Planning board recommends county commissioners approve East Bangtails conservation easement

Cole Herdman of GVLT presented a proposed conservation easement for a property east of the Bangtails and asked the Planning Board to make a recommendation to the county commissioners. Herdman said the packet includes a map and project summary and described the property—listed in the materials as approximately 1,145 acres across four tax parcels—as supporting grazing, timbered slopes and over a mile of Bangtail Creek. He told the board the easement would limit future development to a single building envelope and preserve scenic open space, agricultural uses and wildlife habitat.

The presentation noted state notification requirements: "Per Montana code 76 6, a land trust is required to notify the county planning authority prior to closing the conservation easement within the county," Herdman said, giving the board an opportunity to comment on consistency with county planning documents. He also said the proposal aligns with Park County Growth Policy goal 16 and objective 16.3 encouraging voluntary protection of open lands and agricultural lands.

Board members asked about grazing leases, public access and whether the easement would affect an existing block-management arrangement. Herdman said the existing grazing lease has continued across multiple owners for more than a decade and that the easement does not itself require public access; landowners retain the right to enroll in block management or otherwise provide access if they wish.

After discussion, a member moved that the planning board write a letter recommending approval of the conservation easement and forward that recommendation to the county commissioners. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The planning board’s recommendation is advisory; the county commissioners will make the final decision. Staff told the board the land trust hopes to close the easement within about a month and that the board’s comment is part of the county notification process.

What happens next: the planning board will send a recommendation letter to the county commissioners; the commissioners will then consider the easement and decide whether to approve it.