The county commissioners had their first public hearing meeting for the Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Project on March 5. They will hold a second public hearing meeting to discuss the project on Thursday, March 12. If needed, an additional public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Keep in mind that public comment is limited to 3 minutes. Click here for additional tips for attending a public meeting.

Thursday, March 12, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment, Rezoning, and Minor Subdivision)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Thursday, March 19, 10 a.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment, Rezoning, and Minor Subdivision)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Project Background

Growth Policy Amendment and Rezoning: The developer of the Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront project seeks to amend Missoula County’s Growth Policy and zoning map by changing the land use designations and rezoning the former West Bonner Log Yard. If these requests are not approved, the proposed subdivision would not comply with current zoning regulations and could not be permitted as proposed. If approved, this project will convert the 107-acre site into a mix of new commercial, residential, industrial, recreational and open space uses.

The proposal is to amend the Missoula County Growth Policy Land Use Element Map as follows:

1. Preliminarily approved Blackfoot Crossing Subdivision, Lots 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27: proposed to be designated Commercial Center; other land use designations that may be considered for adoption for these lots are Neighborhood Commercial and Industrial Center.
2. Proposed Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Subdivision, Lots 5, 6, 7 and 8: proposed to be designated as Neighborhood Center.
3. Proposed Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Subdivision Common Areas, CA2 and CA4: proposed to be designated as Open Land, Resource, and Recreation.
4. Proposed Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Subdivision Common Area CA5: proposed to be designated as Working Lands.

While this property is currently vacant, the County’s Growth Policy has designated most of it for heavy industrial use. With the growth policy amendment and rezoning, the developer proposes to reduce the area zoned heavy industrial to accommodate a new mixed-use development, including housing and commercial uses. Currently, 68 acres of this site are zoned Industrial Center Heavy (ICH), 17 acres are zoned Industrial Center Light (ICL), and 22 acres are zoned Agriculture, Working (AGW40). Under this proposal, the developer seeks to amend the zoning map as follows:

• Establish Commercial Center zoning on the west side of the property near the junction of Highway 200 and 1st Street. Preliminarily approved Blackfoot Crossing Subdivision, Lots 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 are proposed to be zoned Commercial Center (CC); other zoning districts that may be considered for adoption for these lots are Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and Industrial Center Light (ICL). The developer has indicated that a travel plaza is intended for this area, and rezoning to Commercial Center (CC) would permit other retail, service, food and beverage, motel and office uses.
• Establish Neighborhood Center zoning that allows a broad range of housing, retail and office use. Proposed Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Subdivision, Lots 5, 6, 7 and 8 are proposed to be zoned as Neighborhood Center (NC). This zone would establish a minimum density of eight units per acre and limit maximum building footprint and height. The developer's proposed housing development includes smaller, neighborhood-scale options: single-family homes on small lots, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, townhomes, and potentially larger units with six to eight homes.
• Rezone Common areas CA2 and CA4 as Resource and Open Lands (RO). These areas are intended to provide utility easements and increase access to nearby public lands.

The northeastern corner of the property (CA5) would remain unchanged, with a zoning designation of Agricultural Working Lands (AGW-40).

A full list of permitted uses by zone is available in Section 2.4, Chapter 2 of the County Zoning Regulations.

Minor Subdivision: This proposal also includes a five-lot minor subdivision called Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront. The subdivision is proposed in four phases over the next eight years. Each phase must function on its own, meaning roads, sidewalks, water, sewer, fire protection and stormwater systems are built as the project grows—not left for later.

Much of the land along the Blackfoot River is proposed to remain undeveloped as common area open space. Easements for a future public, non-motorized trail in the common area next to the river connect Milltown State Park, nearby neighborhoods and nearby public lands.

New roads would connect to Cowboy Trail and West Riverside Drive, with sidewalks on both sides and a bike- and pedestrian-friendly design. Traffic studies indicate that a future roundabout and intersection upgrades are planned when growth warrants them.

