HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 02.03.2005DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTI~RS PRESENT:
MINUTES
LAUREL CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
FEBRUARY 3, 2005 7:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Gerald Shay, Chairman
Bud Johnson, City Rep.
Hazel Klein, City Rep.
Todd Linder, City Rep.
Greg Johnson, County Rep.
Dan Koch, City Rep.
Dan Ruff, County Rep.
Rick Flanagan, County Rep.
Clarence Foes, County Rep.
Cai Cumin, Planning Director
Cheryll Lurid, City Secretary
Minutes of the January 6, 2005 were approved as written.
CITY BREW KIOSK - TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
Jim Coons, representative for City Brew, spoke.
He passed out a site plan for the placement of the kiosk on the corner of SE 4th Street and Highway 212
South.
The kiosk will be new but will be placed in the same place as the existing Mountain Mudd kiosk with
cars entering both on the north and west sides. The pavement will remain.
Discussion by board.
There have not been any problems with the existing kiosk. Mine employees will still park on the
'furthest most east part of the Cone-Mart property.
Cal recommends approval subject to approval by the city Public Works Director.
Motion by Bud Johnson, second by Dan Ruff, to recommend approval of the application for
temporary use permit for City Brew, subject to approval by the city Public Works Director. Motion
carried 8-0.
MOUNTAIN MUDD KIOSKS - TEMPORARY USE PERMIT- E. MAIN STREET
Brenda Burkhartsmeier, representing Mountain Mudd, spoke regarding the first of the two temporary
use permits.
1
Mountain Mudd has had kiosks in Laurel for 6 years, first at the Town Pump and at the existing site of
Cono-Mart on First Avenue South.
The first application is for the site on E. Main Street to be located on Montana Rail Link property. The
drive thru lanes will be parallel with E. Main Street.
They have plans to pave the lot, but are requesting a delay of the pavement until the spring. She stated
that they would be willing to put offthe placement of the kiosk until the pavement is placed, if the board
so required. The pavement will be under the drive through and on the entry and exit lanes.
The lot has two existing ingress and egress that are not paved. The railroad will send their surveyor out
to mark off the placements of the ingress and egress.
Cai recommends approval of the temporary use permit for this site, subject to the requirements of the
city Public Works Director and the provision of a corrected map for our records.
Question on bathroom facilities, or lack thereof, for the employees. How is this handled?
Brenda explained that the Department of Health has requirements for employee bathrooms and they
meet those requirements.
Motion by Dan Koch, second by Bud Johnson, to recommend approval of the temporary use
permit for the E. Main Street site for Mountain Mudd, subject to the requirements of the city Public
Works Director. Motion carried 8-0.
MOUNTAIN MUDD KIOSK- TE1V[PORARY USE PERMIT- ttARDEES/IGA LOT
Brenda Burkhartsmeier spoke regarding the temporary use permit for the kiosk that would be located in
the IGA owned parking lot, on property leased by Hardees.
The kiosk will be located on property to the east of Hardees. The kiosk will be double sided and is on
existing pavement.
The map that was submitted for this site was not correct and the applicant will provide a correct site
plan. The plan was explained so that the board understood the kiosk placement.
Cal recommends approval subject to the requirements of the city Public Works Director.
Motion by Dan Ruff, second by Dan Koch, to recommend approval of the temporary use permit
for Mountain Mudd's at Jan's IGA/Hardees location, subject to the requirements of the city Public
Works Director and the submittal of a corrected site plan. Motion carried 8-0.
2
LAUREL GROWTI~ POLICY, ISSUES, POLICI3~S~ AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES,
A PLAN FOR COMMUNITY ACTION, 2005.
The board received a handout entitled Laurel Growth Policy, Issues, Policies, and Implementation
Strategies, A Plan for Community Action, 2005. The element Cal wanted to start with was the Socio-
Economic Element (see attached) with 3 major Issues: 1: Lack of focus in economic development; 2)
Lack of living-wage jobs; and, 3) The attractiveness of our community needs improvement.
