HomeMy WebLinkAboutMT Department of Commerce (2)May 11, 2006
Department of Commerce
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
301S Park Ave. * PO Box 200501 *Helena, Mon~anaS9620~0501
Phone 406-841-2700 * Fax; 406-841-2701 * TDD:406-641-2702 *
To My Fellow Montanans:
The enclosed publication, Montana's Growth Polic~/Resource Book, is intended
to assist local officials and staff and citizens involved with county and municipal
planning in Montana. The publication describes the requirements of Montana's
Growth Policy Act (76-1-601, et seq, MCA), passed by the 1999 Legislature, and
lists various resources available to local governments to help them prepare
growth policies that comply with the law, if they choose to. Adopting a growth
policy is optional under state law.
The 1999 law renovated an old tool for community development and land use
planning -- the comprehensive plan or master plan. Montana's cities and towns
have been authorized to adopt master plans or comprehensive plans since 1957
and counties since 1971. The 1999 law (76-1-601 through 76-1-606, MCA)
changed the terms "master plan" and "comprehensive plan" to "growth policy."
With the passage of Senate Bill 97, the terms are now synonymous under
Montana law. The Act also established minimum requirements for the content of
local growth policies. The 2003 Legislature set a deadline of October 1, 2006 by
which time local growth policies must include the required minimum elements
listed in 76-1-601(3), MCA.
The 2000 Montana's Growth Policy Resource Book was updated by a team
consisting of Department of Commerce staff including Dave Cole, Administrator
of the Community Development Division; Gus Byrom, Program Manager of the
Community Development Block Grant Program for Housing & Public Facilities;
Jim Edgcomb, Program Manager for the Treasure State Endowment Program;
and Marly Tuttle, Chief Legal Counsel. Doris Fischer, Madison County Planning
Director, also provided helpful suggestions to improve the publication.
If you would like to order additional copies of Montana's Growth Policy Resource
Book contact the Community Development Division; Montana Department of
Commerce; PO Box 200523; 301 South Park Avenue; Helena, MT 59620-0523;
Phone: (406) 841-2770; FAX: (406) 841-2771; e-mail: i¢lilbert~.mt.¢lov: and
website: http:llcomdev.mt.govl.
Sincerely,
Anthony J. Preite, Director
Montana Department of Commerce