How Referendums R-001 and R-002 relate to the recent special
May 6, 2024 8:49:51 GMT -7
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Post by Morris Hallowell on May 6, 2024 8:49:51 GMT -7
The Park County commission’s recent two-to-one vote in favor of starting the process to make a new growth policy (at strong urging of special-interest non-profits) has caused some understandable confusion on how this might relate to the up-coming growth-policy-related Referendums R-001 and R-002 that will be on the ballot June 4.
We have two referenda on the ballot that pertain to different aspects of the growth policy.
State law, Montana Code Annotated 76-1-604 titled Adoption, Revision, Or Rejection of Growth Policy gives specific directions on how adoption, repeal or revision of a growth policy, through the initiative or referendum process is done. R-001 qualified for a referendum vote under section 76-1-604-(4).
Ballot Referendum R-001 is asking to repeal the current growth policy, which was based on, now obsolete data, from 2009-2016. The 2017 growth policy also had the special-interest housing plan attached to it which caused much upset as it targeted specifically small, part-time rentals for more regulation. These rentals are a much-needed source of income for mortgage payments for home and landowners across the county.
An adopted growth policy also enables county-initiated zoning---which is of major concern to property rights. Repealing the growth policy would protect your property rights by freeing them from capricious special interest county-wide zoning regulations, legally enabled by the current growth policy which gives zoning power to the three-person commission to decide for us all. Far better for citizens to use the citizen-initiated model of zoning if they and their neighbors wish a particular set of rules rather than one-size-fits-all county control.
Voting FOR R-001 is a vote to repeal the 2017 adopted growth policy and thereby stop the county’s ability to force county-initiated zoning.
R-002 Qualifies for referendum vote under 76-1-604(2) of Montana code. This gives the county commissioners two options for adopting a new or revised growth policy.
Voting FOR R-002 is a vote to require the commissioners to adopt future growth policies only by a vote of the people affected by that growth policy---not by the three-person, commission-alone alternative. And, not including city people in the election as they have their own city growth policy.
The 2017 version of the growth policy was adopted by commissioner-only vote. The people were not allowed a choice. You were out of luck if you weren’t one of the special-interest groups with employees at every meeting to influence the outcome or if you weren’t persuaded by Missoula consultant-think.
So, how does the recent vote by commissioners Wells and Tinsley directing the county planning department and planning board to start a new growth policy process fit in the picture?
Creating a growth policy, we’ve been told by the county planning department, will take 2-3 years. The county is only required to have properly noticed hearings for the planning board and then for the commission where they will take public comment, before a decision to adopt is made.
The county is required by state law to follow this process. They are required to listen to public comment. They are not however required to follow the publics wishes. By their rules, your questions will not be answered.
The county commission runs the process so they determine the outcome regardless of how many public meetings are staged and what comments are made. This is what is so concerning about out-of-county consultants and funding by special-interest non-profits. We have already seen the special-interest groups pressure commissioners to commence the new growth policy process before the citizens have even voted on the growth policy referendums that earned a place on the ballot with their considerable signatures.
If R-002 is voted FOR by a majority on June 4, all future growth policies will be required to go to a vote of the people to be adopted---not to a vote by 2 out of 3 commissioners. A vote FOR R-002 is the only way to guarantee a voice for your property rights in the future.
What we are seeing now, with all the non-profit funding against passing the referendums, is the special-interests gearing up for a great leap forward to the next growth policy version regardless of the referendums outcomes.
Hang onto your hats and your property rights and vote FOR R-001 and FOR R-002 to stave off more regulation and special-interest over-reach. If we can repeal the current growth policy and require a vote to adopt the next one the commissioners will have to give more respect to the voices of landowners.
Sincerely, Ann
Paid for by Ann Hallowell, PO Box 1445, Livingston, MT 59047
We have two referenda on the ballot that pertain to different aspects of the growth policy.
State law, Montana Code Annotated 76-1-604 titled Adoption, Revision, Or Rejection of Growth Policy gives specific directions on how adoption, repeal or revision of a growth policy, through the initiative or referendum process is done. R-001 qualified for a referendum vote under section 76-1-604-(4).
Ballot Referendum R-001 is asking to repeal the current growth policy, which was based on, now obsolete data, from 2009-2016. The 2017 growth policy also had the special-interest housing plan attached to it which caused much upset as it targeted specifically small, part-time rentals for more regulation. These rentals are a much-needed source of income for mortgage payments for home and landowners across the county.
An adopted growth policy also enables county-initiated zoning---which is of major concern to property rights. Repealing the growth policy would protect your property rights by freeing them from capricious special interest county-wide zoning regulations, legally enabled by the current growth policy which gives zoning power to the three-person commission to decide for us all. Far better for citizens to use the citizen-initiated model of zoning if they and their neighbors wish a particular set of rules rather than one-size-fits-all county control.
Voting FOR R-001 is a vote to repeal the 2017 adopted growth policy and thereby stop the county’s ability to force county-initiated zoning.
R-002 Qualifies for referendum vote under 76-1-604(2) of Montana code. This gives the county commissioners two options for adopting a new or revised growth policy.
Voting FOR R-002 is a vote to require the commissioners to adopt future growth policies only by a vote of the people affected by that growth policy---not by the three-person, commission-alone alternative. And, not including city people in the election as they have their own city growth policy.
The 2017 version of the growth policy was adopted by commissioner-only vote. The people were not allowed a choice. You were out of luck if you weren’t one of the special-interest groups with employees at every meeting to influence the outcome or if you weren’t persuaded by Missoula consultant-think.
So, how does the recent vote by commissioners Wells and Tinsley directing the county planning department and planning board to start a new growth policy process fit in the picture?
Creating a growth policy, we’ve been told by the county planning department, will take 2-3 years. The county is only required to have properly noticed hearings for the planning board and then for the commission where they will take public comment, before a decision to adopt is made.
The county is required by state law to follow this process. They are required to listen to public comment. They are not however required to follow the publics wishes. By their rules, your questions will not be answered.
The county commission runs the process so they determine the outcome regardless of how many public meetings are staged and what comments are made. This is what is so concerning about out-of-county consultants and funding by special-interest non-profits. We have already seen the special-interest groups pressure commissioners to commence the new growth policy process before the citizens have even voted on the growth policy referendums that earned a place on the ballot with their considerable signatures.
If R-002 is voted FOR by a majority on June 4, all future growth policies will be required to go to a vote of the people to be adopted---not to a vote by 2 out of 3 commissioners. A vote FOR R-002 is the only way to guarantee a voice for your property rights in the future.
What we are seeing now, with all the non-profit funding against passing the referendums, is the special-interests gearing up for a great leap forward to the next growth policy version regardless of the referendums outcomes.
Hang onto your hats and your property rights and vote FOR R-001 and FOR R-002 to stave off more regulation and special-interest over-reach. If we can repeal the current growth policy and require a vote to adopt the next one the commissioners will have to give more respect to the voices of landowners.
Sincerely, Ann
Paid for by Ann Hallowell, PO Box 1445, Livingston, MT 59047