What is the Procedure for Adoption and Amendment of Growth Policies?
Adopting a Growth Policy: Public Process and Decision-Making in Montana Municipal Planning
The procedure for adopting a growth policy begins with the governing body requesting the planning board to prepare the document, 76-1-106, MCA. Typically, the planning board is assisted in this endeavor by city staff or a consultant to the city, 76‐1-306, MCA. The board, however, is responsible for holding the public hearing or hearings on proposed growth policy, 76‐1-602, MCA. After the public hearing, the planning board must make a recommendation to the governing body to adopt, revise, or reject the proposed policy, 76-1-603, MCA. After
receiving the planning board recommendation, the governing body then makes the final decision to adopt, revise, or reject the proposed growth policy, 76-1‐604(1), MCA. The governing body may also submit the question of whether or not to adopt the policy to electors within the growth policy’s jurisdictional area, 76-1-604(2), MCA. The qualified electors of the jurisdiction area may also petition for a growth policy be adopted, revised, or repealed, 76-1-604(4), MCA.