Big Horn County commissioners allow Hardin to control land uses out one mile from its municipal boundaries through the extraterritorial zoning powers of state statute. New land uses, such as new homes, mobile homes, businesses, and the introduction of large animals, proposed in this one mile zoning area must obtain a zoning compliance permit from the city. This allows the city and landowners to ensure that new uses are in compliance with the established growth management plan adopted by the people of the community before substantial investment has been made in a new land use activity that may not be allowed.
Failure to obtain the compliance permit places the new use in violation of Hardin's zoning ordinance and may subject the landowner to the penalties for such violation as contained in section 11-1-12 of this chapter.
Application for a zoning compliance permit is made to the city clerk on the form therefor in her office. Such application can be made at any time. If the application is complete, the city has one week in which to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application. The application is reviewed by the superintendent of public works and the city planner for compliance, after which each (or another city designated representative) signs the application. If the land use for which the application is submitted is not deemed in compliance, the landowner may submit an application to the zoning commission (with final decision by the common council) through the zone change, zone variance, or conditional use process as provided herein.
There is no zoning compliance permit application fee, as this is process designed to save landowners money and time and the city future problems.
An application for a zoning compliance permit shall, at a minimum, include the following:
A. Application form for zoning compliance permit.
B. Legal description and general location.
C. Site plan showing planned land use and existing land uses if any plus the following information:
1. Setbacks from public rights of way;
2. Dimensions of land use;
3. Number of dwelling or animal units;
4. Provisions for water, sewer, and storm drainage;
5. Adjacent land uses; and
6. Additional information, if any, as required by the city to understand what is proposed.
D. Address of owner of record and purchaser, if applicable.
E. Commercial, industrial, and multi-family land uses proposed shall provide specific site plans showing details of the proposed development to include lot coverage, floor area ratios, landscaping, numbers of units, access and egress, solid waste disposal locations, signage, lighting, and size and access points for public utilities.
F. Information required here may be prepared without professional drawings or studies. (Ord. 2003-03, 4-15-2003)