Visualize Dillon

What is a Growth Policy?

A growth policy is an official public document adopted and used by Montana cities, towns, and counties as a guide for making decisions about their future, particularly with regards to land use. A growth policy is not a regulation; rather, it is a community’s official policy meant to guide and help manage change for the benefit of residents. For communities in Montana that are declining in population or experiencing very slow growth, the term ʺgrowth policyʺ can seem a misnomer. Nonetheless, whether growing or declining, a growth policy is an essential tool that communities can use to make themselves resilient in the face of inevitable change. While the statutory requirements for a growth policy focus primarily on land use, the document should also address topics such as economic development, housing needs, local services, infrastructure, natural environment, and other issues of importance to each individual community.

Why are we updating the Growth Policy?

The Montana Growth Policy Statute presently requires the growth policy to be reviewed and updated if necessary at least every 5 years. The City of Dillon’s Growth Policy has not been updated since 2016, and Dillon has seen a lot of changes since then. A growth policy typically looks 20 years into the future, which is why this Plan is called "Visualize Dillon."

Why should I get involved?

The answer to this is quite simple: if you're not involved and your voice isn't heard during this Growth Policy update process, then the Growth Policy itself won't have a chance to reflect your vision and priorities for the town. The City of Dillon believes community participation is a critical component of the planning process and recognizes that policy and planning decisions about land use, housing, transportation, and capital facilities do not impact us all in the same way. Providing the opportunity for public input encourages citizens to be invested in the future of their community and helps ensure recommendations developed as part of the Growth Policy update are implemented and sustained over time.

Community members are holders of local knowledge. It is the responsibility of the City to listen, elevate, and consider community voices during the planning process. Robust and inclusive community engagement is a vital component of drafting and updating a Growth Policy.