Council passes zoning amendments after tie; public urged more review

The Libby City Council adopted Ordinance 2049, which makes amendments to zoning chapters (Residential A/B and business-residential performance standards), after a tie vote that the mayor broke in favor of passage.

Councilor Zimmerman proposed amendments clarifying performance standards — including exceptions exempting garages and carports from certain rear-yard requirements and defining that 'adjacent' properties do not include alleys or rights of way. Supporters of the ordinance said the changes protect residential character while allowing flexibility for property owners. "If you have two houses, two businesses, corner to corner, but there's an alley separating, that's different," one council member explained during debate.

Several residents and planning-board members urged more public review, saying the proposed amendments had been worked on for months and that amending language on second reading limited public input. "I would really appreciate if this council would take a little bit of time to think about the ramifications," said Jennifer Nelson (speaker S15), a planning-board member. John Beebe (speaker S12) and others also raised procedural concerns and urged the council to provide committee rules and clearer records of deliberations.

After extended discussion and public comment, the council approved an amendment and then the main motion; the mayor cast the deciding vote on a tied roll. The ordinance was passed and will be codified; staff and planning members asked that future amendments allow additional public review when substantive changes are proposed mid-process.