BUTTE - SILVERBOW COUNTY
GROWTH POLICY & ZONING UPDATE
THE GROWTH POLICY
Orion Planning + Design (OPD) has partnered with the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow (BSB), Montana for several years, first to update the countywide Comprehensive Plan—locally referred to as a “growth policy”—and subsequently to overhaul the zoning ordinance. As one of only two consolidated city-county governments in Montana, BSB encompasses both the historic urban core of Butte and its surrounding rural communities. OPD was engaged to broaden previous planning efforts beyond the historic core and ensure meaningful inclusion of county residents. Beginning in November 2018, the process emphasized robust community engagement, including stakeholder conversations, a community-wide survey, and a series of workshops, listening sessions, and open houses. More than 500 participants contributed over 18 months, helping to establish shared community values that guided the plan, which was formally adopted in November 2020 and provides a framework for coordinated growth and revitalization.
Building on the Comprehensive Plan, OPD was selected to lead a zoning code audit and update to implement the community’s vision. The existing code was outdated and contained conflicting provisions that did not reflect Butte’s historic development patterns or current conditions. Initiated in 2023, the zoning update focuses on modernizing regulations while preserving and enhancing the community’s unique historic character—particularly in the Uptown district—and aligning development standards with the adopted growth policy. The effort also responds to local platting and environmental conditions and streamlines review procedures to improve usability and implementation. The audit phase was completed in 2023, and the drafting of the new code is currently underway.
SELECT PAGES FROM THE ADOPTED PLAN