Cai read through some of the strategies for issue #1. He suggested that the board members look at the
issues, policies and strategies and come back to the March meeting with some ideas of how to
implement them. He said there generally three methods: zoning, subdivision, and economic
development, and that we have come a long way toward making Laurel the place we all want it to be
with the creation of the Laurel Development Corporation and the work and tasks of its staff
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryll Lund, Secretary
3
CITY OF LAUREL
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
Group 2 'l'empora9_.' [_;.se. 'D~is group consisB oftempora.'y uses
pro*er~, con,:ming lot long~am~ forb~ight (48) but less ~an ~y (30) days
.. ..... .~ lempormy [,s~' '~{s group consists ol~tempcr~ uses cf
?roper~' continuing for longer than ~tirb~ (30) days but less ~tan one (I)ye~.
a. The following lcmpora~' uses may be allowed )~ fl~is ~oup:
(1) gree~louses or other similar seasoml-oNented uses, as
detemfined by the Plaming Board, shall be exmnpt Ikom below subscchon (b) Location
and T~me Rcs~icSons; or
Ihe appropriate zoning d[s~cts.
Location and Time Re~'mfions.
(l) Any Group 3 temporary ase/s~ucmre e~sting upon
adopncm of tlZs chapter, ~all be deemed a lega! nonconIbnn~g use. Ali e~ssng legal
C~oup 3 noncoprbmfing tempor~' uses/~mmres, as of the e~Xctivc date of this ct~pter
or m~y mnendm~tt hereto, ~ali be removed or become a pemlanellt use by ~mplymg
wkh the l ~nifb~ B~filding Code, sim development s~mtdm'ds, and any o~her r~deraL sta~_
~' local requJlcmen*s x~.'i~h~ nvo (2) ye~'s ~kom tt~e date of the ~macnnent of~s chapter
rely amendment heraIo.
[ fi~[~0.*lll Building Code. sh'e ~]cveiopmenr standards, m~d a~5' other I~derai, sla[e, or local
requirements.
(3) A~y Group 3 :empor~y us~.,s2x~cm~ which does not e~st
upon adoptio~ <fi tiffs claap[~r shall meel' 1he supplemental stan4ards in below subsection
(c) and shall also he removed wh¢ll tile l~vO (2} year amomza~on period in above
subsection: I ) expires.
Page
6. Standards:
a. 'f~o (2) signs not to exceed thirty-two (32) square l~er in area and eight' (8)
£eet in heiglrr shall he allowed, ex¢Iudirtg A-frame signs, and shall be removed along with
fl'~e tempora .fy use when the api~-oved ~ne limit or temporary us¢/sLmcturc pemxit has
expired.
b. The remponu.w- use must ~ovide suf'~cient space to accomn~odate
structure and 0Il:slx-eat parldng for customer and use-related vehicles. The parkiug area.
driving lanes, and egress/ingress eh.all b~ paved, and the sqte shall be approved by the
Engineer if' within the municipal limits o£ hur¢l or by 'the County Office of' Public Wnrks
if located outside o£ Laurel b[tr witI~.~ its one (1) mile zoning jurisdiction.
c. Clear sight vis/mi :[br sile ingress and egress shall be provided as approved
by the CiD Engineer if' within thc Laurel mm~cipal/knits or by the Coun~' Office of
Public Works//outs/de of Laurel but within im one (1) mile zoning jurisdiction,
d. Access lc, public dght-o:Bway shall be apprc>ved by the CiW Ertglneer if
wi!bin *,he municipal limlrs of Laurel or by thc County Office o£ Public ~'orks if outside
o£ l.aur¢', bu~ with. in iB one (1) mile zm~iug jurisdiction.
e. Applic~tion for ~ rempora~ ase~structure permit shall be made at the City
: ~, ,l~ W,~rk!- l)epa~x~en~ t'o fl~e Pla~mJzag ~-o~rd,~r4e.~st ~ (1) month ahead of the
z .amxmg Board s regularly scheduled me~th~ date accompanied bva one hundred 9'
,51~ ) apphcat~o ~ review fee.
