A.   Applicability: A Commercial Site Review will be required for:

      1.   All new commercial developments - both single building developments as well as multi-building, multi-phased projects;

      2.   All multi-unit residential developments of three (3) or more units; and

      3.   All additions, alterations, renovations, or remodels of any commercial or multi-unit residential building that increases the size of the existing building by 25%, changes the use of the existing building, or which alters the zoning compliance of the site relative to parking and/or landscaping.

   B.   Timing:

      1.   Commercial Site Review must be completed prior to submission of a building permit application (including all foundation only permit requests). Building permit issuance shall be conditioned upon approval of the commercial site plan by the Planning Division.

      2.   Site review and building permit reviews may run concurrently, however, building permit issuance will be held until such time site plan approval has been granted.

   C.   Submission Requirements:

      1.   Single Building Review: For Single Building Reviews, submittals must include, at a minimum:

         a.   Commercial Site Plan: A Commercial Site Plan showing conformance with commercial site requirements. The plan must show:

            (1)   Legal description, property address, and zoning analysis including zoning district, setback requirements, lot coverage (both required and proposed with percentage), building height permitted and proposed;

            (2)   Property boundary dimensions and distances to the street curb and public sidewalk;

            (3)   Easements, covenants, or other use restrictions;

            (4)   Size and location of proposed and existing structures and setbacks/distances to property boundaries;

            (5)   Site topography with grade elevations at site corners, building corners, and finished floor;

            (6)   Location of all site utilities, sizes of water and sewer services to the main, water entrance diagram to the structure(s), and fire hydrants being proposed or existing in the vicinity (Utilities can be shown on a separate plan for clarity if needed);

            (7)   Required on/off street parking (with dimensions) and loading areas along with a narrative/analysis of minimum required and number proposed; and

            (8)   Life Safety and Fire Access including all internal designated fire lanes with dimensions, apparatus turning movements/radii based on largest truck, and distance to the nearest hydrant, and locations of all hydrants within four hundred feet (400') of all property lines.

         b.   Landscape Plan: A Landscape Plan that shows both the general landscaping and required parking lot landscaping, including:

            (1)   Location of proposed general and parking lot landscaping drawn to scale;

            (2)   Location and dimensions of all existing and proposed buildings, project boundary, parking lots, roadways and rights-of-way, delineation of sight distance triangles, walking and nonmotorized paths, and above ground utilities;

            (3)   Location, installed size, species, and quantity of proposed trees, bushes, shrubs, or other vegetation, and organic and inorganic materials proposed;

            (4)   Estimated date of completion of all landscaping;

            (5)   Boulevard landscaping must also be shown; and

            (6)   Calculations related to required and provided landscaping coverage must be affixed to the plan.

         c.   Site Lighting Plan: A Site Lighting Plan that shows location and types of lighting fixtures proposed for the site that are not affixed to a building (i.e. parking lot lighting). A photometric plan will also be required providing the light spread and performance of these fixtures.

         d.   Transportation Civil Plan: Transportation Civil Plans depicting all street and site access improvements including new and existing vehicular access points, curb cuts, and approaches, boulevard sidewalk details for both existing and new installations, including general placement of all new and existing boulevard trees, and other information as may be required by Transportation Systems to demonstrate compliance with the City's Engineering and Design Standards for site access design and construction.

         e.   Traffic Impact Study: A Traffic Impact Study if the use or building will generate more than two hundred (200) ADVT.

         f.   Stormwater Plans: SWPPP, Erosion and Sediment Control, Hydrologic Analysis and Design, Conveyance System Design, and Run-Off Control plans meeting the requirements of Chapter 4 of the City's Engineering and Design Standards, the City of Helena Stormwater Ordinance, State of Montana Law, and Federal Law.

         g.   Other Plans: Depending on the nature of the project and access to public utilities (water and sewer), a set of civil utility plans may be required. See note about utility plans for the Multi-Building, Multi-Phase project requirements.

