by Evelyn Pyburn
Public discussion has swirled with questions following the acceptance by the Billings City Council of a 400-page master plan for One Big Sky District, last week. It passed in a 7-3 vote with Brent Cromley, Frank Ewalt and Chris Friedel opposing.
The action seems to have generated confusion among many citizens as to the significance of the action given the several stages that the city has already been through in regard to the proposed project. Some wonder whether the action involves the commitment of tax dollars to the plan, while others are trying to figure out what “the plan” is, given that it has changed since the original idea was first introduced by a different developer, and still others just ask “how much” or are pondering what the projected benefits will be.
The acceptance of the Master Plan does not commit any tax dollars at this stage. In fact, the plan will not advance much farther at the moment unless the state legislature passes a bill designed to help provide public funding for the project. The bill is still being drafted. Click here to read more
