[UPDATE! The hearing on SB379 is scheduled for Monday, February 20, at 10:00am! ]
Greetings NFPA members and keepers of the wild. We hope this message finds you well. We are writing today because we need your help! About 2 minutes of your time in total.
We just learned that Steve Fitzpatrick (SD 10) just introduced SB379, a bill that would prohibit existing and future minimum lot size zoning regulations beyond 3 miles of a municipality. Minimum lot sizes would be left up to the Montana DEQ based on septic/well permits (typically 1 acre). This bill stands in direct contrast of the North Fork’s 20 acre lot minimum that maintains the basic values like solitude and wilderness that brought us all here.
We are asking you to do two simple things:
- Call or email your senator, Carl Glimm, in opposition of SB379: (406) 751-7334 or Carl.Glimm@legmt.gov.
- Call 406-444-4800 and simply leave a message for all senate local government committee members in opposition of SB379.
- Okay, yeah we only said two, but if you have more time, you can testify as well!
Here are directions on how to testify. The hearing is now expected this coming Monday, February 20, at 1:00am. Testimony from North Fork landowners will be very helpful. Consider the talking points of our “Montana way of life, rural values, community character, keeping Montana like it is”, etc.
More folks to contact if you’re feeling hot:
- Bill Sponsor: Steve Fitzpatrick, Senate Majority Leader: 406-750-6764 Steve.Fitzpatrick@legmt.gov.
- Forrest Mandeville-(R)-SD29 Land use planning consultant and local government committee member who may be more sympathetic to our cause: 406-690-1933 forrest.mandeville@legmt.gov.
- Contact individual local government committee members. (Scroll down to page 3 for members).
https://meic.org/our-work/legislature/ has more useful information.