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Billings staff outline how state law will shift many zone-change decisions to administrative review
Summary
City staff told the council the Montana Land Use Planning Act lets staff approve zone changes that match the adopted future land use map, with appeals first to the planning commission, then council, and court. Council members raised concerns about appeal timing, standing and the potential for delays.
City planning staff on Thursday briefed the Billings City Council in a special work session on how the Montana Land Use Planning Act will change the city’s zoning review process, allowing more zone changes to be approved administratively if they align with a new Billings 2045 future land use map.
The session explained that when a planning administrator finds a proposed zone change fits the adopted future land use map, the application can be approved administratively and posted for a 15-business-day public comment period. If someone seeks review, the first appeal would go to the interim planning commission for a de novo review; council review would be the second step, followed…
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