7, Pennff required:
BeFore any Gro~tp 2 or G~'oup 3 Temporary Usc or Structure is established the
pzoperly ow¢:er ~t~tll obtain a temporary use/structure penn/t, as del/z~eated above, lin
additiom the i~roperly avmer shall post a fiRecm hundred dollar ($ t=500) money order or
eashi=~s check wi'th the City of Laurel to ensure timely removal of the use m~d/or struclare.
.~, COl.'..,,' .::f the site plan showing file above re£eret~ced requirements atust
accompany this application.
10.
:kpp~oval of proposed plan by City Englneer/Cour~ty Public Works Office:
_~1~' ,xppto~ al. ' b~_ ' '~e f laiuuna' _ Board~ applicant no,ds lo obt~dn a bvsiness ~ic~se ~
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CITY OF LAUREL
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
Nall~e of appJjcanT: Branda B~[k~a_r.~am~iar
Tel: 406.294.6833
2. .~am~ o['busiucs$: Mountain Mudd Espresso
.Address o£appNcaxrt: 212~ 3rd Avneua North, Billings, ~T 59101
5. '{'ype~orI~tnporary. us¢ 'Drive THrough esprasso unit
--._ Group 2 T~nporary Use. 'l'bJs group consists offemp0rary uses of
Wop~ confimfing f~ long~ fllan fol~-~I (48) but less lhan fl~y (30) days.
Exmltplcs ~fGr0up 2 Temp~-tu)~ U~s m'e c~v~ circuses. Ou'isnnas ~ee sales, etc.
~. (koup 3 Tempora~ Use. 'l~is ~oup ctmsisr~ of tem~ us~s of
prc~e~~ tonguing tbr Iong~ fl~an ~ O0) days ~t less than o~ (1) y~r.
a. The follow~g temporasT uses may be allow~ ~ tiffs ~oup:
(I) ~fla0tues or olher similar ~onal-ofi~ uses., as
det~,ined by th~ Plm~g Board, shall ~ e~pt t?om below suh~fion (b)
~d T/me Restricfio~u; or
(2) Other uses: such ~ c~oux expresso stands, as ~low~ in
fl~e a~ropfiate zoni~
b. Location and Time Res~cfiom.
( 1 ) AW ~oup 3 ~a~ u~s~mcmre existing u~n
adopfioal o~'~i~ ~a~r. ~Ml ~ d~ned a legal nonmnfi~ing u~. _~1 e~g log~
C~oup 3 nm~con~brmi,~ l~mpora~ us~'~mmres, as of the eff~tiw da~e offs cl~pt~
or any anendm~t her~o, shall ~ remov~ or become ~ l~nn~*em uso ~' complying
wilh The T.)nifi>m ~ilding Code, si~e devolopmenl standards, and any olher
or loe~ requ~emen*_s w~flain m'o (2) y~qrs B'Olll Tile dale of'~e ~acment offs chapter
any amen~lcn~ hereto
(S) The ow~ler/o~mtor may. at any hme d~lg
y~s :~q a Group 3 tempor~ o~, become a ~ml~t use ~ comply~g wilh
Un~bm~ Buildh~g Code, si~ development standards, ~d ~my o~ t~dera[ s~a~e, or local
r6quimments.
(3) Any ~oup 3 t~n~raD' usc,'skucm~ Milch does oot e~st
upua ~opfion t3?'th/s chaplin- shall m~l Ibc supplement[ sh~)da~s in below tab--lion
(¢) and shat1, also De r~ov~ xvbm d~e nvo (2) yem mno~zafion p~iod hi above
subsection ( 1 ) exp~es.
