Growth Policy Amendments

Revised June 8, 2009

Proposed Amendments to the Granite County Growth Policy

Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association
June, 2009

Amendment 1: Following the paragraph that ends at the top of page 34, add the following two paragraphs:

Because of its scenic beauty, rural character, and ready access to outdoor recreational opportunities, Georgetown Lake has been one of the fastest growing areas of Granite County over the past decade. While there are some land development regulations in place on the Deer Lodge County side of the lake that address residential and septic system density, environmentally sensitive areas, lakefront development, non-residential development, and other similar issues, no such regulations exist in Granite County.

In August of 2008, the Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association organized a community meeting at the Georgetown Lake fire hall to discuss growth management issues and to gauge support for a special zoning district. In conjunction with that meeting, a preference survey was conducted both through the mail and on line. The meeting was attended by approximately 50 people, and a straw poll at the end of the meeting indicated that a substantial majority favored a more thorough investigation of a zoning district of some kind. Of the 72 persons who responded to the survey, over 56% said that they would be willing to sign a petition requesting that a special zoning district be established. Only 8.5% responded that they would be unwilling to sign such a petition. This Growth Policy recommends that Granite County continue to work with the Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association and the residents of the Georgetown Lake area to adopt and administer land development regulations that address the specific growth management and environmental issues raised by area residents and property owners.

Amendment 2: From the first full paragraph on page 34, delete the first two sentences. Add the following paragraph just before the Issues and Concerns section on page 34:

Fire suppression services are provided by the Georgetown Lake Fire Service Area. This fire protection authority maintains a main fire station and training facility located on Fire Lane off of Southern Cross Road. Two additional stations are located on Piney Point and near the Anaconda DNRC field station. The board of directors of the Fire Service Area have prepared and adopted the Georgetown Lake Fire Service Area Fire Protection Standards, dated January 30, 2007. These standards are hereby adopted by reference as a part of this Growth Policy.

Amendment 3: To paragraph number 6 under Issues and Concerns on page 34, add the following language:
In addition to meeting with and surveying area residents as pointed out above, the Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association has prepared a zoning feasibility and land development issue analysis. This document titled Feasibility and Community Support for a Special Zoning District: Georgetown Lake Area, explores the mechanisms to establish a special zoning district, and how regulations could address the growth and development issues specifically identified by property owners and residents of the area.

Amendment 4: The two Growth and Land Use goal statements on page 37 are admirable, but there is no way to carry them out without a regulatory system of some kind. Under the second policy statement for Goal 2, in the second bullet point at the top of page 38, add “wildlife habitat” to the list natural resources to be protected. Then, add a third bullet point as follows:

Assist and support the residents of Georgetown Lake in drafting lakeshore protection standards in accordance with Part 2: Lakeshores, Chapter 7, Title 75, MCA.

Revise the statement within borders near the top of page 38 as follows:

As an umbrella policy in Granite County: Where landowners desire to form a planning and zoning district, the County will ensure an open and inclusionary process of effective citizen involvement in drafting regulations that meet the needs and desires of the affected landowners within the district. Granite County will assist with the formation of Part 1 zoning districts, and where there is a comprehensive community involvement process in which regulations are promulgated by the residents and property owners of the district, the County will also assist in the formation of Part 2 districts.

Amendment 5: Delete Appendix B as this appendix only repeats what is already in Part 1. County Planning and Zoning Commission, of Chapter 2, Title 76, Montana Code Annotated. As an alternative, keep Appendix B but add language to the effect that this is the process through which to establish a Part 1 zoning district, and that nothing in the Growth Policy shall be construed as prohibiting or preventing Granite County from enacting Part 2 zoning provided that an extensive citizen involvement program is undertaken, and that the regulations drafted and proposed reflect the desires of the affected property owners in the proposed district.