There are key elections – a Presidential race, US Senate and House races, Montana congressional races, and local county and municipal elections. Major policies and initiatives, at the state and local levels are being contemplated and acted upon. As such, the Government Affairs Committee is working hard to ensure that the real estate industry is well-represented in every facet of decision making.

• Zoning & Growth Policy Updates
  • Southwest Montana’s quickly growing population has come to a head. Now, the hotly debated question of how to best accommodate the growth is being worked into policy. Beaverhead, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, and Wheatland counties and municipalities are grappling with zoning residential areas. Zoning code rewrites are happening in these six counties. Additionally, the growth policies are being worked on to better reflect where towns need to focus their efforts.
• Land Use
  • While two State Bills had temporary injunctions placed on them, the land use conversation is still moving forward. These initiatives are focused on housing affordability, private property use restrictions, parking ordinances, as well as deed restrictions. There are other intriguing land use proposals in the pipeline that will affect real estate – such as wetland banking, TIF, Urban Renewal Districts, and LIHTC changes.
• Water & Wastewater
  • Southwest Montana is focusing more intently on water usage policies as more and more water is being used – namely in the form of HOA regulations. The conversation is nuanced, but as avenues for where to go with these water policies are constantly being discussed and evaluated. In the recent past, some of these initiatives have been a detriment to development. The Canyon Ferry water project for Gallatin County is likely on hold for the foreseeable future.
  • Wastewater is at the forefront of the water conversation as well. Lift stations and DEQ requirements are hot button topics and likely to take up more space as policy develops.
• Transportation
  • This policy point is consistent with the zoning and land use principles. Local governments are rethinking the efficacy of public and non-vehicular transportation. Walking and biking proposals are already in the works in each of the larger municipalities in southwest Montana. County and City budgets and grants are shaping these projects – in hopes of creating ease of use for pedestrians and bikers.
• Short Term Rentals
  • Municipal governments have enacted policies restricting short term rentals, county governments have largely avoided this question. However, Gallatin County is thinking about enacting a similar policy to Bozeman’s. Other local governments will wait until STR regulations come to a head to address this subject.