76-2-303. Procedure to administer certain annexations and zoning laws -- hearing and notice. - Montana Statutes

     76-2-303. Procedure to administer certain annexations and zoning laws -- hearing and notice. (1) The city or town council or other legislative body of a municipality shall provide for the manner in which regulations and restrictions and the boundaries of districts are determined, established, enforced, and changed, subject to the requirements of subsection (2).
     (2) A regulation, restriction, or boundary may not become effective until after a public hearing in relation to the regulation, restriction, or boundary at which parties in interest and citizens have an opportunity to be heard has been held. At least 15 days' notice of the time and place of the hearing must be published in an official paper or a paper of general circulation in the municipality.
     (3) (a) For municipal annexations, a municipality may conduct a hearing on the annexation in conjunction with a hearing on the zoning of the proposed annexation, provided that the proposed municipal zoning regulations for the annexed property:
     (i) authorize land uses comparable to the land uses authorized by county zoning;
     (ii) authorize land uses that are consistent with land uses approved by the board of county commissioners or the board of adjustment pursuant to part 1 or 2 of this chapter; or
     (iii) are consistent with zoning requirements recommended in a growth policy adopted pursuant to chapter 1 of this title or in a master plan, as provided for in 76-2-304(3), for the annexed property.
     (b) A joint hearing authorized under this subsection fulfills a municipality's obligation regarding zoning notice and public hearing for a proposed annexation.

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 136, L. 1929; re-en. Sec. 5305.4, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 11-2704; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 355, L. 1999; Sec. 34, Ch. 582, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 87, L. 2003.