Prairie County creates "last best place" zoning district after heated public hearing on wind project
March 14, 2026 | Prairie County, Montana
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Prairie County commissioners voted Feb. 27 to create a "last best place" zoning district following a public hearing that drew vocal support and opposition from local landowners.
The hearing included multiple speakers who described property-rights concerns, ranching impacts and fire-safety questions. "We have a treasure here in this county," Norma Peabody, a proponent of the zoning, told the board during the hearing. Several attendees urged commissioners to protect nonparticipating neighbors; others argued the district was a valid local-control tool that would not preclude working with developers.
Commissioner Todd Devlin moved to create the zoning district; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Christine Keltner and passed in the session with the commissioners present. According to the meeting record, commissioners said the zoning is intended to protect nonparticipating landowners while allowing participating landowners and a developer to pursue private agreements.
The board opened the matter to debate before the vote. Opponents expressed concerns about turbine height and long-term decommissioning plans; proponents described extensive local support in the petition area, with multiple speakers saying 100% of participating landowners signed the petition to form the district. After discussion, the board approved the motion and instructed staff to form an official zoning-district committee and circulate invitations to committee members drawn from the petition area.
The next procedural step noted in the meeting was formation of the zoning district committee and follow-up administrative work; the commissioners did not record additional binding conditions in the vote beyond establishing the district and the committee.
The hearing included multiple speakers who described property-rights concerns, ranching impacts and fire-safety questions. "We have a treasure here in this county," Norma Peabody, a proponent of the zoning, told the board during the hearing. Several attendees urged commissioners to protect nonparticipating neighbors; others argued the district was a valid local-control tool that would not preclude working with developers.
Commissioner Todd Devlin moved to create the zoning district; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Christine Keltner and passed in the session with the commissioners present. According to the meeting record, commissioners said the zoning is intended to protect nonparticipating landowners while allowing participating landowners and a developer to pursue private agreements.
The board opened the matter to debate before the vote. Opponents expressed concerns about turbine height and long-term decommissioning plans; proponents described extensive local support in the petition area, with multiple speakers saying 100% of participating landowners signed the petition to form the district. After discussion, the board approved the motion and instructed staff to form an official zoning-district committee and circulate invitations to committee members drawn from the petition area.
The next procedural step noted in the meeting was formation of the zoning district committee and follow-up administrative work; the commissioners did not record additional binding conditions in the vote beyond establishing the district and the committee.
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