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Sheridan zoning commission reviews floodplain maps, building-height limits and enforcement concerns
Summary
At its Dec. 2, 2024 meeting the Sheridan Zoning Commission reviewed options to add a floodplain overlay to town maps, debated a possible building-height limit near the hospital for medevac safety, discussed water and sewer options for large undeveloped parcels, and forwarded ordinance-revision and enforcement questions to the Town Council.
The Sheridan Zoning Commission met Dec. 2, 2024, to continue work on town land-use mapping and zoning, recommending the floodplain map tied to a November Town Council ordinance be included in future zoning maps and raising enforcement questions if a new zoning ordinance is adopted.
Commissioners unanimously approved minutes from the Oct. 21, 2024 meeting. Members then focused on the scope of the zoning project, reviewing an existing land-use map of Sheridan and surrounding areas and weighing how to balance future growth with preservation of currently undeveloped parcels.
Commission members recommended that the floodplain map associated with a floodplain ordinance passed by the Town Council in November be incorporated into forthcoming land-use maps to ensure any zoning overlays reflect updated floodplain designations. Members also asked whether the commission should consider a building-height limit within a specified distance of the hospital to accommodate medical flight landings and takeoffs; the minutes record the question, "Is a building height limit within a certain distance of the hospital to accommodate safe medical flight landing and takeoff needed?"
The commission discussed whether to zone large (roughly 50+ acre) undeveloped parcels inside town limits as agricultural to preserve the town's open character. Several members cited resident preferences for keeping those parcels in agricultural use, but the minutes note that responses depend on parcel size and legal categories available for zoning.
Members expressed skepticism about a recently reported "Old Town Sheridan" development proposal, in part because of the landowner's reported unwillingness to sell; the commission nonetheless viewed the proposal as an incentive to finalize zoning that would affect current residents and potential future growth. The minutes record a recommendation to initiate conversations with large property owners.
For a starting point on ordinance text, the minutes say a draft "Sheridan Montana Municipal Zoning Ordinance" prepared by a citizen advisory group in October 2023 was offered; Tom Roberts agreed to send a digital copy to Chair Charlie Rossiter for distribution to commission members.
Infrastructure options for large undeveloped parcels on the north side of town were discussed, including the possibility of extending water lines from the ballpark to parcels west of the highway and drilling a new well in the northeast corner of parcels east of the highway.
On existing ordinances, Jan Bowey asked the commission to prepare specific recommendations for revision rather than a blanket request for council review and raised concerns about enforceability: "If a zoning ordinance is approved, how can it be effective without an ability to enforce?" The minutes state both the ordinance-revision recommendations and the enforcement concern will be forwarded to the Town Council for discussion.
The meeting was adjourned. The minutes list the next meeting on Jan. 6 (the transcript contains inconsistent year references; the commission set the time as 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center). Tom Roberts and another member requested Zoom access because they will be out of town.
The minutes are attested by Jan Bowey (Recorder) and Charles Rossiter (Chair).
