Current Projects

The City Community Development Department is actively working on the following projects. Click on a project to learn more about upcoming hearings and how you can get involved.

For more information about the subdivision process from Pre-Application to City Commission, click here(PDF, 200KB).

If you have a question or would like to submit a comment about a current project click here.

Variance Applications

VAR2502-0002 – 12 S Alta St

The applicant is requesting variances to bring a carport with a second story play structure into compliance with City of Helena zoning restrictions for a property in an R-2 zoning district for the property addressed as 12 South Alta Street. The variances are to decrease the setback along the east property line from 10’-0” to 0’-0,” to reduce the setback along the east property line from 8’-0” to 3’-0,” and to reduce the setback for the vehicular entrance of a garage from 20’-0” to 0’-0.”
VAR2502-0004 - 3200 Skyway Dr

The applicants are requesting a variance to reduce the minimum required parking for a property in the Airport zoning district addressed as 3200 Skyway Drive. The applicant states that the reduction in parking will allow them to efficiently utilize the site and appropriately scale the parking requirements to the operations of the building.
VAR2503-0005 – 1000 E Lyndale Avenue

The applicants are requesting variances allow an addition to maintain the setback of the current structure and to allow for a portion of the required parking to be greater than 35’ from a tree as required by Helena City Code.

Conditional Use Permit and Zone Change Applications

ZONE2503-0002 - 1639 Aspen St

The applicant, Matthew Spindler of Summit Optical, through their representative, Jeff Larson, of Larson Civil engineering, and on behalf of the owner, Hometown Solutions Inc. (Sandra and William Kokoruda), is requesting a zone change from R-3 (residential) to B-2 (general commercial) for the property located at 1639 Aspen Street, legally described as: Lot 12R, Block 16 of the Flower Garden Addition, Section 20, Township 10 North, Range 3 West, in the City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The subject property is approximately 0.36 acres in size and is currently vacant, with the previous single-family residence having been demolished in 2019. The property is located at 1639 Aspen St and more generally on the southwest corner of Aspen Street and North Oakes Street.

ZONE2411-0003 - War Eagle St

The applicant, Mountain View Meadows, LLC, is requesting a zone change in Mountain View Meadows along War Eagle Street, from R-U to R-4 to permit two dwelling units since they are not allowed in R-U zoning. This property is located in the Peaks Phase 1 of the Crossroads at Mountain View Meadows and is generally located along War Eagle St between Eloise Cobell St and Peaks Ave.

ZONE2409-0002 - 505 War Eagle St

The applicant, Mountain View Meadows, LLC, is requesting Zone Change from R-2 (residential) and B-2 (commercial) zoning, to R-U (residential-urban) and R-4 (residential-office) for 67 parcels in the Peaks Phase 1 of the Crossroads at Mountain View Meadows. The properties are generally located along Peaks Edge St from and including Cayuse Ave to War Eagle St, along Peaks Ave from War Eagle St to Runkle Pkwy, and including Lone Chief Loop, Lone Chief St (as currently annexed) Crow Peak Ave, and Mount Baldy St (as currently annexed). R-U (residential-urban) zoning currently partially covers one of the existing properties.

Trinity Center Minor Subdivision

The applicant, Stephan Garden, on behalf of Trinity Restoration, LLC, working with the permission of Resurrection Cemetery Association, and represented by Matt Selvig, P.E., of WWC Engineering, is requesting the annexation, subdivision (minor), and pre-zoning to B-2 (commercial), of ~44.8 acres of vacant land generally located along N Sanders St from the southern edge of the Home 2 Suites Hotel property on the west side of the street and the northern edge of the Home 2 Suites Hotel property on the east side of the street, north to Jordan Drive and across the frontage of Helena Self Storage, and legally described as Tract A-1-A-1, COS 3430211, Located in the W ½ of Sec 17, T 10N, R3 W, P.M.M., Lewis and Clark County, MT.

