2014 Big Horn County Growth Policy May 1, 2014 Prepared by Cossitt Consulting PO Box 1493, Helena, MT [email protected] RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION……………………………..………………………………….vi 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Geographic Scope ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Authority ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Comprehensive Planning in Big Horn County ..................................................................... 1 1.5 Planning Process ................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 How This Plan is Organized ................................................................................................. 4 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SETTING ............................................................... 7 3. TRENDS AND ISSUES ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Developments and Trends 2002-2012 ................................................................................ 10 3.2 Recent Trends/Issues .......................................................................................................... 12 3.3 Growth Policy Implementation Status .............................................................................. 13 3.4 Anticipating and Preparing for Natural Disasters .............................................................. 13 Floods .................................................................................................................................... 13 Wildland-Urban Interface ..................................................................................................... 15 3.5 Projected Future Trends - Overview .................................................................................. 16 Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 17 Population ............................................................................................................................. 17 Housing Needs ...................................................................................................................... 18 Economic Conditions ............................................................................................................ 18 Local services........................................................................................................................ 18 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 18 Natural resources .................................................................................................................. 19 4. GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................ 20 4.1 Conceptual Approach .......................................................................................................... 20 4.2 Vision for Big Horn County’s future ................................................................................. 20 Big Horn County Growth Policy Update – May 1, 2014 i 4.3 Goals, Objectives and Implementation Measures .............................................................. 21 Communication/Coordination............................................................................................... 21 Infrastructure Strategy .......................................................................................................... 22 Education .............................................................................................................................. 23 Housing ................................................................................................................................. 23 Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 24 4.4 Subdivision Regulations .................................................................................................... 26 Subdivision Review Criteria ................................................................................................. 26 Criteria Definition ............................................................................................................. 26 Review Criteria ................................................................................................................. 27 Effect on agriculture ..................................................................................................... 27 Effect on agricultural water user facilities .................................................................... 27 Effect on local services ................................................................................................. 28 Effect on natural environment ...................................................................................... 28 Effect on wildlife .......................................................................................................... 28 Effect on wildlife and wildlife habitat .......................................................................... 28 Effect on public health and safety ................................................................................. 29 Subdivision Public Hearing Procedures................................................................................ 29 4.5 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) ....................................................................................... 30 4.6 Growth Policy Review – Implementation, Revisions and Amendment ............................ 30 Implementation Timetable .................................................................................................... 30 Periodic Review of Growth Policy ....................................................................................... 30 Conditions for Revising the Growth Policy .......................................................................... 30 Process for Revising the Growth Policy ............................................................................... 31 5. INVENTORY OF EXISTING CHARACTERISTICS ..................................................... 32 5.1 Land Use ............................................................................................................................ 32 Land Uses - General .............................................................................................................. 32 Land Ownership .................................................................................................................... 36 Land Use Regulations ........................................................................................................... 37 5.2 Population .......................................................................................................................... 39 Historic Population Trends ................................................................................................... 39 Population projections .......................................................................................................... 40 5.3 Housing .............................................................................................................................. 42 Big Horn County Growth Policy Update – May 1, 2014 ii 5.4 Economic Conditions ........................................................................................................ 45 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 45 Income and Employment ...................................................................................................... 46 5.5 Services .............................................................................................................................. 51 Government........................................................................................................................... 51 Fire Protection ....................................................................................................................... 51 Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................. 53 Disaster and Emergency Services ......................................................................................... 54 Road Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 54 Education .............................................................................................................................. 54 Health Care ........................................................................................................................... 56 Bus Service ........................................................................................................................... 57 5.6 Public Facilities/Infrastructure ..........................................................................................