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Belgrade planning board recommends mixed‑residential zoning for McMillan property
Summary
The planning board voted to recommend that the McMillan parcel be zoned Mixed Residential upon annexation, after staff said the change would match the city's future land‑use map and allow connection to city water and sewer; neighbors raised concerns about access, truck traffic and buffering.
The Belgrade City County Planning Board voted to recommend that the McMillan property be zoned Mixed Residential (MR) upon annexation into the city.
Senior planner Brad Stein told the board the property — currently unzoned and located between South Alaska and Jack Rabbit Lane north of McMillan — would be consistent with the city’s newly adopted future land use map. "Staff recommends approval," Stein said, noting the MR designation would allow a mix of single‑family homes, duplexes and townhomes that mirror nearby development.
The recommendation follows a presentation from Tom Gransberry, the owner's representative, who said the applicant seeks MR zoning in part so the site can connect to city water and sewer. "So we wanna connect to city water and sewer," Gransberry said, adding the design would "blend well in with the community." Board members clarified that this hearing covered only the zoning change, not a subdivision plan; any subdivision would trigger additional notices and separate review.
Neighbors at the public comment period welcomed new housing in general but asked for protections. Kevin McNelis, who lives on Bluegrass Drive adjacent to the proposed site, said residents are worried about heavy construction traffic, the effect on a private road they maintain, and the scale of adjacent buildings. "We would like to have a little bit of control over what's coming on to our road and how big the buildings are next to the property line," McNelis said.
Staff said required notifications for future subdivision applications would go to property owners within 300 feet, and planners noted that under the Montana Land Use Planning Act Belgrade has updated procedures that could allow administrative approval of subdivisions that meet all requirements, with appeals available if staff and applicants disagree. One board member summarized the hearing by emphasizing that zoning establishes regulatory "guardrails" and that subdivision review remains a later, separate step.
The board approved the motion to recommend MR zoning to the city council by voice vote. Under the timeline described in the hearing, zoning would become enforceable only after annexation and any required annexation agreement with the city council.
