Tillotson Family Transfer

Project description

Steve and Janice Tillotson (applicants), represented by Thomas Cannon of 406 Engineering, are requesting to use the family transfer exemption from subdivision review to divide their 3.33-acre parcel located at 5808/5810 Legend Lane in Lolo into 2 parcels (Lot A-1-1: .73 acres; Lot A-1-2: 2.60 acres). Lot A-1-1 will be kept by the applicants, while Lot A-1-2 will be gifted to their adult son, Nathan. The gifted parcel will be developed with a residential dwelling unit with an individual well and septic system.

The property is currently located in an unzoned area of Missoula County, and is classified as Residential, 1 dwelling unit/5 acres by the 2002 Lolo Regional Plan, an update of the 1975 Missoula County Comprehensive Plan.

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 doesn’t 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, Dec. 3

• In-person location: Sophie Moiese Room, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, 200 W. 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

Project lead

Kevin Dantic, 406-258-4657

pds@missoulacounty.us

Public comment

Submit public comment by Monday, Nov. 30, using the comment tool below.

Important links and documents

Tillotson Family Transfer application

Existing and Proposed Conditions

Planning, Development and Sustainability webpage