Planning board recommends annexation and R-3 zoning for 1420 Seventeenth Ave SW

The Planning Advisory Board on Aug. 12 recommended that the City Commission approve the annexation of Lot 4A, Block 7, University Addition (1420 Seventeenth Avenue Southwest) and establish R-3 single-family high-density zoning for the property.

Assistant city planner Kayla Crisco told the board the property is a single-family residence on about 0.34 acres and that "the Bosos are requesting annexation in order to connect to city water and sanitary sewer services available in the Seventeenth Avenue Southwest right of way." She said state law requires annexations to include adjacent public right-of-way, so a portion of Eighteenth Alley Southwest is included in the request.

Why it matters: Staff said the city has sufficient capacity to provide municipal services, including police, fire, water and sanitary sewer, and that annexation would not unduly burden existing infrastructure. Crisco referenced a prior annexation of Seventeenth Avenue Southwest under Resolution 9,774 (02/2008) and said an annexation agreement has been prepared that makes the property owners responsible for costs to connect to city services and for the abandonment of any existing septic systems and drain fields.

Conditions and process: Staff recommended approval with conditions, including compliance with applicable city and state regulations, fulfillment of the annexation agreement (which covers utility connections and septic abandonment), and that any future development must conform to permitted uses and standards of the R-3 zoning district. The suggested motions were displayed to the board during the presentation.

Applicant comment: Property owner Joseph Boso, who identified his mailing address as 3 Scenic Valley Lane, Cascade, Montana, thanked staff and said, "They have gone above and beyond trying to help us with any questions and whatnot, so it's been a pleasure." (The transcript also contains an alternate spelling of the owners' surname as "Zeboso" in one location; city staff and the applicant used "Boso" in their spoken remarks.)

Board action: An unidentified board member moved that the Planning Advisory Board recommend the City Commission approve the annexation and findings of fact subject to the listed conditions; a second was received, a board member complimented staff's presentation, and the board voiced "aye" with no opposed votes recorded in the transcript. The board then voted on a separate motion to recommend establishment of R-3 zoning for the same parcel; that motion also passed with no opposition recorded.

Next steps: Both recommendations will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action. The annexation packet and utility service letter were included in the board's agenda materials; staff noted a utility service letter allowing connections before annexation completion but warned owners would bear the full cost to disconnect if annexation were not finalized.

Other business: Deputy director Lonnie Hill reported that staff had shared instructional training videos with board members and said a Montana State University training is planned around the new year.

The board adjourned after approving the items.