LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY Adopted June 24, 2009 Savage Lake, Troy, MT. Striving for a friendly, viable community for everyone, with a dynamic economy based on the utilization & conservation of natural resources, encouragement of new business opportunities, retention and expansion of existing businesses, availability of a skilled labor/work force, and supportive educational facilities. LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 1 INTRODUCTION What is a Growth Policy? A Growth Policy is: A community vision for how it sees its future A community vision for how and where it wants to grow An official statement of public policy to guide growth and change A dynamic document that changes with the community A Growth Policy is not: A set of regulations Stagnant – Never changing Leigh Lake Falls; Libby, MT Lincoln County’s Growth Policy contains: 6 elements … Population and Economy Housing Land Use Natural Resources Public Facilities Local and Social Services It also includes: present County conditions and projected trends; short and long term goals, policies and implementation strategies – all part of an “Action Plan” designed to achieve a desirable future for Lincoln County. The term “growth policy” was introduced into Montana law in the late 1990s and essentially means Comprehensive or Master plan (i.e. - in state law, the terms, “growth policy”, “master plan” and “comprehensive plan” are interchangeable). A growth policy is a broad body of public policy, focusing primarily on growth and development issues. While it is not a regulatory document in and of itself, once adopted, it is central for use in follow-up regulations or programs to implement the growth policy. For LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 2 example, a growth policy does not regulate property, nor does it enact any regulation. However, land may be regulated based upon recommendations contained in a growth policy. The growth policy is explained in the Montana Code, annotated in Title 76, Chapter 1; Part 6. The Growth Policy is an official County public document that, upon adoption, becomes a guide for future County growth. The primary purpose of developing the Growth Policy is to help the public and elected officials identify goals and objectives, set priorities, and seek solutions to long term issues. The growth policy provides the Board of County Commissioners and the public with guidance when making land use decisions for the County. The growth policy can be implemented through different methods, including the administration of subdivision regulations. When considering growth and development issues; the growth policy should be consulted. Any new development should be consistent with the document’s goals and objectives. The growth policy is intended to be the guide to physical development in the County. The Lincoln County Growth Policy addresses six individual elements and proposes an implementation strategy and action plan. Each element chapter begins with an executive summary which outlines conditions and trends. The executive summary is then followed by supporting data and narratives which describe in more detail the specific topic area for Lincoln County. There is overlap between the goals and objectives found in the first six chapters because all of the subjects are inter-related. Change is inevitable. Lincoln County is growing and will continue to develop. This Growth Policy provides a sense of direction, a broad overview of where the County is (existing conditions) and where it is going (future desires). This Growth Policy is intended to help guide and manage change while protecting the resources and values that give us a quality of life and make our home a very special place. LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special “Thank You” goes out to all of those individuals who helped in the process of gathering information, data and ideas for researching and producing the Lincoln County Growth Policy. Planning Board Members: Joe Kelly; President - Libby Representative Ted Andersen; Troy Representative Ted Clarke; Eureka Representative Mark Romey; Conservation District - Libby Representative Paul Tisher; Libby Representative Dave Johnson; Troy Representative Charlie Newton; Eureka Representative Stew Briskin; Troy Representative Past Planning Board Members: Chris Fox Rick James Tom Jones Wendy MacNeil Carl Leggins County Commissioners: Rita Windom; District 1 John Konzen; District 2 Marianne Roose; District 3 Bill Bischoff; Executive Assistant Planning Staff: Lisa Oedewaldt; County Planner Debbie Blystone; GIS Technician Ken Peterson; Consultant Other: Jerry Grebenc; Montana Department of Commerce Doris Fisher; Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Greg Larson; Consultant LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS GROWTH POLICY COVER & VISION STATEMENT ........ 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................ 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................. 6 POPULATION & ECONOMICS .................................... 12 Executive Summary / Conditions & Trends POPULATION ................................................................... 14 Population Change ................................................................... 14 Components of Population Change ........................................ 15 Population Projections............................................................. 116 Race & Ethnicity ...................................................................... 17 Age Distribution ....................................................................... 17 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .................................................. 18 Employment.............................................................................. 18 Income (per capita) .................................................................. 19 Median Household Income...................................................... 20 Income by Source ..................................................................... 20 Employers - Commercial and Retail ...................................... 21 Hard Rock Mining Impact Act ............................................... 21 Poverty ...................................................................................... 22 Education and Workforce Training ....................................... 22 Education .................................................................................. 23 Economic Growth .................................................................... 23 Kootenai Business Park ........................................................... 23 Tobacco Valley Business Park ................................................ 23 Libby Asbestos Cleanup .......................................................... 24 Broadband ................................................................................ 24 Tourism ..................................................................................... 24 LINCOLN COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS HOUSING ................................................................ 25 Executive Summary – Conditions and Trends HOUSING ........................................................................ 26 Housing Units ........................................................................... 26 Housing Starts .......................................................................... 27 Household Size ......................................................................... 27 Vacancy Rate ............................................................................ 27 Housing Unit by Type .............................................................. 28 Housing Condition ................................................................... 38 Housing Quality & Workmanship ......................................... 29 Housing Costs – Home Owners .............................................. 30 Housing Costs – Renters .......................................................... 30 Housing Affordability .............................................................. 30 Home Ownership ..................................................................... 32 Group Quarters ........................................................................ 32 Housing Assistance .................................................................. 34 LAND USE ............................................................... 35 Executive Summary – Conditions and Trends LAND OWNERSHIP ........................................................... 36 LAND USE ....................................................................... 37 Forestry ..................................................................................... 38 Mining ....................................................................................... 38 Agriculture................................................................................ 39 Land Development ................................................................... 40 DEVELOPED AREAS .......................................................... 41 Libby ......................................................................................... 42 South Libby .............................................................................. 43 Troy ........................................................................................... 43 Lake Creek Valley and Bull Lake .......................................... 44 Tobacco Valley ........................................................................