Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE

CHAPTER 3. LOCAL REGULATION OF SUBDIVISIONS

Part 6. Local Review Procedure

Phased Development -- Application Requirements -- Hearing Required

76-3-617. Phased development -- application requirements -- hearing required. (1) A subdivider applying for phased development review shall submit with the phased development application an overall phased development preliminary plat on which independent platted development phases must be presented. The phased development application must contain the information required pursuant to parts 5 and 6 of this chapter for all phases of a development and a schedule for when the subdivider plans to submit for review each phase of the development. The subdivider may change the schedule for review of each phase of the development upon approval of the governing body after a public hearing as provided in subsection (4) if the change does not negate conditions of approval or otherwise adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the phased development application must be reviewed in conformity with parts 5 and 6 of this chapter. In addition, each phase of the phased development must be reviewed as provided in subsection (4).

(3) The governing body may approve phased developments that extend beyond the time limits set forth in 76-3-610 but all phases of the phased development must be submitted for review and approved, conditionally approved, or denied within 20 years of the date the overall phased development preliminary plat is approved by the governing body.

(4) For any phase of the approved subdivision submitted for final plat approval more than 5 years after the date of preliminary approval of the subdivision, the subdivider shall provide written notice to the governing body not more than 1 year or less than 90 calendar days in advance of submitting the final plat application. The governing body shall hold a public hearing pursuant to 76-3-605(3) within 30 working days after receipt of the written notice from the subdivider to determine whether changed circumstances justify amending any conditions of approval or imposing additional conditions of approval. The governing body may amend or impose additional conditions of approval only if it determines, based on a review of the primary criteria, that the existing conditions of approval are inadequate to mitigate the potentially significant adverse impacts identified during the original review based on changed circumstances. Notwithstanding the provisions of 76-3-610(2), the governing body shall issue supplemental written findings of fact within 20 working days of the hearing. Any additional conditions must be met before final plat approval for each remaining phase and the approval in accordance with 76-3-611 is in force for not more than 3 calendar years or less than 1 calendar year within the maximum timeframe provided in subsection (3).

(5) The governing body may impose a reasonable periodic fee for the review under subsection (4) of the phases in the phased development.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 363, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 171, L. 2023.