The site has been disturbed by past industrial use. Studies found no significant impacts on agriculture, limited wildlife habitat in developed areas, and no considerable groundwater or flood risks in the proposed building areas. Sensitive slopes and river-adjacent land are set aside as open space. Stormwater will be captured and infiltrated on-site, preventing runoff from flowing into the river.

The developer plans to create a new public water and sewer system to serve the new development and may also expand it to serve the surrounding area. The surrounding West Riverside community would not be required to connect to these systems; however, the systems will be designed to support future expansion into surrounding areas.

The proposed water supply wells must be permitted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as Public Water Supply sources. The wastewater treatment facility, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system, has been submitted for DEQ permitting but has not yet been approved.

Additional information about the subdivision is provided in the links on the right side of this page.

Project Timeline:

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m.: Missoula Consolidated Planning Board Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment and Rezoning)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Thursday, March 5, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment, Rezoning, and Minor Subdivision)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Thursday, March 12, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment, Rezoning, and Minor Subdivision)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.
  

Project Lead:

Kathleen Arthur, 406-258-3429

Ian Varley, 406-258-4653

Jennie Dixon, 406-258-4946

Important Links and Documents:

Growth Policy Amendment Request

Zoning Amendment Application

Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Public Notice

Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Subdivision Application

Application for Governing Body Review

Final Staff Report

For more supporting documents, follow this link, and go to the Blackfoot Crossing Riverfront Project folder under Important Documents on the right-hand side.

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by using the comment tool below.

Project Description:

Ranch Club Investments LLC, represented by Genesis Engineering Inc., is requesting a Phasing Plan Extension of the Ranch Club Subdivision Phases 10 and 11. This subdivision was originally approved in 2003, as a phased subdivision with 323 lots, formerly known as Phantom Hills Estates.

The applicant requests the following:

• 2-year extension of the Phase 10 filing deadline to Dec. 31, 2027
• 3-year extension of the Phase 11 filing deadline to Dec. 31, 2029

These are the two remaining phases of the Ranch Club development and will consist of 52 single-family lots, 41 townhome lots and 5.55 acres of dedicated parkland.

Missoula County Subdivision Regulations Phasing Plan Extension

Missoula County Subdivision Regulations (MCSR) Section 5.8.18.4 allows extension of at least one but no more than three years from the date of the request, which applies to the entire subdivision. Final plats for all phases of a subdivision approved on or after May 8, 2017, must be submitted to review and approved, conditionally approved or denied within 20 years of the date or preliminary plat approval (MCSR) Section 5.8.18.5.B.

Project Timeline:

County commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 26

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by Wednesday, March 25, using the comment tool below.

Project Lead:

Kevin Dantic, 406-258-4652

Important Links and Documents:

Ranch Club Phasing Plat Extension

Phases 10 & 11 Map

Ranch Club Aerial

Planning, Development and Sustainability

The county commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider the Fire Bucket Meadows Minor Subdivision application on Thursday, March 26. This request was previously heard at public hearings on March 27, 2025, April 24, 2025, May 22, 2025, May 29, 2025, and June 26, 2025. At the request of the applicants during June 26, 2025, public hearing, the county commissioners voted to indefinitely postpone a decision on the proposed subdivision to allow the applicants to provide additional data and analysis of water quantity and quality and impacts to neighboring properties. The applicants have provided additional information relevant to the proposed subdivision which can be viewed in the attached included on this page. Please contact the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability with any questions.

Thursday, March 26, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Project Description:

Fire Bucket Meadows Minor Subdivision is a proposed five-lot residential subdivision on 19.82 acres at 11109 Fire Bucket Loop, northwest of the Wye. The project is proposed by Dale Sparks and Tamara Jo Beich, represented by Professional Consultants Inc. Each lot will be accessed from Fire Bucket Loop, a 60-foot private access road. Road improvements are planned to bring the section serving the subdivision up to Missoula County road standards.

