Mont. Code Ann. § 76-1-601
(2001)

Growth policy -- contents

(1) The planning board shall prepare and propose a growth policy for the entire jurisdictional area. The plan may propose ordinances or resolutions for possible adoption by the appropriate governing body.

(2) A growth policy must include:

(a) community goals and objectives;

(b) maps and text describing an inventory of the existing characteristics and features of the jurisdictional area, including:

(i) land uses;

(ii) population;

(iii) housing needs;

(iv) economic conditions;

(v) local services;

(vi) public facilities;

(vii) natural resources; and

(viii) other characteristics and features proposed by the planning board and adopted by the governing bodies;

(c) projected trends for the life of the growth policy for each of the following elements:

(i) land use;

(ii) population;

(iii) housing needs;

(iv) economic conditions;

(v) local services;

(vi) natural resources; and

(vii) other elements proposed by the planning board and adopted by the governing bodies;

(d) a description of policies, regulations, and other measures to be implemented in order to achieve the goals and objectives established pursuant to subsection (2)(a);

(e) a strategy for development, maintenance, and replacement of public infrastructure, including drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, sewer systems, solid waste facilities, fire protection facilities, roads, and bridges;

(f) an implementation strategy that includes:

(i) a timetable for implementing the growth policy;

(ii) a list of conditions that will lead to a revision of the growth policy; and

(iii) a timetable for reviewing the growth policy at least once every 5 years and revising the policy if necessary;

(g) a statement of how the governing bodies will coordinate and cooperate with other jurisdictions that explains:

(i) if a governing body is a city or town, how the governing body will coordinate and cooperate with the county in which the city or town is located on matters related to the growth policy;

(ii) if a governing body is a county, how the governing body will coordinate and cooperate with cities and towns located within the county's boundaries on matters related to the growth policy;

(h) a statement explaining how the governing bodies will:

(i) define the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a); and

(ii) evaluate and make decisions regarding proposed subdivisions with respect to the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a); and

(i) a statement explaining how public hearings regarding proposed subdivisions will be conducted.

(3) A growth policy may:

(a) include one or more neighborhood plans. A neighborhood plan must be consistent with the growth policy.

(b) establish minimum criteria defining the jurisdictional area for a neighborhood plan;

(c) address the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a);

(d) evaluate the effect of subdivision on the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a);

(e) describe zoning regulations that will be implemented to address the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a); and

(f) identify geographic areas where the governing body intends to authorize an exemption from review of the criteria in 76-3-608(3)(a) for proposed subdivisions pursuant to 76-3-608.

(4) The planning board may propose and the governing bodies may adopt additional elements of a growth policy in order to fulfill the purpose of this chapter.

History:
Ap. p. Sec. 31, Ch. 246, L. 1957
Amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 247, L. 1963
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 156, L. 1973
Sec. 11-3831, R.C.M. 1947
Ap. p. Sec. 3, Ch. 246, L. 1957
Amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 247, L. 1963
Amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 349, L. 1973
Sec. 11-3803, R.C.M. 1947
R.C.M. 1947, 11-3803(part), 11-3831
Amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 582, L. 1999 (SB 97 - Stang, Spook (D) SD 36)