At a July 1 special meeting the Sheridan Town Council voted unanimously to approve the amended preliminary plat for The Crossings subdivision that will allow for an 18.5 acre parcel to be divided into five separate parcels. The location of the subdivision is between Water Street and W. Poppleton Street.  

The approval of the amended preliminary plat, which reduced the scope of the project from 66 lots to five,  restarts the three year time period the developer has to satisfy the conditions of the approved preliminary plat and present a final platt to the Town Council. 

The amended preliminary plat was approved with conditions that include approvals by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) regarding water and sewer feasibility and water rights satisfaction of current and past irrigation and water rights that move through the property. 

Public comment on the project was minimal and the issues raised were addressed by Madison County Planner Cody Marxer as issues that will be addressed in the DEQ and DNRC approval process. 

The moving of the barn on the property was not included in the conditions due to Marxer’s inability to find a historic designation for the building. Her findings were supported by the Montana Historical Society. 

Internal roads were not proposed and will not be required within the subdivision because all units will have access via either Water Street or West Poppleton Street, according to Marxer. Because the Town of Sheridan has not implemented impact fees, Montana state law does not allow for requiring developers to make offsite improvements which prevents the Town from requiring road improvements to satisfy traffic concerns that were raised in the 2022 meetings. Marxer did express that the reduction from 66 to five lots should alleviate those concerns.  

Marxer also noted that Montana state law does not allow for deed restrictions to mandate sale prices or require sales to specific income levels. Providing affordable housing is something that has to be done willingly by the developer. Affordable housing was part of the presentation for the original 66 unit project, but was not part of the discussion with the smaller scoped five lot amendment. 

The preservation of the suspected spring on the property, which is now thought by the developer to be water from a man-made source, is an issue that will be addressed in the DEQ and DNRC approvals. A Stormwater management plan is required and will also be part of DEQ approval. Marxer also noted that wetland and riparian areas on the site will be designated as no build zones as a condition for final plat approval. 

Building heights within the subdivision will be limited by the fire department’s ability to service the structure as a condition of approval. Marxer did not indicate that any bonds will need to be put forward by the developer as part of the project. 

Marxer stressed that concerns about future development could not be considered by the council in their decision to approve or deny the amended plat. Any future subdivision would have to go through the complete subdivision review process on its own merits. 

The developer has until July 1, 2028 to present the final plat and receive final approval. That deadline can be extended by the town council in a future hearing, upon request by the developer.

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