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Montana's Land
MEIC's program regarding Growth Management and Management of Public Lands.
Pressure to develop state lands for commercial uses is on the rise. Developers see the economic gains to be made in building new subdivisions or resorts. But along with this sprawl comes the loss of open space and wildlife habitat, road congestion, and increased air and water pollution.
Land Use. MEIC monitors all new development proposals and is a founding member of the Montana Smart Growth Coalition a statewide coalition to develop and implement strategies to prevent sprawl and to advocate better growth management. After several years of dogged advocacy by MEIC, the Montana Land Board approved new rules governing the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s management of State lands located in the high-growth areas of the state. The rules are intended to prevent the State from being a contributor to the unplanned sprawl occurring near Montana’s fastest growing cities and towns.
In the 2005 Legislature, MEIC helped pass a bill that revises the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act. The bill more clearly defines the process by which local governments review subdivisions. It also amends the minor subdivision law to better describe how local governments review the first minor subdivision and subsequent minor subdivisions from a tract. It also allows a governing body to take additional time to consider new information that presented at the public hearing.
Old Growth Forests. MEIC reviews all timber sales on State School Trust Lands that contain old-growth forests. Along with other groups, MEIC worked to improve rules, adopted by the State Land Board, governing the
management and protection of the last vestiges of old growth forests on
State-owned land. The regulations are intended to ensure sustainable
management of the State’s forest resources and prevent the harvest of
old growth timber stands.