Planning Board and Zoning Commission

It is the role of the Planning Board and Zoning Commission to ensure the promotion of public health, safety, morals, convenience, or order or the general welfare and for the sake of efficiency and economy in the process of community development.

The Board fulfills three roles for the City of Red Lodge:

Planning Board: 

As the Planning Board, the PBZC acts as a legislative body.  The Board develops recommended policy that is passed on to the City Council for final approval.  Examples of documents initially developed and reviewed by the Planning Board include the growth policy, subdivision regulations, floodplain regulations, zoning regulations, and the use of city-owned land ordinances.  In this capacity, Board Members are encouraged to have extensive conversations with citizens and other stakeholders throughout the community.

Zoning Commission: 

As the Zoning Commission, the PBZC acts as a quasi-judicial body.  The Board holds public hearings on a variety of zoning code issues including conditional use permits and design reviews.  The Board interprets and applies the regulations that are in place as they pertain to a specific application.  The Board may approve applications, approve applications with conditions intended to mitigate potential impacts or decline applications.  The Board endeavors to apply the current regulations fairly and equally to all applicants.  In the case of conditional use permits, applications approved by the Zoning Commission must still continue on to the City Council for final approval.  While acting in this quasi-judicial role, Board Members are restricted from having ex parte communications, or discussions outside of the public meeting, regarding the application.

Floodplain Board of Adjustments: 

The PBZC membership also acts, as needed, as the Red Lodge Floodplain Board of Adjustments.  If an applicant or other interested party wishes to appeal a decision of the Floodplain Administrator (Community Development Director) or wishes to apply for a variance to the floodplain regulations, they would request a hearing before the Floodplain Board of Adjustments.  In this capacity, the Board again acts in a quasi-judicial manner interpreting the existing regulations and making a ruling based on the facts.  As with the Zoning Commission role, when dealing with quasi-judicial matters, the Board is restricted from ex parte communication.

Board Membership

The Red Lodge Planning Board and Zoning Commission (PBZC) is a volunteer board consisting of 7 local citizens:  4 are appointed by the mayor, 2 are appointed by the City Council, and 1 is appointed by the county commissioners.   The Board is supported by and works closely with the Community Development and Planning Department.

Al Bloomer – Board President, 406-671-2754 - atbloomer@hotmail.com
Appointed by: Mayor
Current Term Expires: March 31, 2024

Jeff DiBenedetto- Board Vice-President
Appointed by: Mayor
Current Term Expires: March 31, 2025

Theresa Whistler
Appointed by: Mayor
Current Term Expires: March 31, 2025

Susan Foisy
Appointed by: Mayor
Current Term Expires: March 31, 2024

Marie Olson
Appointed by: County Commissioners
Current Term Expires: December 31, 2024

Polly Richter
Appointed by: City Council
Current Term Expires: March 31, 2024

Sandy Conlee
Appointed by: City Council
Current Term Expires: January 31, 2024

- Council Member (non-voting)
City Council Representative

- Planning Director (non-voting)
City Staff Support