      2.   Multi-Building/Multi-Phased Project Reviews: For Multi-Building/Multi-Phased Project Reviews, applicants shall submit:

         a.   Commercial Site Plan: A Commercial Site Plan showing conformance with commercial site requirements. The plan must show:

            (1)   Legal description, property address, and zoning analysis including zoning district, setback requirements, lot coverage (both required and proposed with percentage), building height permitted and proposed;

            (2)   Property boundary dimensions and distances to the street curb and public sidewalks;

            (3)   Easements, covenants, or other use restrictions;

            (4)   Size and location of proposed and existing structures and setbacks/distances to property boundaries;

            (5)   Site topography with grade elevations at site corners, building corners, and finished floor;

            (6)   Location of all site utilities, sizes of water and sewer services to the main, water entrance diagram to the structure(s), and fire hydrants being proposed or existing in the vicinity (Utilities can be shown on a separate plan for clarity if needed);

            (7)   Required on/off street parking (with dimensions) and loading areas along with a narrative/analysis of minimum required and number proposed; and

            (8)   Life Safety and Fire Access including all internal designated fire lanes with dimensions, apparatus turning movements/radii based on largest truck, and distance to the nearest hydrant, and locations of all hydrants within four hundred feet (400') of all property lines.

         b.   Landscape Plan: A Landscape Plan that shows both the general landscaping and required parking lot landscaping, including:

            (1)   Location of proposed general and parking lot landscaping drawn to scale;

            (2)   Location and dimensions of all existing and proposed buildings, project boundary, parking lots, roadways and rights-of-way, delineation of sight distance triangles, walking and nonmotorized paths, and above ground utilities;

            (3)   Location, installed size, species, and quantity of proposed trees, bushes, shrubs, or other vegetation, and organic and inorganic materials proposed,

            (4)   Estimated date of completion of all landscaping;

            (5)   Boulevard landscaping must also be shown; and

            (6)   Calculations related to required and provided landscaping coverage must be affixed to the plan.

         c.   Site Lighting Plan: A Site Lighting Plan that shows location and types of lighting fixtures proposed for the site that are not affixed to a building (i.e. parking lot lighting). A photometric plan will also be required providing the light spread and performance of these fixtures.

         d.   Transportation Civil Plan: Transportation Civil Plans depicting all street and site access improvements including new and existing vehicular access points, curb cuts, and approaches, boulevard sidewalk details for both existing and new installations, including general placement of all new and existing boulevard trees, and other information as may be required by Transportation Systems to demonstrate compliance with the City's Engineering and Design Standards for site access design and construction.

         e.   Traffic Impact Study: A Traffic Impact Study if the use or building will generate more than two hundred (200) ADVT.

         f.   Stormwater Plans: SWPPP, Erosion and Sediment Control, Hydrologic Analysis and Design, Conveyance System Design, and Run-Off Control plans meeting the requirements of Chapter 4 of the City's Engineering and Design Standards, the City of Helena Stormwater Ordinance, State of Montana Law, and Federal Law.

         g.   Sewer Infrastructure Plans: Civil plans depicting all sewer system improvements including profiles of all mains and outfalls, lift station and force main details, typical manhole construction details, and other information as may be required by Public Works to demonstrate compliance with the City's Engineering and Design Standards for sewer system design and construction.

         h.   Water Infrastructure Plans: Civil plans depicting all water system improvements including profiles, water mains, fire hydrants, valves and other appurtenances, and other information as may be required by Public Works to demonstrate compliance with the City's Engineering and Design Standards for water system design and construction.

   D.   Review Process:

      1.   Pre-Development Consultation: An applicant may request to meet with City of Helena staff on a set, designated schedule to discuss relevant city requirements.

      2.   Formal Submission: Applicant submits complete site plan package to the Planning Division via Civic Access.

      3.   Interdepartmental Review: Plans are circulated to Public Works, Transportation, Fire, Police, and other relevant agencies.

      4.   Comment and Revision Cycle: Applicant addresses staff comments and resubmits revised plans.

      5.   Final Approval: Planning Division issues a Site Plan Approval Letter or provides an approved stamped set of plans, which must accompany any building permit application.

   E.   Standards for Review: The review shall consider:

      1.   Compliance with zoning and design guidelines;

      2.   Adequacy of vehicular and pedestrian circulation and access;

      3.   Stormwater management and grading;

      4.   Landscaping and buffering;

      5.   Impacts on adjacent properties and public infrastructure;

      6.   Public safety access and site circulation; and

      7.   Access to adequate public water and sewer infrastructure.

   F.   Relationship to Building Permit: No building permit shall be issued until the Commercial Site Review process is complete and the site plan has been approved. Building permit review will focus on structural, mechanical, and life-safety code compliance, separate from site design considerations.

   G.   Relationship with other Permits or Reviews: Based on the project and its relationship to required public infrastructure, there may be other reviews and permits required of a project outside of, but triggered by, the Commercial Site Review process, i.e. water and or sewer system development review and fees, water tap and meter reviews and fees, sewer connection fees, street opening/closure permits, etc. It will be the responsibility of the contractor/applicant to contact Public Works and/or Transportation Systems to inquire what additional reviews will be required.

(Ord. 3329, 4-6-2026)