Pa§c 2 o~ 2
6. St~)dard s:
~t ia height shnll 1~ allowed, excln~g A-franCe signs, a~d s[~ll be r~lovad Moag
· e l~lpora~ usa ~%r~]e~ ~ approv~ ~c limit or tempon~ t/sc./s~cmre ~fit
e~ired.
b. '1 he t~n~n~ use must ~o~de su~ci~t sp~ce to accumulate
s~cazre and ~*flLs~'eet p~ng ~br custom~ aud use-related vehicles. ~e pat~h~
d~Svh~ l~e~ and a~'es~:h~gmss flml] b~ paw and a~c s~te shall be appmv~ by the CiW
E~eer ffwhhin the munlclp~ lhni~ of Iau~i or by ~e CounW O~ce of Public Wo~s
ifl~ed outside of I.a~ buz wi~m its ~e (1) mile z~ing jt~sdJction.
e. Clear si~r ~si~ ~br site h~ss ~td c~css ~ll be ~ovided a9 approved
by thc Ci~ Engineer if wi~m ~e L~et mmficlpal Unfits or by ~le ~un~ O~ce of
Public Wo~ks ~f mxtside of laurel ~ w~n im o~ (t) mite z~ing jufisdi~on.
d. Access to public ~ht~l;way droll be approved by ~ Cily ~gm~
wi~h ~e m~eipal limits of Laurel ~by th~ CounW Offi~ of h~blic Works
of Laurel but 'wi~fin iXs oue (1) mile z~fing j~sdicfion.
¢. ,'~ppliaafi~ for a t~tn~ use/s~clure p~anlt ~l be mM~ e~ ~ City
Public Wo~s Dapa~en~ to ~le Pla~ ~ard ~t ]eas~ one (I) mon~ ah~ud of~e
P1mmi~ Board ~s ~gulafly sdleduled m~e~g date accompanied by a on~ II~d~ dollm'
(5~00) ~ppIieati~ m~zw
7. Pamit required:
BetBre any Group 2 or Crrm~p 3 TemperaD' Use or Structure is established the
property o~[~er sl=dl obzain a teraporary use/stmclur¢ pemail, aa dolfl~ated above. In
addit~on~ l~e proper .fy owner shall post a fifteen hundred dollar ($1,500) money order or
cashiers check with the CIE-' of Laurel to ensure limely removal of ~h* use m~d/or smlemre.
copy of the sit~ plan showi~zg the abo~e referenced ~quh-ements must
a¢cumpany this application.
10.
Approv,'d o f proposext phm by Ci_ty F3~gineer.~Coun ty Pul)lie Works Office:
After approval by the ?[amfing Board, applic,'mt needs to obtmn a business license
B-om the Cit.,,..
CITY OI? LAUREL
TEMPORARY U'SE PERNHT
1, Nmne ofappl:~caot: BrencW O.ur,.~cam__siar -1-¢i:a0B.2Sa. BB33
2. -~anl~. ofbtlsi~leS$; Mountain Mudd Espresso
3. .A_ddress o£app[iea~t: 2120 3rd Avneue North, Billings, MT 59101
4. I~Opo~.~ address Bi ~ustnes.%~ npma~ us¢:l_s.~.Ave Blk 5 Lot 9 Hageman Sub 2nd
Type o~l~rnpt~ary_us¢ 'Drive T~rough espresso unit
__ Group 2 Tempos/Use. 'lq'tis group ~onsism oftea:aporary ~es of
prop~ con,ming for long~ titan fo~%q~ (48) bra less ~an ~finy (30) days.
Ex~liplcs of Group 2 Temporm~' U~s ~c c~vals, circuses, Cln'is~as ~ee s~es, etc.
(h-oup 3 Temporary U.q¢. 'l'his grouio ctmsisr.~ ot't'emporary uses of
pinCer' con~u~tlg for Iong~ ~m ~ (30) day* ~1 less Ihan o~ (1) y~r.
a. ~le followhg [~npo~ uses may be allowed ~ ~fis ~oup:
(1) gr~ld~ouses or oOler s~ilar ~onal-~ml~ urns, as
de~,ined by fl~ Phu~g [~ard, shall ~ e~mpt kom below sub~hon (b)
~ld Time Restricli<~B; or
(2) Orl~er uses: 8ach ~ c~,onl expresso stands, ms allowed
fire a~ropriate zonfi~
b. Location a:ffi Time
( 1 ) A~, ~oup 3 ~a~ us,~s~mcmre eximlng upon
adoption o~'~is ehap~, s~l ~ decaned a l~al noneon~b~ing u~..~1 e~g legM
C~onp 3 nonco~mi~ 5~ra~ u~*/~mmres, as office eff~fi~ dale of~ cl~pt~
or any t~endm~t her~o. ~MI be rum~ov~ or b~me a ~m~ n~ ~' complyi~
with lhe Uniform ~ikling C~e, si~e de~elo~en; standards, and any olher [¢d~l,
~x loom requkemen~:s within ~'o (2) y~a~ ~m fl~e da~e ot'~e c~cnnmt offs chaplet or
any ame~dul¢~g hcrc;o.
