan and neighbors raised concerns about traffic circulation and pedestrian safety.

The submission, presented by Seth O'Connell of United Housing Partners and partners HRDC and United Housing Partners, shows the layout for future apartments, a county lot and a land trust parcel on property the county donated for the project. O'Connell said the site-plan packet will be amended to show a public right-of-way extension through the southeast corner to connect Oak Park Drive to Durston, and to reserve \"10 parking spots\" for the future county lot. \"There will be an amendment extending the public right away down through the southeast corner of the site,\" O'Connell said. \"...10 parking spots on the narrative, and as well as the cover sheet will be described as being reserved right now and ongoing for that county lot.\"

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said Hidden Creek is a rare opportunity to add permanently affordable housing close to jobs, medical services and downtown Bozeman. Commissioners said the development includes units targeted to 30 percent AMI and that the parcel's land donation and tax-credit eligibility helped make the project viable.

What developers said: O'Connell said the submission reflects multiple prior financing and plat iterations and that the project team held a neighborhood meeting on March 17. County planning representative Susan Riggs said the team wants to ensure site-plan conditions in the executed purchase-and-sale agreement are carried forward and that the plan would not preclude a future alignment of Oak Park Drive if adjacent parcels redevelop. \"We just wanted to make sure that the executed PSA agreement, conditions and terms were all addressed in the site plan,\" Riggs said. \"...we still do want the opportunity to talk again about Oak Park Drive going through even though the city has indicated that they don't want it to go through at this time.\"

Neighbor concerns: Chris Waters, a property co-owner in the area who said he has experience in municipal planning, said the traffic analysis understates local effects and warned that Juniper Street, a narrow residential street, will receive most of the development's traffic. \"All traffic is going to enter on Juniper Street,\" Waters said. \"That would be an estimated additional 1,281 trips per day, which will more than quadruple recurrent traffic of 318 vehicles per day.\" Waters said left turns from Juniper at 15th Street could create long queues because left-turning vehicles must wait for gaps and because winter snow can narrow Juniper to a single lane.

Developer response and mitigation: O'Connell and Riggs acknowledged there will be traffic change and said travel patterns often adapt, citing other local route changes. O'Connell said the county and developer earlier sought an Oak Park Drive connection but that the city and Montana Department of Transportation had not supported an additional connection at that location. The development team said they are working with the city on pedestrian crossings to improve safety for people walking to nearby Oak Meadow Park and that an emergency access/fire-lane and pedestrian easement are included for future connectivity to adjacent lots.

Commission action: Commissioner motioned to approve the Hidden Creek site-plan submission to the City of Bozeman; the commission voted in favor and approved the submission. Commissioners praised the multi-year effort between the county, United Housing Partners, HRDC and the city, and noted the project's 30% AMI units will serve households at the greatest local housing need.

What remains: The approval is for the site-plan submission to the City of Bozeman. Final design, city approvals, and any changes required by the city's review process remain to be completed.","The Gallatin County Commission approved the Hidden Creek affordable housing site-plan submission to the City of Bozeman after developer representatives described revisions to rights-of-way and reserved parking; neighbors raised traffic and pedestrian-safety concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gallatin County Commission actions, April 1, 2025: proclamations, conservation funding, plats and dedications

Commission approves Dry Creek preliminary plat after debate over trails, wells and floodplain

Gallatin County approves Hidden Creek site-plan submission to City of Bozeman amid traffic concerns