HELMVILLE – Powell County Planner Amanda Cooley with Bo Walker, Montana State University extension agent, and Chad Lanes, Tri-County Sanitarian, held a meeting at the Helmville Community Hall June 16 to collect community input regarding barriers to growth and ways to encourage growth in Helmville. In addition, there was discussion to explore zoning and land use options for aiding growth.
More than 50 residents attended the meeting. Cooley called the meeting after having many inquiries from Helmville residents on these topics. Zoning conversations began several times over the years with previous planners. Cooley, who started in Powell County last October, said she hopes to move the conversation forward.
Through discussion, community members identified barriers to growth as: conservation easements; aquifer capacity for drinking water; enough electrical service; jobs and economic opportunities; community resistance to growth and outside people; lack of small parcels (160 acre subdivision minimum); affordability of big parcels; high value recreational and scenic land that limits availability for families; infrastructure needs such as ambulance, law enforcement and road maintenance; regulations limiting residential structures on property; concerns about the type of growth (box stores and urban sprawl); tax base concerns if seasonal owners move in; and a lack of political voice in Northern Powell County.
Community discussion at the meeting listed amenities to encourage growth as: good internet to work from home; opportunities for employment; job opportunities; child care; affordable land; better weather; laws that allow families to offer land to family members; better location of lots; skilled industries and jobs.
Participants voted that top amenities could be affordable land, better location of lots and opportunities for employment.
Currently Helmville zoning allows for subdivisions of an acre or more within the designated town area. Citizens commented that half the land in that area is productive agricultural land, which limits the available land for subdividing. The flood plain also significantly impacts the area. One commentator suggested extending the town boundary to allow for more land that is along existing roads. Cooley stated that extending the town zoning boundary was an option. Using a large map, Cooley and the attendees identified suitable areas for building.
The need for affordable small plots was voiced by many of the attendees. Locals want their children to be able to come back to Helmville and be able to make a living. Comments were made that young families will support the school and be available for infrastructure jobs such as increased needs for road maintenance employees, emergency services and handyman jobs.
One commentator said that he knew of half a dozen people in their mid 30’s that wanted to live in Helmville. They work from home but can’t afford 160 acres. Talk centered around the desire to promote growth, but concerns were raised about how much and what kinds of growth.
Cooley mentioned creating a buffer zone of 10 – 40 acre lots around town. One commentator felt that smaller parcels feel more like a town. While voting, there was significantly more support for expanding the town zoning boundary than creating a buffer zone.
Challenges to subdividing parcels include the water table and the floodplain, said Lanes. Septic requirements on lots smaller than an acre are difficult to plan with wells and septic systems, said Cooley. It may be possible to open up new zoning districts along Highway 141.
Lanes talked about the need to prove that there is enough aquifer water availability for subdivisions and enough space for drain fields or the development of some kind of specific water system that would serve the subdivision. He has seen well based water shortages in other communities and a town resident stated that her house and another have occasionally run out of water in the past on their wells.
Conversation will continue about where growth happens and how growth happens, said Cooley. Notices will be posted about upcoming meetings. Comments can be directed to Cooley 406-846-9795 or planning@powellcountymt.gov
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