Montana Code 76-3-605. Hearing on subdivision application
76-3-605. Hearing on subdivision application. (1) Except as provided in 76-3-609 and 76-3-616 and subject to the regulations adopted pursuant to 76-3-504(1)(o) and 76-3-615, at least one public hearing on the subdivision application must be held by the governing body, its authorized agent or agency, or both and the governing body, its authorized agent or agency, or both shall consider all relevant evidence relating to the public health, safety, and welfare, including the environmental assessment if required, to determine whether the subdivision application should be approved, conditionally approved, or denied by the governing body.
Terms Used In Montana Code 76-3-605
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Governing body: means a board of county commissioners or the governing authority of a city or town organized pursuant to law. See Montana Code 76-3-103
- Plat: means a graphical representation of a subdivision showing the division of land into lots, parcels, blocks, streets, alleys, and other divisions and dedications. See Montana Code 76-3-103
- Preliminary plat: means a neat and scaled drawing of a proposed subdivision showing the layout of streets, alleys, lots, blocks, and other elements of a subdivision that furnish a basis for review by a governing body. See Montana Code 76-3-103
- Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
- Subdivider: means a person who causes land to be subdivided or who proposes a subdivision of land. See Montana Code 76-3-103
- Subdivision: means a division of land or land so divided that it creates one or more parcels containing less than 160 acres that cannot be described as a one-quarter aliquot part of a United States government section, exclusive of public roadways, in order that the title to the parcels may be sold or otherwise transferred and includes any resubdivision and a condominium. See Montana Code 76-3-103
- Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203
(2)When a proposed subdivision is also proposed to be annexed to a municipality, the governing body of the municipality shall hold joint hearings on the subdivision application and annexation whenever possible.
(3)Notice of the hearing must be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county not less than 15 days prior to the date of the hearing. The subdivider, each property owner of record whose property is immediately adjoining the land included in the preliminary plat, and each purchaser under contract for deed of property immediately adjoining the land included in the preliminary plat must also be notified of the hearing by registered or certified mail not less than 15 days prior to the date of the hearing.
(4)When a hearing is held by an agent or agency designated by the governing body, the agent or agency shall act in an advisory capacity and recommend to the governing body the approval, conditional approval, or denial of the proposed subdivision. This recommendation must be submitted to the governing body in writing not later than 10 working days after the public hearing.