Daniels County adopts multi‑topic growth policy after public hearing

Daniels County commissioners voted to adopt a new growth policy on Feb. 18 following a presentation and public hearing with the plan's consultant.

The policy, presented by the county's consultant Rachel, identifies four primary priorities — improved infrastructure, modernized emergency services, community growth (including housing), and economic development — and sets a set of goals and implementable actions to guide those areas over coming years.

Rachel, the lead consultant on the project, told the board the policy draws on a public survey, meetings with the planning board and local stakeholders and the consultant team’s technical review. "The community vision response from the survey highlighted that Daniels County residents deeply valued the area's rural character, emphasizing its safety, strong sense of community and suitability as a great place to raise a family," Rachel said. She described a list of recommended policies and programs to preserve those qualities while addressing infrastructure and economic needs.

Key provisions described in the plan: incentives and pilot programs to support "missing middle" housing (duplexes, triplexes and similar forms), policies to encourage accessory dwelling units, targeted programs to retain and attract younger residents and workers, and actions to support small businesses and agricultural diversification. The plan recommends partnering with regional entities such as the Great Northern Development Corporation and the Montana Department of Agriculture on economic development and grant opportunities.

The draft also recommends updating Daniels County's zoning and subdivision codes, which the consultant noted date to 1983 and currently restrict single‑family homes in many parts of the county to a minimum of 40 acres. The presentation recorded discussion about whether to reduce the minimum to 20 or 5 acres to make building more feasible; the document recommends the county evaluate those changes and explicitly directs planners to review building permit requirements and zoning as follow‑up tasks.

The plan calls for a capital improvements plan (CIP) to identify physical infrastructure projects and funding priorities, and it identifies funding avenues including state grant sources and a "local option sales tax" as a potential tool the county could investigate further. Rachel said the plan will be submitted to the Montana Department of Commerce for reimbursement under the grant process once adopted.

Commissioners held the required public hearing (advertised in advance), took comments and then moved to adopt the growth policy; a voice vote was recorded in favor. The board also discussed next steps: updating zoning and subdivision code language, preparing a CIP and pursuing grant funding to implement priority items.

The consultant said planning staff and the county would follow up with the contact at the Department of Commerce and the county's funding specialist to pursue grants and the CIP work. The county asked staff to provide contacts and to return with more detailed cost and timeline estimates for specific implementation actions.

The policy adoption does not itself authorize specific expenditures beyond routine staff follow‑up; the plan identifies priority actions and funding routes that the county can pursue in subsequent steps.