As part of the subdivision review process, we are seeking public comments on how the proposal aligns with key review criteria, including:

• Compliance with zoning and the Growth Policy

• Potential impacts on agriculture, local services, the natural environment, wildlife, and public health and safety

• Adherence to state survey requirements and local subdivision regulations

• Provision of necessary easements

• Availability of legal and physical access

Project Timeline:

Thursday, March 12, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners’ Public Meeting (Growth Policy Amendment, Rezoning, and Minor Subdivision)

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.
  

Public Comment:

Community members, especially adjacent property owners, are encouraged to submit comments and questions by commenting on this post, attend the meeting in person, or join virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Project Lead:

Patrick Swart, 406-258-4841

Important Links and Documents:

Related documents: Click here to download the application.

Applicant letter to commissioners

Fire Bucket loop aquifer test

Fire Bucket meadows subdivision application

Geosyntec hydrologic technical analysis

Newman hydrogeologist report

Photos of area homes

Pump test notice to neighbors

Sparks well log

Water quality reports

Water rights letter

Water rights review

Willowstick groundwater well

Fire Bucket Meadows Form

Fire Bucket Layout

Water District Quality Comments 5-9-25

The public hearing meeting for this project has been changed to Thursday, March 26

Project Description:

Kristin L. Crawford is requesting to use the family transfer exemption from subdivision review to divide her current 11.9-acre parcel at 8965 Western Farms Road in Grass Valley Area into two parcels (Lot 9A-1: 6.60 acres; Lot 9A-2: 5 acres). Kristin plans to gift Lot 9A-2 to her father, Michael J. Robinson.

Subdivision Regulations and Exemptions

Missoula County’s subdivision regulations promote public health, safety and general welfare by ensuring any subdivision of land in the County’s jurisdiction provides for adequate light, air, water supply, sewage disposal, parks and recreation areas, ingress and egress and other public requirements. Many requests to divide land must go through the subdivision process to ensure these requirements are met, but certain types of land division are exempt from subdivision review. Landowners can apply for one or multiple subdivision exemptions when their development plans meet the state and local requirements for the applicable exemptions.

Being granted these exemptions means the property owner does not need to go through the standard subdivision review process to divide their property. These requests require administrative review by planning staff and, in some cases, may require approval by the county commissioners to ensure the applicant is not evading these regulations.

• Family Transfer Exemption
  Landowners can request a family transfer exemption when they intend to divide their property to gift or sell the newly created parcel(s) to an immediate family member.

View subdivision exemption criteria.

What is a family transfer?

Montana law specifically allows landowners to divide land and gift or sell one parcel per immediate family member (like a child, parent or spouse), without full subdivision review.

Requests for family transfers must always come before the commissioners. Missoula County considers dozens of family land transfers every year. It’s not rare — other counties across Montana regularly process these applications too. It’s not a loophole — it’s in the law for a reason: to help families live near each other or pass down land. It does not skirt regulations — the process requires surveys, documentation, fees and approval by county commissioners.

The landowner and recipient must be real people, not LLCs or corporations. It can only be used once per family member per county.

Project Timeline:

County commissioners’ hearing: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 26

• In-person location: Sophie Moiese Room, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, 200 West Broadway, Missoula
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by Wednesday, March 25, using the comment tool below.

Project Lead:

Kevin Dantic, 406-258-4652

Important Links and Documents:

Crawford Family Transfer Exemption Application

Existing and Proposed Conditions

Planning, Development and Sustainability

Project Description:

This is a request from Mountain Construction, Inc, represented by 406 Engineering, to subdivide a 12.31-acre parcel into three residential lots located at 31725 Ranch Lane in Huson. The proposed lots are roughly four acres each, with each lot intended for a single-family residence.