(2) Tile owoer/opemm~ m~5; at any 6m¢ dung the ~o (2)
kh~b~ Buildil~ Code, sim developm~r sI~da~s, ~d ~uly o111~ t~d~al, sm~e, or IocM
requirements.
(3) Any (koup 3 ;elnporaq' u~,'s~ucmm w~ch does not
up~m ;~option of'this chapl~- shall me~t lhe supplemen!al sh~da~s in below
(c) ~md shat[ also I~ removed wh~ flae n¢o (2) ym~ tm~o~zafion p~iod hi a~ove
sub~efion (1) expn'cs.
~age ~ ol~ 2
6. Stanci~rd ~:
a. Two (2) signs nor ~o exce~ thir .ey-two 02) square/~et ~ ~ m~d eight (8)
t~ in height shall be allowed, exck~g A-frame signs, and slmll be removed flow
· e ~nporary u~e xvhe~ ~e approved ~e limit or temponu~ usc::s~cmre ~mt Ms
expired.
b. 'lhe l~ra~ u~ must provide mffici~l space m a~mmi~ate
s~c~re and ol~Lsh~et p~ng for cusmm~ m~d use-related vehicle!. The parkh~g area,
drivi~ l~es~ and agms~qng~ss shall b~ pa~, ~d flit slt~ sMlt b~ appaw~ by ~e Ci~
Eng~er {f'wit~iu the municipal limit~ of I~u~I or by ~ CounW Offi~ of Public
iI'locxr~ our~ide of L~wel ba~ wi~h~ its one (1) mile z~ing judsdic~om
c. Clear si~l ~si~ t~' si~e ~ss ~d ~e~f ~al[ be ~ovided as approved
by thc Ci~ Engineer if wig~m ~e L~'el mmgcipal lNnits or by fl~c ~un~ Office of
Public Works if outside ol'I murel Mn wi~in i~ o~ (1) mit~ zeniag ju~icfi~.
d. .,kc~ess to public right-el:way ~mll he approved by ~e Cily ~c~ if
w~ lha m~Heipml limits of Laurel or by the Coun~ ~ of ~blic W~ks ~eul~de
of Laurel b~l*'within i~s oae (1) mile z~iug
,'~pplieafi~ for a ~inp~m~ use/slraclura p~ult t~all ~ made at ~
Public Wo~s Depa~n6n~ ~o l~e Plaming ~d at leas~ an~ (1) mon~ ahem of~e
Plamlin~ Board's ~ml~ly s~duled m~emlg date ac~mp~i~ by a one hundred
(5100) applicati~ za~ew f~.
7. Peamil required:
Belbre any Group 2 or ("ffottp 3 Temporary Use or .qtmcture is established
property ox~er sl~ll obtain a temporary use/stmc~ml'e pe~mit as delfl~ted above.
addimm; Ihe proper _fy owa~r shall lx~st a fiR~'n hundred dollar ($1,500) money order or
cashi~s d~c-' k wilh ~he C~, of Laurel ~o eh*ute timely removal of lh~ use m~d~or sm~emre.
copy of the site plan showing lhe above referenced ~qairerncnt~ must
acco~npany lhls appl cation
9. Approv~fl el'proposed plan by City Engin~rtCounty Public Work~ Office:
fi'om the City.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ELEMENT
Issue-l: Lack of focus in economic development.
Policy-l: Supportthe activities of the Laurel Revitalization League (LRL) and the Laurel
Development Corporation (LDC) that support sound economic development and
Downtown redevelopment efforts.
