Goal-Objective County Sidney Fairview
POPULATION      
GOAL A: Promote population growth to sustain new businesses and schools at a rate that can be supported with government services and infrastructure.
X
X
X
1. Attract and retain businesses and young families.
X
X
X
2. For planning purposes, set population growth targets based on best available information.
X
X
X
3. Assist unincorporated communities to identify areas desirable for growth and target capital
improvements in those areas.
X
 
 
3A. Identify areas in city/town and city-county area that are desirable for growth and target capital
improvements in those areas.
 
X
X
4. Work with Fairview and Sidney to identify areas for future growth within city-county planning areas and
institute county policies and mechanisms to facilitate extension of municipal capital improvements.
X
 
 
HOUSING
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL 1A: Expand housing stock in good condition to meet needs.
X
X
X
1. Assess and quantify demand for housing based on existing and projected future needs.
X
X
X
2. Expand programs to rehabilitate existing housing units.
X
X
X
3. Identify and initiate programs to address decay and assist with demolition.
X
X
X
GOAL 1B: Continue historical trend of residential development in existing communities
X
X
X
1. Encourage new residential development in the county to locate in existing communities.
X
 
 
2. Assist communities in identifying expansion areas desirable for residential growth and capital
improvement needs.
X
 
 
1A: Identify areas in municipality and city-county area that are desirable for residential growth and target
capital improvements in these areas.
 
X
X
3. Promote in-fill development and historical community housing densities to maximize use of existing and
future infrastructure.
X
X
X
GOAL 2A: Improve capabilities of low-moderate income persons to purchase and maintain homes.
X
X
X
1. Expand the number of low-moderate persons assisted in purchasing and maintaining homes.
X
X
X
2. Encourage new development to include affordable housing options.
X
X
X
3. Assess need for and develop a housing foundation fund.
X
X
X
GOAL 2B: Encourage development to meet housing needs of seniors and those with disabilities.
X
X
X
1. Identify options for senior housing needs (e.g., assisted living).
X
X
X
2. Work with Richland Opportunities Inc. to expand the number of persons assisted as needed in the
county.
X
X
X
AGRICULTURE
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL A: Expand the county’s production of high value crops and potential for value-added industries.
X
X
X
1. Develop the area’s agricultural resources and expand irrigation.
X
 
 
1A. Market municipality as a place for agriculture-based businesses, particularly those needing municipal
services and infrastructure.
 
X
X
2. Develop and expand market for new and existing agricultural businesses.
X
X
X
3. Coordinate with land use policies and infrastructure development to maximize potential for new
irrigation.
X
 
 
4. Increase resources for agricultural research that supports growth of agribusinesses and improves
competitiveness of growers.
X
X
 
ECONOMY
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL A: Continue to build a sustainable and diversified economic base.
X
 
X
GOAL A: (Sidney): Develop Sidney’s economy in ways that can build small town character and big town
services.
 
X
 
1. Expand and diversify businesses.
X
X
X
2. Coordinate economic development with land use, natural resources, and capital infrastructure policies
and local community values regarding economic development
X
X
X
3. Evaluate effect of specific development proposals on community character and health prior to
committing public resources.
X
X
 
4. Identify and quantify (where possible) the county’s resources and infrastructure (e.g., water resources,
power, etc.) that may be needed for major new industry. Use as a marketing tool.
X
 
 
4A: Continue to support downtown renewal and beautification and promote public participation in planning
and goal-setting.
 
X
 
5. Improve the town’s base of funding for capital improvements, infrastructure, and services needed to
expand and diversify the local economy.
 
 
X
GOAL B: Continue to build county capacity to provide needed infrastructure to support a strong economy.
X
 
 
1. Continue to work at the state level to safeguard allocation of oil production taxes for impacts in the
county.
X
 
 
2. Balance expenditures of oil and gas revenues between construction and infrastructure projects and long
term needs.
X
 
 
PUBLIC SERVICES
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL 1A: Make improvements to overall community health and safety a priority.
X
X
X
1. Identify and prioritize specific needs and measures that can be taken to address overall community
health and safety.
X
X
X
2. Implement actions identified in the County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan and Community Wildfire
Protection Plan.
X
X
X
3. Continue to have municipalities designate representatives to the County Board of Health.
 
X
X
GOAL 2A: Continue emergency medical response and fire protection and suppression services throughout the
county.. (for Sidney and Fairview emphasis on EMTs)
X
X
X
1. Attract and retain volunteers, and provide training and funding for programs.
X
X
X
GOAL 3A: Expand opportunities for life-long learning for adults and children beyond the K-12 system.
X
X
 
1. Explore a variety of options to expand post-secondary educational opportunities in Richland County.
X
X
 
2. Support the Richland County Public Library in providing quality services for the recreational and life long
learning needs of all residents.
X
X
 
3. Continue to have City of Sidney designate a representative to Library Board of Trustees.
 
X
 
GOAL 4A: Continue to meet needs for recreational facilities and outdoor recreation opportunities.
X
X
X
1. Continue to identify and make improvements to county recreation facilities (e.g., Richland Park).
X
 
 
2. Assist local communities in identifying recreation needs long-term demand, and cost-benefits of
proposed projects.
X
 
 
3. Build on the success of bicycle and walking trails in the county and the region (e.g., plan for trails across
the county. (For Sidney emphasis on city and expansion into larger county-wide system, For Fairview
emphasis on expanding existing trail)
X
X
X
4. Identify recreation needs, assess proposed or desired new facilities, long-term project use
and cost-benefit and integrate into a capital improvements plan as needed.
 
