Council approves amended development agreement, clears sale for Harrison Avenue project amid debate over 'after‑the‑fact' application
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Summary
Councilors approved a development agreement amendment and a related resolution to convey Montana Connections subdivision lots to Riley Global Solutions (d/b/a CREW companies), after URD board review; commissioners debated whether approving a project after work began sets a problematic precedent.
Butte‑Silver Bow commissioners on Nov. 5 voted to concur with a development agreement for the Harrison Avenue South Urban Renewal District project and later approved a resolution amending a purchase‑and‑sale agreement so that the land conveyance will be to Riley Global Solutions LLC (the owner entity associated with CREW Companies).
Karen Burns, community development director, told the council the developer began work after a miscommunication between the owner, the contractor and the URD staff; the owners later asked the URD board to consider grant assistance. Burns said the URD board reviewed the project, questioned the developer and recommended entering a development agreement tied to payment only when project milestones are complete.
Commission debate focused on procedure. Commissioner O'Leary and others expressed concern that the project had started before the formal application and that approving post‑hoc funding could create a precedent. Burns and supporters said the parcel is difficult to develop, the project has created local jobs and the URD board exercised its agency powers to vet the project.
Council actions: The council voted 10‑1 to concur and place the development agreement on file (communication 2025‑529). Later, commissioners approved an amendment and placed Resolution 2025‑64 on final reading as amended; that vote passed 9‑2. During debate commissioners disclosed the agreement will provide roughly $37,500 per year for up to seven years (a maximum cited of $300,000; Burns said the expected payout is about $262,000) to support infrastructure work on a parcel estimated at 12.64 acres.
What proponents said: Burns said the project repurposed a difficult parcel on Harrison Avenue, created 15 local jobs to date, and represents an investment in a key corridor. She said the URD board intentionally structures payment after project completion and that the district has authority under state urban renewal law to enter such contracts.
What opponents said: Several commissioners said the public should be able to evaluate the exact purchaser and that land‑sale documents that differ from what the public saw (crew companies vs. Riley Global Solutions LLC) undermine transparency. County Attorney Anne Ruth said using LLCs for land transactions is common business practice but noted the timing and lack of advance notice as the council’s principal concern.
Next steps: The council directed staff to implement the development agreement and execute the conveyance paperwork according to the amendment and to ensure payment triggers are tied to completed work.
Vote details and documents: The council formally recorded the concurrence vote and the resolution vote; development‑agreement documents, the URD board minutes and the amended purchase‑and‑sale are filed with the clerk’s office as communications 2025‑529 and 2025‑64.
