Cities move toward shared data and subarea planning for lands between Bozeman and Belgrade

City planners from Bozeman and Belgrade outlined options for joint planning of the lands between the two municipalities, focusing on shared data, targeted subarea plans and conservation of sensitive areas.

Jason Karp, who identified himself as outgoing director of community development for Belgrade, summarized the Planning Coordinating Committee (PCC) and recalled past collaborative work such as the Triangle community and trails plans; he said the PCC brings staff, elected officials and planning board members from multiple jurisdictions together for quarterly coordination and shared recommendations.

Planners said a large amount of data already exists (wetlands mapping, irrigation systems, infrastructure studies) and recommended condensing and sharing that information in accessible formats before embarking on resource-intensive subarea plans. Staff cautioned that subarea planning can be as time-consuming as a municipal comprehensive plan, so starting with templates, prioritized subject-matter studies (utilities, arterial networks, wetlands) and refined datasets could be a practical first step.

Commissioners raised conservation concerns. One commissioner pointed to the Gallatin Valley Sensitive Plants Plan and urged that wildlife corridors and habitat areas be explicitly incorporated into joint planning; another suggested interlocal agreements to lock in conservation designations across jurisdictions. During public comment a resident (thanked by the chair as 'Karen') asked that officials treat water planning as an ecological issue as well as an engineering one.

Planners and elected officials recommended more regular, structured conversations among staff and electeds and suggested the PCC or subcommittees be the venue for deeper technical work. No formal planning decisions were made at the meeting; staff were asked to return with options and cost estimates for further work.