As part of this development, there will be new driveways along the existing roads to access each of the lots. There will be no changes to the existing road system and there are no proposed roads or non-motorized facilities as part of the development’s proposal.

The property is currently in an unzoned area of Missoula County. The Land Use Designation map from Missoula County Growth Policy recommends Open and Resource land designation for this property and for most of Ninemile Valley, however, similar developments like this are scattered across the valley. Water for this subdivision will be provided by individual wells. Well logs show a yield of 20 gallons per minute, approximately 35 feet below the ground surface. Sewer will be provided by individual drain fields on each lot. These will be designed and constructed per Montana Department of Environmental Quality Circular -4 and Missoula County Regulations. Stormwater will be retained by landscaping and retention ponds located on site.

Subdivision Regulations

Missoula County’s subdivision regulations promote public health, safety and general welfare by ensuring any subdivision of land in the County’s jurisdiction provides for adequate light, air, water supply, sewage disposal, parks and recreation areas, ingress and egress and other public requirements. A subdivision is considered “minor” when it has five or fewer lots.

Staff consider the following when making a recommendation to the county commissioners on whether to approve or deny a subdivision request:

• compliance with zoning and the Growth Policy
• effects on agriculture and agricultural water user facilities, local services, the natural environment, wildlife, and wildlife habitat and public health and safety
• compliance with survey requirements established in state statute, and local subdivision regulations and review procedures
• provision of necessary easements and other legal and physical access

Project Timeline:

County commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, April 9

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal.

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by Wednesday, April 8, using the comment tool below.

Project Lead:

Katy Reeder, 406-258-3707

Important Links and Documents:

Larch Meadows Minor Subdivision Application

Section A

Section B

Section C

Section D

Section E

Section F

Section G

Section H

Section I

Planning, Development and Sustainability

The public hearing meeting for this project has been changed to Thursday, April 2.

Project Description:

Granite Peak RV Resort, located at 9900 Thoroughbred Lane Missoula, is requesting an extension of the Phase 1 preliminary plat approval from August 2026 to August 2029 due to ongoing engineering work and pending agency approvals. This request does not affect the Phase 2 deadline. In 2024, the commissioners approved 50-space expansion of the existing RV park and received Special Exception approval after the property was rezoned to Neighborhood Residential. Construction for this project cannot begin until utility and infrastructure approvals are finalized.

Missoula County Subdivision Regulations Extension

Missoula County Subdivision Regulations (MCSR) Section 5.8.18.4 allows extension of at least one but no more than three years from the date of the request, which applies to the entire subdivision. Final plats for all phases of a subdivision approved on or after May 8, 2017, must be submitted to review and approved, conditionally approved or denied within 20 years of the date or preliminary plat approval (MCSR 5.8.19.5 B).

Project Timeline:

County commissioners’ public hearing: 2 p.m., Thursday, April 2

• In-person location: Sophie Moiese Room, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, 200 West Broadway, Missoula
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by Wednesday, April 1, by using the comment tool below.

Project Lead:

Katy Reeder, kreeder@missoulacounty.us

Important Links and Documents:

Granite Peak Phasing Extension Application

Missoula County Subdivision Regulations

Former project: Granite Peak RV Park Extension in the Wye Application

This Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board will hold a second public meeting to discuss this project. Meeting day and time is to be determined.

Project Description:

Bonner 1 RE LLC is requesting a sign variance for their property at Bonner Town Pump Travel Plaza, located at 7985 Hwy. 200 E in Bonner.

The variance request is to accommodate the following changes:

• A variance to switch out five of the nine existing legal nonconforming signs. Current zoning regulations only permit four signs per project site.
• A variance to expand the total sign face area of the five new signs allowed in the CC zoning district. The five existing wall signs have a combined sign face area of 247 square feet, and the five proposed wall signs would have a combined sign face area of 317.83 square feet.

