Montana Code Annotated 2003

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     76-1-601. Growth policy -- contents. (1) A growth policy may cover all or part of the jurisdictional area.
     (2) A growth policy must include the elements listed in subsection (3) by October 1, 2006. The extent to which a growth policy addresses the elements of a growth policy that are listed in subsection (3) is at the full discretion of the governing body.
     (3) 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 (3)(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.
     (4) 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.
     (5) 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; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 599, L. 2003.

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