TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.0 THE GROWTH POLICY ............................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1 1.2 STATEMENT OF INTENT......................................................................................1 1.4 PREPARATION OF THE GROWTH POLICY ........................................................1 1.4.1 GETTING STARTED ..........................................................................1 1.4.2 REAFFIRMATION OF EXISTING GOALS.................................................2 1.4.3 IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES, NEEDS AND PREFERENCES.......................3 1.4.4 POLICY DEVELOPMENT .....................................................................4 1.5 GROWTH POLICY ADMINISTRATION...............................................................5 1.5.1 IMPLEMENTATION ...........................................................................5 1.5.2 CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH POLICY REVISIONS ...................................5 1.5.3 TIMETABLE FOR REVIEW...................................................................5 1.5.4 COOPERATION WITH CITY OF BIG TIMBER ..........................................6 1.5.5 CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD JURISDICTION .................................6 CHAPTER 2.0 COUNTY HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION ........................... 7 2.1 COUNTY HISTORY ..............................................................................................7 2.2 AREA DESCRIPTIONS........................................................................................10 2.2.1 SOUTHEAST..................................................................................10 2.2.2 GREYCLIFF ....................................................................................11 2.2.3 YELLOWSTONE VALLEY WEST ..........................................................11 2.2.4 YELLOWSTONE VALLEY EAST ...........................................................11 2.2.5 THE CRAZY MOUNTAINS ................................................................12 2.2.6 MELVILLE......................................................................................12 2.2.7 NORTHEAST PLANNING AREA..........................................................13 2.2.8 LOWER BOULDER RIVER .................................................................14 2.2.9 MCLEOD .......................................................................................14 2.2.10 UPPER BOULDER VALLEY ................................................................15 CHAPTER 3.0 - EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROJECTED TRENDS .... 16 3.1 LAND USE...........................................................................................................16 3.1.1 CURRENT LAND OWNERSHIP ..........................................................16 3.1.2 CURRENT LAND CLASSIFICATION.....................................................16 3.1.3 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS/ZONING DISTRICTS .............................17 3.1.4 COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS..................................................................20 3.1.5 PROJECTED LAND USE TRENDS .......................................................20 3.2 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE .................................................................................22 3.2.1 CURRENT POPULATION ..................................................................22 3.2.2 PROJECTED POPULATION TRENDS ...................................................24 3.3 ECONOMIC PROFILE.........................................................................................24 3.3.1 PERSONAL INCOME ........................................................................27 3.3.2 LABOR FORCE................................................................................27 Sweet Grass County 2003-2008 Growth Policy 1 3.3.3 PROJECTED ECONOMIC TRENDS......................................................28 3.4 HOUSING NEEDS ...............................................................................................29 3.4.1 CURRENT CONDITIONS..................................................................29 3.4.2 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR HOUSING NEEDS.......................................29 3.5 LOCAL SERVICES ...............................................................................................31 3.5.1 COUNTY SERVICES.........................................................................31 3.5.2 STATE OFFICES..............................................................................36 3.5.3 FEDERAL OFFICES ..........................................................................37 3.5.4 PRIVATE UTILITIES.........................................................................37 3.5.5 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR LOCAL SERVICES........................................38 3.6 TRANSPORTATION ...........................................................................................38 3.6.1 COUNTY ROADS ............................................................................38 3.6.2 STATE ROADS................................................................................41 3.6.3 INTERSTATE 90 .............................................................................42 3.6.4 BRIDGES.......................................................................................42 3.6.5 ACCIDENT DATA............................................................................43 3.6.6 RAIL SERVICE ................................................................................44 3.6.7 AIRPORT.......................................................................................44 3.6.8 FOREST SERVICE ROADS AND TRAILS ...............................................44 3.6.9 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR TRANSPORTATION.....................................44 3.7 COUNTY FACILITIES .........................................................................................44 3.7.1 BUILDINGS ...................................................................................44 3.7.2 COMMUNITY MEETING FACILITIES...................................................46 3.7.3 FUTURE NEEDS .............................................................................46 3.8 PUBLIC SCHOOLS..............................................................................................46 3.8.1 SWEET GRASS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL .............................................47 3.8.2 BIG TIMBER GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 1........................................47 3.8.3 GREYCLIFF GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 16 .......................................47 3.8.4 MCLEOD GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 29 ..........................................47 3.8.5 MELVILLE GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 5...........................................48 3.9 NATURAL RESOURCES......................................................................................50 3.9.1 SOIL.............................................................................................50 3.9.2 PRIME FARMLAND SOIL...................................................................51 3.9.3 GEOLOGY......................................................................................51 3.9.4 NATURAL HAZARDS .......................................................................54 3.9.5 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES..........................................................55 3.9.6 GROUNDWATER ............................................................................57 3.9.7 IRRIGATION FACILITIES ..................................................................58 3.9.8 VEGETATION.................................................................................60 3.9.9 WILDLIFE......................................................................................64 3.9.10 RECREATION SITES AND FACILITIES .................................................66 3.9.11 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES................................69 Sweet Grass County 2003-2008 Growth Policy 2 CHAPTER 4.0 - COUNTY GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES ............................................................................................ 71 4.1 GENERAL............................................................................................................71 4.2 GOALS & OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................72 4.2.1 LAND USE.....................................................................................72 4.2.2 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.....................................74 4.2.3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .............................................................75 4.2.4 PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES........................................76 CHAPTER 5.0 - COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ........................................ 80 5.1 REGULATIONS...................................................................................................80 5.1.1 SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS ...........................................................80 5.1.2 INDIVIDUAL SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS RULES 85 5.1.3 FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS......................................85 5.1.4 COUNTY ROAD ENCROACHMENT REGULATIONS ...............................85 5.1.5 COUNTY ORDINANCES ...................................................................86 5.2 OTHER GUIDING DOCUMENTS .......................................................................86 5.2.1 ROAD CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS.................................................86 5.2.2 BRIDGE STANDARD........................................................................86