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Gallatin council sends moratorium proposal on apartments to planning commission after residents complain about blasting and growth
Summary
After multiple residents described months of blasting and damage near new developments, Gallatin City Council unanimously amended and passed a resolution directing the planning commission to study a temporary moratorium on new apartment approvals and return a recommendation for the Sept. 8 work session.
The Gallatin City Council on July 7 unanimously passed a resolution directing the municipal planning commission to study a temporary moratorium on new apartment approvals and return a recommendation in time for the Sept. 8 work session.
Residents who spoke during the agenda‑related public comment period urged immediate action. "It's so loud out here all the time. I've got damage to my walls and my ceiling," said Vicky Hendricks, describing a blast at Lot 4 that she said shook her home and frightened an elderly relative. Another resident read a list of more than 3,200 rental units he said were already approved or in the pipeline, arguing the market is saturated and that a pause is warranted.
Council debate focused on scope and duration. City attorney Miss Highamccauley cautioned that courts typically evaluate whether a moratorium's duration is reasonable; she recommended one year as a presumption of reasonableness and suggested the council provide a clear factual basis if it sought two years. Council members also disagreed about whether the resolution should use the term "multifamily" (which can capture townhomes) or be limited to "apartments." The council amended the resolution to use "apartments" and asked the planning commission to return its recommendation so the council could consider it at the Sept. 8 work session.
Vice Mayor Hayes and others emphasized the practical consequences of definitions: townhomes can be treated differently in zoning and tax practice, and an overly broad moratorium could pull in a wider range of housing types. City staff explained that the current zoning ordinance includes loose definitions and that the planning commission could provide a workable definition for the moratorium.
The adopted measure (resolution R2606‑55, as amended) directs the planning commission to study the proposed pause, recommend specific language and a duration, and return its recommendation by the requested date. The resolution passed as amended unanimously. The planning commission's recommendation will determine whether the council adopts a moratorium ordinance and, if so, its precise terms.
