Presentations, Publications and Model Documents

Public Participation

A Guide to Public Participation

This guide provides detailed direction to local governments in complying with the public participation requirements of the Montana Land Use Planning Act, passed as SB 382 in the 2023 session.

Land Use Planning Act: Public Participation Requirements

This three-page guide provides a condensed outline of the public participation requirements specific to the Montana Land Use Planning Act.

Public Participation Examples:

City of Columbia Falls, Land Use Public Participation Plan

City of Whitefish, Public Engagement Plan

Annexation

Annexation: An Introduction to the Basics

Buildings For Lease Or Rent

Capital Improvements Planning

What is a Capital Improvement Plan and How Does it Help Your Community?

Growth Policy & Planning Boards

What is a Growth Policy and How Does it Help the Community?

A short introductory video provides an brief overview of what a Growth Policy is and how it can help your community.

What Are the Legal Requirements of a Growth Policy?

A short video that briefly explains the legal requirements for communities to consider when creating a Growth Policy

Planning Boards: An Introduction to the Basics

PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

Presentations

Navigating the Public Process

Publications

The Community Development Division (CDD) Planning Bureau has a print and digital library that contains training CD's and publications from the American Planning Association (APA) and other relevant authors in the planning field. The CD's include PowerPoint presentations with audio, transcripts of the presentations, and lists of resource materials. Organizations and individuals wishing to borrow training materials must register with the CDD Planning Bureau by providing their name, organization, mailing address, phone number, and email.

These materials are intended to serve as a training resource for any interested individual or organization in the State of Montana. Please contact Planning Bureau staff through our online contact form .

Program/Contact

Tash Wisemiller, Program Manager for Montana Main Street (MMS) – along with Micky Zurcher, Executive Director of the Helena Business Improvement District, and Huston Gibson, a professor at Kansas State University – recently published “Beyond the Façade: Layering Downtown Spillover Investment” in Community Development. To read about how façade improvement grant programs spur spillover of both direct and indirect investment in downtown districts by leveraging built capital and harnessing a sense of place.

Subdivision Regulations

The most recent draft of the Montana Model Subdivision Regulations are available for review and will be finalized soon. This draft has not yet undergone legal review and DOES NOT REFLECT CHANGES MADE BY THE 2021 LEGISLATURE . If you have any comments, please contact us.