Land Use Fee Increase

Fees charged and collected by the Planning Division of the City of Helena Community Development Department have not changed in over 27 years. In 1997, when the fees were last adjusted, an analysis was done that estimated the average planning staff time to review the various land use applications. An estimate of the staff time-cost was then calculated for each land use application. The application fee amount was based on recovery of related costs (legal advertisement, notifications, etc.) and an estimate of half of staff costs. A survey of other communities was also conducted and, at the time of that analysis, Helena’s fees “appeared to represent an average.”

In conjunction with the FY 25 budget process, to further coincide with the implementation of our new, online application submittal process, and in preparation of full implementation of SB 382, staff has once again conducted a thorough review of our fee schedules relative to land use and subdivision applications. As in 1997, staff conducted an analysis of our current fee structure and the cost for the City of Helena to provide services to receive, review, process, and present for action those applications and requests. Again, like in 1997, reviews and surveys were conducted of various Montana cities and their fee structures. This time around, however, it was evident that fees charged by the City of Helena for planning services have been drastically outpaced by all our sister cities.

As part of the departmental budget presentation to City Commission, staff provided an overview of proposed fee increases and the analysis used to draft the proposed departmental fee schedule. Taking into consideration the increased cost of providing our planning services since the establishment of the current land use fees, approximately 27 years, the requirements in state law for additional and new subdivision processes, the land use fees charged by other jurisdictions in Montana, and compatibility with the new online application process, staff is proposing changes to the City of Helena’s land use application fees.

Craftsman Village at Mountain View Meadows Phase 8, 9, & 10

On September 14, 2022, an application was submitted for the Craftsman Village at Mountain View Meadows Phases 8, 9, and 10. Having undergone completeness and sufficiency reviews, the application was deemed sufficient on December 27, 2022.

Meetings:

Parks Board: January 4, 2023

Zoning Commission: February 14, 2023

Planning Board: February 21, 2023

City Commission: To Be Determined

Findings of Fact / Written Statement

Written Notice Letter(PDF, 17MB)

Staff Reports

Preliminary Plat Staff Report(PDF, 4MB)

Annexation Staff Report(PDF, 5MB)

Pre-Zone Staff Report(PDF, 4MB)

Application and related materials:

Sufficiency Review Updates:

Updated Preliminary Plat Page 2 of 5(PDF, 736KB)

Updated TIS - December 2022(PDF, 3MB)

Updated TIS - November 2022(PDF, 3MB)

Deviation Request(PDF, 91KB)

East Helena School District Email(PDF, 111KB)

Parkland Determination September 22, 2022(PDF, 95KB)

Street Plan and Profile Sheets(PDF, 16MB)

Water Rights - September 20, 2022(PDF, 90KB)

Water Right - September 22, 2022(PDF, 64KB)

First Submission:

Application

Property Information

Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions(PDF, 1MB)

Adjacent Ownership Information

Maps

Owner Permission(PDF, 229KB)

Preliminary Plans(PDF, 14MB)

Preliminary Plats(PDF, 2MB)

Parkland Determination(PDF, 1MB)

Preliminary Engineering Report

Environmental Assessment

Traffic Impact Study(PDF, 5MB)

Stormwater Information(PDF, 6MB)

Soil Survey(PDF, 1MB)

Water Rights

Tax Receipt(PDF, 124KB)

Pre-App Information

Growth Policy Analysis(PDF, 203KB)

Phasing Plans(PDF, 15MB)

Easement Notification(PDF, 45KB)

Westside Woods Phased Subdivision

Phase 2

Phase 2 Commencement Notice(PDF, 126KB)

Phase 2 Exhibit Plan(PDF, 1MB)

Phase 1 Extension

Phase 1 Plat Extension Request - October 2024(PDF, 128KB)

Phase 1 Plat Extension Request - July 2023(PDF, 128KB)

Phase 1

Phase 1 Commencement Notice(PDF, 126KB)

Phase 1 Exhibit Plan(PDF, 2MB)

Application Process

On Friday, September 16, 2022 the application for the Westside Woods major phased subdivision was received by the Community Development Department. The application was deemed sufficient for general review on Monday, December 19, 2022. Updates to this section will be provided as available. For more information please contact the Community Development Department by email or at (406) 447-8490.