Development of the Former Lolo School Property
Missoula County commissioners at their June 22, 2023, public meeting approved the amendment to the growth policy and Lolo Regional Map to allow for development of the former Lolo School property.
Let us know your thoughts or questions on the proposed growth policy amendment to allow for development at the former Lolo School property.
MCG-Vines submitted a proposal to the Missoula County Planning, Development and Sustainability Office to amend the Lolo Regional Plan map and Missoula County Growth Policy Land Use Map to change the designation of the former Lolo School property, located at 11395 Highway 93 S. in Lolo, away from “quasi-public land” to allow developers to transform the property into a residential community.
“Quasi-public land” means the property can be used for schools, community buildings, cemeteries or utility facilities, not for residential development. The proposed amendment to the Lolo Regional plan would allow for residential development of the former Lolo School property.
The developers have done numerous rounds of community engagement on the proposed residential community, including two presentations at Lolo Community Council meetings and an open house at the Lolo Community Center. At these events, residents could view an information packet as well as displays of how the property could be used – as commercial, residential or open space – while also considering the on-site topographical limitations.
Residents expressed interest in:
- Preserving open space for the on-site flora and fauna, specifically in the northwestern gully near Cap De Villa Road, where there is heavy vegetation.
- Preserving the old church building on site. Unfortunately, this is likely not feasible because of the asbestos found in the building.
- Beautifying the Highway 93 streetscape at this location to make up for the number of run-down or undeveloped commercial properties nearby.
- Having an eatery or coffee shop onsite to help promote social and community gatherings in Lolo.
To accommodate resident concerns, the developers’ proposal maximizes residential density to leave nearly 40% of the property as open space to preserve the flora and fauna onsite, as well as 4.21 acres in the southeast corner of the property for commercial space for a coffee shop, local eatery or other local commercial interest.
The Lolo Community Council and the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board voted to recommend approval of the Lolo Regional Plan map amendment proposal.
The Missoula County commissioners at their June 22 adopted the final resolution amending the Lolo Regional Plan map amendment and Growth Policy.
Let us know your thoughts!
Missoula County commissioners at their June 22, 2023, public meeting approved the amendment to the growth policy and Lolo Regional Map to allow for development of the former Lolo School property.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-258-3706 Email lryan@missoulacounty.us
Commercial, Park, Disc Golf course left would be great. Something that the public and community can utilize. With an already struggling water infrastructure I fear that apartments would do the town more harm than good.
This is an opportunity to revamp Lolo and create something unique. Dozens of cookie cutter homes and apartment buildings will not benefit the Lolo community. More homes will mean more people putting a strain on an already small town infrastructure. This space needs to be used to create a local economy, provide recreation, and help gather the community. From the plans it looks like a tremendous amount of cheap housing, with the minimum
About of open space and retail needed for the permitting. This space should be the exact opposite. Retail space would attract business, creat jobs, and provide more options to the residents of Lolo. Gathering & recreational
Space would allow the area to remain usable to the public, a sports field, park, ice rink, pavilion area for the community would be beneficial. A single ice rink for example can change a community, just take a look at Salmon, Idaho and the social & economic benefits they have gained from their single sheet of ice. The area should be
Aesthetic, and represent Montana and its mountain towns. Another hillside of cookie cutter homes and apartments is the last thing this community needs.
The concern that I have is based on the current new apartment buildings just erected. Why is the space is not used for commercial since that infrastructure is going to be necessary as well?
Commercial would be great! Access to a variety of businesses in Lolo would benefit the community. Would love to see a new restaurant, a gym (Legion CrossFit), a park for the kids, and coffee/bakery!
I would like to see more commercial businesses to help our community. A nice park for the kids would be nice. I think housing is great but I don't think the infrastructure would accommodate without raising everyones property taxes. With the rising inflation costs, senior citizens and long time residents won't be able to afford it and eventually become homeless. Please look at the macro effect in what will happen.
Legion CrossFit would be interested in commercial space 😊.
There is too much traffic on 93 thru Lolo without more residential property right in the middle of town adding to the mix! We need commercial entities to help the people already living in the area! A doctors office, coffee shop (sit down and serving food), restaurant, retail shops…many of us shop local and want to shop more in Lolo! I love our little town and want it to prosper…that happens with businesses…more residential can be added on the vacant areas right outside Lolo!
It would be great if there was a space for a little park!
It would be so nice not to have to drive to Florence or Missoula to go to the park!
I like their drawings of the proposed development. Especially multi types of housing, not just apartments. I like the open spaces and I believe they will landscape nicely. Yes traffic is busy in this area, but luckily there is a traffic light already. The bigger problem is the development to the north of this site that puts everyone that lives there on a 2 lane Ridgeway. I do believe that the developers should have to put money in to expand the water and sewer systems, but Lolo residents need to step up and pay extra taxes for the expansion also.
It is great that Lolo is growing but what is not great is that there is no expansion for our roads with the increase in population. There needs to be more stop lights or round snouts so traffic flows in Lolo, all the developments should be paying for additional measures to ensure this, it is not fair that big developments happen with out increasing our traffic infrastructure.
All comments are great I was wondering about that hill collapsing since a young boy I mean that's probably how it got there to begin with. I am also very concerned about the sewer system it already stinks very badly and they have been saying that it's overwhelming amou
I would like to have a coffee shop or coffee drive through. Wild bean was the best coffee, but they shut down last year. A coffee roasters for example.
Just want to echo the prevailing notion that Lolo town center is currently little more than a glorified truck stop. It is littered with sloppy, low-rent commercial activity, ad hoc signage, light-industrial blight, dilapidated concrete and asphalt infrastructure, and virtually no attention paid to aesthetics, walkability, or the natural surroundings. It is, indeed, the gateway to the Bitterroot Valley, and it desperately needs to be reimagined as such, with attention paid to tree-scaping, sidewalks, and space for street-level community interaction, whether it's a park, a coffee shop, a music venue, or other attraction. To the extent that this plan develops with these long-term improvements and goals in mind, I'm all for it.
Going to suggest 4 or more access roads into/out of this highly condensed subdivision. Lolo has a community center.
I would encourage planning staff to walk the base of the Lolo hillside with a clinometer or have surveyors verify the actual slopes to confirm this is an area that should be developed at 6 DU/AC as proposed in the plan. If there is a sliver of ground of less than 25% slope located at the base of the hill there still may be concerns with undermining or disturbing the toe of the very steep (50% over 200 feet high) slopes above the proposed developed area. There may be a portion of this ground that is developable, but slope stability is a concern and should be addressed in the plan.