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Proposal to Let Counties Terminate Citizen‑Initiated Zoning Draws Strong Opposition in Senate Committee
Summary
House Bill 614 would let county commissions, after notice and hearing, dissolve citizen‑initiated zoning districts when a county adopts a larger zoning district or opts into the Montana Land Use Planning Act. Supporters say it reduces administrative burden; residents and associations say it removes a vital citizen referendum safeguard.
Representative Greg Overstreet introduced House Bill 614 to give county commissions a statutory pathway to terminate citizen‑initiated part‑1 or part‑2 zoning districts if the county adopts a larger zoning district covering the same land or opts into the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). Overstreet said the authority would be exercised through public notice and hearings and is voluntary for counties.
Supporters, led by Sean O'Callaghan of the Montana Association of Planners, argued the law addresses a patchwork of overlapping local zoning rules that create significant administrative burdens. O'Callaghan cited county counts of existing districts — Ravalli (44), Gallatin (22), Lewis and Clark (37) and Missoula (31) — and said…
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