Strategies:
1. To recognize and promote the Downtown as the primary center for business, finance,
institutional, retail activity, and public services in Laurel.
2. Develop gateway treatments to mark the entries to the Downtown area.
3. Encourage any new entertainment and cultural facilities to locate in the Downtown.
4. Provide community information and permitting assistance to businesses look/ng to
relocate to the Laurel area and existing local businesses wishing to expand.
5. Make information available to potential Downtown businesses on the economic viability
of the area.
6. Encourage diversification of Iocai business to provide diversity of shopping experiences
in Downtown Laurel by encouraging specialty shops that feature unique products or
services to locate Downtown.
7. Develop specific strategies to attract targeted businesses to the Downtown.
8. Support business linkages that locate close to support services.
9. Facilitate the development of vacant infill parcels that comply with the Growth
Management Plan through incentives to development such as expedited review period
and reduced review fees.
10. Support the creation of more retail and multi-use space in the Downtown.
11. Identify desired projects and design guidelines for vacant sites in the Downtown.
12. Determine and support incentives to develop in Downtown: historic preservation tax
credits, low-income housing tax credits, and below market rate financing from MBH to
renovate older commercial buildings into affordable housing units. Make it easy for
builders to work Downtown. (Some of the most popular ckies in the country, like San
Francisco and Annapolis, could not be built under existing building codes and zoning:
The streets are too narrow; the building set-backs too varied; and residential, commercial,
and retail uses are mixed together.)
13. Utilize the City-County Planning Department to support economic development activities
of the LRL and LDC.
14. Support retaining a good economic development coordinator to assist in obtaining grants,
representing Laurel in competitive economic activities, providing local economic
information to interested businesses, and assisting local businesses with economic
planning
15. Encourage the creation ora Business Improvement District (BED) for the Downtown area
run by local business people who decide how much to assess businesses in the district
and what the monies raised shall be used for.
16. Determine the assets that make Lanrel's Downtown distinctive and plan policies around
such assets.
17. Encourage pedestrian access and circulation in the Downtown area; consider providing
tax concessions to landowners who provide public walkways and public parking areas..
18. Develop incentives or other methods to encourage multi-use developments, including
office, retail and residential components.
19. Adopt a clear marketing strategy for the Downtown as a whole.
20. Join the National Main Street Program.
21. Initiate action to seek State and Federal funding for Downtown programs.
22. Revise the zoning code to include a special designation for Downtown commercial that
expressly allows and encourages mixed use projects and follows traditional Downtown
design principals.
23. Clearly delineate the boundaries of the Downtown.
24. Create a unified public signage program for the Downtown, including street signs,
directional signs, and public facility signs.
25. Provide improved signage to the Downtown on and from the Interstate.
26. Adopt the Streetscape Plan.
27. Plan for those likely to be interested in residing Downtown: Young people, empty
nesters, people on low and high ends of income scale, and relative newcomers.
28. Emphasize the attractions of Downtown: increased security, convenient parking,
comparable housing prices, availability of preferred housing types, nearby grocery stores,
variety of shopping, and central activity area.
29. Create a "lifestyle center".
30. Eliminate parking requirements for new construction.
3 I. Preserve existing, soundly-constructed buildings.
32. Support the new park plaza as a central focus for the Downtown.
33. Provide for benches Downtown. Randomly placed chairs without set pattern are best.
34. Design for the movement of people, not cars.
35. Make Laurel technologically convenient.
36. Inventory upper stories in Downtown.
37. Create alternatives to cars.
38. Work with supporting existing businesses before recruiting new ones.
39. Allow restaurants to operate outdoor cafes on sidewalks, including areas within the
public right of way and in courtyards provided pedestrian circulation and access to store
entrances is not impaired.
Include kids in the planning.
40.
Issue-2: Lack of living-wage jobs.
Policy-l: Attract businesses with a minimum average annual wage (Billings is currently at
$26,725.00; Yellowstone County is $25,552.00).
