HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 02.18.2026 MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
CITY/COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18,2026
A City/County Planning board meeting was held in Council Chambers and called to order by
County chair Richard Klose at 6:00 pm on February 18, 2026.
Board Members Present:
X Tom Canape _X_Richard Herr _X_ Paul Thomae
X Ron Benner X Richard Klose X Mike Waters
X Judy Goldsby X Jonathan Klasna
Others Present:
Amber Hatton —Deputy Clerk Treasurer
Forrest Sanderson —Contract Planner
Brittney Harakal —Administrative Assistant
Public Input: citizens may address the committee regarding any item of business that is not on the agenda. The
duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are
welcome, the committee will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
Disclosure of Ex Parte Communication - None
Public Hearing- None
General Items
1. Minutes from January 21, 2026—
Motion made by Judy Goldsby to approve January 21, 2026, minutes, seconded by
Richard Herr. There was no public comment. Motion passed 8-0.
2. Appointment of Mike Waters to the laurel-Yellowstone City-County Planning Board
Mike Waters introduced himself. Commissioner Mike Waters, District 3 County
Commissioner with Yellowstone County for over 1 year. He is happy to be here, and
his goal is to have the commission more directly involved in Laurel Planning and the
City activities. He is also interested in the City's annexation process.
New Business
3. Laurel Industrial Park Subdivision 2"d Filing
Forrest Sanderson, Contracted Planner, reviewed the attached staff report.
The Board questioned under the proposed conditions of approval number 6, when the
professional engineer designs a sidewalk section and the lot divisions are developed,
when will the sidewalk be installed. Does that mean there will be no sidewalk until
somebody develops it or is it only in front of that lot that the sidewalk will be done? Is
it the entire section of the sidewalk, or is it just for that lot?
Forrest explained, the SIA addresses it where we're dealing with potential industrial
development,the heavy truck traffic going across the sidewalks would destroy it. They
were not requiring it to be installed upfront. They were requiring it to be installed
after the lot was developed. The engineer would design entire section from
Washington to the end of the subdivision. When LOT two was developed,they would
build that section of sidewalk. So, in theory, you would see the construction go in four
separate sections, all to the master engineering design.
The board is concerned based on past developments, if the sidewalk is not developed
up front, they may be unfinished, and that section is developed without a sidewalk.
The board also asked about the ditch along East Railroad Street, whether it was an
irrigation ditch or a drain ditch and will it be buried? According to Forrest, it's a
stormwater transfer ditch. It could be left open or it could be piped, that would be at
the owner or developer's discretion.
Ron Benner made a motion to approve and pass on to the City Council, with the
amendment in proposed condition number 6, to state that with the development on
any lot within the subdivision, the whole sidewalk would be completed with the
development of the first lot. The second motion, by Judy Goldsby. There was no public
comment. Motion passes 8-0.
Old Business
4. Laurel-Yellowstone City-County Planning board Bylaws
Ron Benner worked on updating the bylaws and presented the bylaws with a redline
copy for the board to review. There were a few board members that did not have a
chance to review the updated version of the bylaws. There is also a concern on the
map in "exhibit A" as being the current map with the jurisdictional boundaries.
Judy Goldsby made a motion to table this until board members have an opportunity to
review updated bylaws and current map. Motion was seconded by Richard Herr. There
was no public comment. Motion passes 8-0.
Other Items- none
Announcements
5. Next Meeting: March 18, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Adjournment:
Motion by Jonathan Klasna to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ron Benner. There was no
public comment. Motion passed 8-0.
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time,the meeting was
adjourned at 6:45 PM.
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Amber Hatton
Deputy Clerk Treasurer