X
X
5. Continue support for non-profit recreation organizations.
 
X
 
PUBLIC FACILITIES
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL 1A: Plan and design for long term public facilities development, maintenance, operation,
and eventual upgrades or replacement over time.
X
X
X
1. Prepare an overall capital improvements plan for public infrastructure.
X
X
X
2. Provide technical assistance to communities to assess and address needed improvements to water and
sewer systems.
X
 
 
3. Continue to work with the public and county departments and city of Sidney to identify opportunities for
mix of uses and location for proposed new construction (e.g., potential for continued city police housed
in county law enforcement building, etc.)
X
 
 
4. Develop a community convention-auditorium center.
X
 
 
5. Coordinate with Yellowstone Valley Railroad to address railroad crossings.
 
X
X
GOAL 1B: Promote development with adequate services that does not add to the tax burden for existing
landowners.
X
X
X
1. Promote development in city limits or areas with existing services, and discourage inefficient land use
patterns.
X
X
X
2. Include provisions for subdivisions to pay their portion of infrastructure and services.
X
X
X
3. Require financial guarantees to ensure development of subdivision improvements not completed by
final plat.
X
X
X
GOAL 2A: Improve cell phone coverage and high speed internet access throughout the county.
X
 
 
GOAL 3A: Work with the state to maintain and improve safety on state routes.
X
 
 
1. Coordinate with Montana Department of Transportation on improvements to state highways and access
to state roads.
X
 
 
2. Upgrade priority for improvements on Highway 201.
X
 
 
GOAL 1C: Sidney: Maintain and improve safety on major routes
 
X
 
1. Identify methods to establish a traffic light at Holly and Central.
 
X
 
2. Coordinate with Montana Department of Transportation to assess by-pass routes.
 
X
 
3. Assess and address safety impacts of “strip-development.”
 
X
 
NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL 1A: Expand opportunities for improved residential water quality in the county. (Fairview—
emphasis on planning area around town)
X
 
X
1. Encourage potential for Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority project across Richland County.
X
 
X
2. Expand abilities to address water quality issues on an individual basis.
X
 
X
3. Identify potential funding resources to assist low and fixed income householders to protect and improve
existing water quality.
X
 
X
GOAL 2A: Work to better manage, conserve, protect and utilize the natural resources and human resources of
the county.
X
 
 
1. Develop a GIS system to collect and coordinate natural resource and development information.
X
 
 
2. Continue to review the county’s weed management plan every two years and update as needed.
X
 
 
3. Continue to protect the natural functioning of the Lower Yellowstone River, recognizing that the
irrigation needs of the county must come first.
X
 
 
GOAL 3A: Maintain and improve community character and beautification projects.
X
X
X
1. Assist communities in identifying priorities and provide technical assistance for implementation.
X
 
 
2. Adopt a “decay ordinance.”
X
 
X
3. Identify funding resources and individual assistance programs (such as assistance with water bills) for
qualifying individuals.
X
 
X
4. Prioritize and implement historic building retention, preservation, and restoration.
X
X
X
5. Maintain Sidney’s designation as a Tree City USA.
 
X
 
6. Develop a sign ordinance
 
X
 
GOAL 4A: Improve cultural attractions/opportunities in the area.
 
X
 
1. Continue and increase support of the MonDak Heritage Center and local museums.
 
X
 
2. Develop a performing arts center.
 
X
 
LAND USE
County
Sidney
Fairview
GOAL 1A: Provide for logical, cost effective future extension of city limits and city infrastructure.
X
X
X
1. Identify areas for potential city growth and expansion.
X
 
X
2. Extend zoning up to one mile within each city-county planning area.
X
X
X
3. Identify areas for potential city growth that will “fill in” the irregular and stretched out configuration of
existing city limits.
 
X
 
4. Review and update the zoning ordinance to reflect the growth policy. (Fairview: also develop a zoning
map)
 
X
X
5. Develop the city zoning map as a GIS map to facilitate changes and ability to relate information to the
public.
 
X
 
6. Activate zoning commission and board of adjustment.
 
 
X
7. Assess need and cost-benefit of a local building inspector.
 
 
X
GOAL 2A: Reduce potential for development to be impacted by natural or other hazards.
X
 
 
1. Implement relevant actions in the Richland County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan and Community Wildfire
Protection Plan.
X