Strategies:
i. Support the goals identified by Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA) to
attract new businesses and retain existing businesses by providing businesses with
economic development resources including Community Development Block Grant
funding and other fund development assistance.
2. Participate in collaborative partnerships with various economic development efforts
throughout Yellowstone County and the five-county RC&D area.
3. Improve marketing of our community to employers paying a living wage.
Issue-3: The attractiveness of our community needs improvement.
Policy-l: Create attractive entryway and Downtown areas and improve access into the
Laurel Downtown area.
Strategies:
1. Establish entryway zoning along routes leading into the City.
2. Support the commitment of City and County resources, where appropriate, to maintain
attractive and welcoming infrastructure at all entryways to Laurel.
3. Study rail road crossing options that would improve access to and from Downtown.
4. Implement and enforce Public Nuisance Ordinance.
5. Install directional signs to important regional destinations and welcome signs at the
interstate off-ramps and entrances to Laurel and to Laurel's Downtown.
6. Support renovation of the Municipal Sign Ordinance to promote uniformity in signage
regulation.
7. Adopt and support the Main Street and South First Avenue Streetscape Plans.
8. Encourage the planting and care of street trees and other landscaping.
9. Support a "Welcome to Laurel" sign near the central Interstate off-ramp.
10. Work w/th the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to landscape the central
open areas inside the interstate off-ramps.
11. Work with MDT toward signage to show available services and businesses in Laurel.
12. Provide for (and advertise) Recreational Vehicle (RV) parking on Main Street to
encourage Downtown visitation.
13. Work with Montana Rail Link (MRL) in the possible development o£a rail road museum
and in developing the MRL properties on the south side of Main Street in a manner
consistent with the Main Street Streetscape.
14. Remove old elevator to the southwest comer of Main and 1st South and bring site into
conformance with the Main Street Streetscape and expansion of the rail road underpass.
15. Encourage the regular maintenance of trees, flower displays, and garbage receptacles in
the Downtown area.
16. Any parking management system shall encourage adequate space for vehicles ora
recreational or over-sized nature, including recreational vehicles, buses, bicycles, and
motorcycles.
17. Encourage long-term parking and employee parking to locate in the Downtown fringe,
while concentrating short-term customer parking in the Downtown core.
18. Encourage strict enforcement of all parking bylaws, ensuring that all short-term parking
stalls are utilized efficiently and effectively.
19. Prepare ordinance amendments to aggressively address commercial aesthetics and
maintenance issues including vacant, substandard commercial structures and occupied,
dilapidated commercial structures.
20. Recognize the benefits of allowing a diversity of uses in the Dowmown area. Mixing
residential uses with office, recreational and business uses, for example, reduces the time
and distance spent traveling, and can foster a stronger community spirit. Increasing the
number of people who live, work, and recreate in the Downtown is one of the ways to
help the Downtown to revitalize itsel£
?olicy-2: Make South First Avenue more attractive to users, pedestrians, and visitors and
recognize that in addition to moving vehicular traffic, streets have symbolic,
ceremonial, political, and social roles.
Strategies:
1. Update the Municipal Sign Code. Prepare uniform sign standards that provide a level
playing field for business owners. If the height standard, for example, is 100 feet, all signs
will be 100 feet. If it is 10 feet, the competition by businesses ail compete at the 10~foot
level.
2. Adopt the South First Avenue Streetscape Plan.
3. Develop "Road Ordinances" that subject fast-food outlets and similar businesses to special
architectural and landscape standards such as:
a. New commercial buildings must reflect a distinctive architectural style or theme.
b. Fast food outlets must be built up to the front sidewalk with parking and access on
the side or in the rear. This enhances the sense of place for pedestrians.
c. Try to avoid becoming "Anyplace, USA".
d. The golden arches of MacDonald's or the standard Exxon sign are not "givens" in
new facilities. Laurel does not have to accept %ookie cutter designs". Fast food companies
evaluate new locations on the basis of economic potential--not local design standards.
e. Road ordinance standards must be visual, clear, up-front, require pre-application
meetings with City officials, and be readily available.
£ Ugly streets yield ugly attitudes.