Project Background:

The existing nine signs on this property are currently legal nonconforming and were approved prior to current zoning regulations for this area. Legal nonconforming means that the signs are allowed to exist even though it does not conform with current regulations, with the understanding that any changes beyond normal maintenance and upkeep would require a variance from the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board.

Missoula County Sign Regulations:

What is a variance?

A variance is a relaxation of specific provisions of zoning regulations that can be granted if certain criteria can be met. The Consolidated Land Use Board may only approve a zoning variance if it’s not contrary to the public interest and does not give an advantage to a particular business that is not also enjoyed by other businesses in the same zoning district. They must evaluate proposed variances using the following criteria and find favorably that:

1. The variance will not authorize a use that is not already allowed in the zoning district.
2. The variance will not authorize additional density beyond what is allowed in the zoning district.
3. Special conditions exist that are unique to the property, such as size, shape, topography or location, that do not apply to other lands in the same zoning classification.
4. Literal enforcement of the provisions of the regulations will result in unnecessary hardship that is not of the applicant’s own making.
5. Granting the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of these regulations and the Missoula County Growth Policy and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.
6. The request for the variance is not based on monetary factors.

Project Timeline:

Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board Meeting: Wednesday, March 4, 6 p.m.

• In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
• Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Consolidated Land Use Board page.

Public Comment:

Submit public comment by Tuesday, March 3, by using the comment tool below.

Project Lead:

Patrick Swart, 406-258-4841

Important Links and Documents:

7985 Hwy. 200 E Variance Request Application

Project Description:

The Missoula County Planning, Development, & Sustainability Department (PDS) has received Floodplain Development Permit Application #26-10 from The Lamar Companies to replace the support structure of a current billboard sign.

The primary purpose of a Floodplain Development Permit is to promote health, safety and general welfare, minimize flood losses in areas subject to flood hazards and promote wise use of the floodplain.

Project Location:

The site is located at 904 U North Reserve St. in the Clark Fork River regulated flood hazard area: southwest end of the Reserve Street bridge, Section 17, Township 13 North, Range 196 West, Missoula County.

The full application is available for review online or in the PDS office at 127 E. Main St., Suite 2, in Missoula.

Please feel free to call 406-258-4647 or email floodplain@missoulacounty.us with any questions or to make an appointment to review the permit application.

Public Comment:

Submit comments by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 by using the comment tool below, emailing floodplain@missoulacounty.us or mailing to Planning, Development, & Sustainability, Attn: Matt Heimel, Floodplain Administrator, 200 W. Broadway St., Missoula MT 59802

Related Documents and Links:

Floodplain Permit Application

Site Plan

Construction Drawings

Design Calculations

Vicinity Map – County

Missoula County Floodplain and Shoreline Administration

This permit is subject to approval by the floodplain administrator and does not go before the Board of County Commissioners.

Project Description

The Missoula County Planning, Development, & Sustainability Department (PDS) has received Floodplain Development Permit Application #26-03 from Gregory Axtman for electrical utility work.

The primary purpose of a Floodplain Development Permit is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, to minimize flood losses in areas subject to flood hazards, and to promote wise use of the floodplain.

Project Location

The site is located at 1744 Snowmass Drive in the Clearwater River regulated flood hazard area: Parcel 15 of COS 5140, Section 04, Township 16 North, Range 15 West, Missoula County. See location here.

The full application is available for review online or in the PDS office at 127 E. Main St., Suite 2, in Missoula.

Please feel free to call 406-258-4657 or email floodplain@missoulacounty.us with any questions or to make an appointment to review the permit application.

Public Comment

Submit comments by 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, by using the comments tools below, by emailing floodplain@missoulacounty.us or mailing to Planning, Development, & Sustainability, Attn: Matt Heimel, Floodplain Administrator, 200 W. Broadway St., Missoula MT 59802.

Related Documents and Links

Floodplain Permit Application

Application Signatures

Site Map

This permit is subject to approval by the floodplain administrator and does not go before the Board of County Commissioners.