Planning board recommends rezoning of Parcel 2 near airport to rural residential

The Belgrade Planning Board voted to recommend that the city council rezone Parcel 2 of COS 2000 919 from ADB Airport District to the rural residential district, a staff-initiated correction intended to allow low-density residential development on a 40-acre parcel.

Staff told the board the parcel had been caught in an earlier zoning update after the airport and Jinmar (the Cook family) completed a land swap. "We erroneously zoned it ADB when we should have zoned it because it's a private owner," the planning staff said, recommending rural residential zoning that would align the parcel with the adjacent East Gallatin district and Belgrade’s growth policy. The owner has submitted a pre-application to divide the site into four 10-acre lots.

The staff presentation noted airport-related restrictions will remain in place and that one prospective buyer, Scott Bell, is familiar with the airport because he works for the engineers the staff named in the record. Mark Merley attended representing the airport and was available for questions.

Elizabeth moved the recommendation to the city council; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. A board member disclosed that a relative lives adjacent to the property but said they have no financial interest; another member noted a familial proximity and placed that on the record. The recommendation now moves to the city council for consideration.

The board and staff said the rezoning corrects an unintended outcome of a property swap and is intended to reflect current ownership and likely low-density residential use rather than airport zoning.