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Bonner council hears overview of state land-use changes and potential local impacts
Summary
Council members discussed recent state land-use legislation (referred to as the Montana Land Use Planning Act) that changes public comment timing by moving project-level input to planning-stage processes; the law is currently on hold pending legal challenges, the council was told.
Council members discussed recent state-level changes to land-use law described as the Montana Land Use Planning Act and how the law could change local public input on development projects if enforced.
A council member said the act would move much public input from project-level review to the broader planning and zoning process: once a parcel is zoned for a use, projects matching that zoning would proceed without the same project-level public comment opportunities. The speaker added that citizens have filed a lawsuit challenging the law and that enforcement is currently on hold.
Council members said the consolidated planning board has not met recently and there were no active applications before the board at present. The group discussed keeping community-development updates on the council agenda so residents can track neighborhood planning even if there is no immediate action.
One participant said two development-related laws passed in the prior session: one that allows duplexes on property previously limited to single-family use, and the other (the land-use planning law) that changes planning procedures. Council members said the practical effect could be to reduce direct project-level negotiation with developers unless the legal challenge changes enforcement.
No formal action or vote was taken; members resolved to keep community-development updates on future agendas.
