BILLINGS, Mont.—The Billings City Council has approved the sale of Lampman Park to a private developer for $834,000, clearing the way for a proposed residential development that would bring 81 housing units to the six-acre property.
The park, located south of Monad Road between South 30th and South 31st streets, is currently designated as parkland. The proposed development will require the property to be rezoned to allow single-family and multifamily housing.
The decision comes as city officials consider selling several publicly owned properties that have not been developed for recreational use.
“The city has properties that they don’t have the money to develop,” Councilman Tony O’Donnell said.
Lampman Park was the only property the council agreed to sell, although members also voted to begin the disposal process for three additional properties.
Those properties include Wilson Park in south Billings, a parcel near Beartooth Elementary School and Career Center Park near the Billings Career Center.
The council’s action on those three properties begins a process that could lead to future sales but does not constitute final approval to transfer ownership.
Developer Cal Kunkel has outlined tentative plans for a mix of single-family homes and duplexes on the property. He said additional details would be released after the sale closes.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from neighborhood residents. Some support developing the largely unimproved property, while others have raised concerns about increased traffic, neighborhood compatibility and the loss of public land.
Deputy Mayor Mike Boyett noted that Lampman Park currently has no playground equipment, maintained grass or other developed park amenities.
Gavin Woltjer, the city’s director of Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, said officials must weigh neighborhood concerns against opportunities for additional housing and property tax revenue.
Councilman O’Donnell also expressed reservations about whether the proposed development would fit the surrounding neighborhood, saying compatibility should be a central consideration during the planning process.
The property must still undergo rezoning and other development reviews before construction can begin.