Frenchtown Interchange Zoning Initiative

I support the proposed rezoning.

I live in Frenchtown. I moved here for the same reason most of us did. Small town, good schools, clean water, room to breathe. That's not something I'm willing to watch get chipped away by a development that serves nobody who actually lives here.

The groundwater situation alone should be enough. This area sits over the Missoula sole source aquifer, designated by the EPA. The water table is shallow. There's no protective clay layer. Every home out here is on a private well. No city water, no city sewer. The county has already flagged parts of Frenchtown as a special management zone for groundwater contamination going back 30 years. A truck stop with fuel storage on top of that is a real risk to a resource you can't get back once it's gone.

Montana's Constitution lists the right to a clean and healthful environment as an inalienable right, right alongside property and liberty. Article IX, Section 1 requires the state to maintain and improve that environment for present and future generations. The Montana Supreme Court upheld this as recently as December 2024. Allowing development that threatens our sole source aquifer in an unzoned area runs counter to that.

The A.J. Hoyt Memorial Trail is the only separated pedestrian and bike route in an area with no sidewalks. Kids use it to get to school. Track and cross country teams train on it. PE classes are on it during school hours. The proposed access points would put commercial truck traffic directly across that path. That's a real safety problem.

Traffic near the 89 exit is already backed up during school drop-off and pickup. Past accidents speak for themselves. I'd encourage anyone making this decision to drive through during peak hours and compare what they see to the initial traffic study.

There are four truck stops at the Wye, nine miles away. There are two gas stations already in Frenchtown. There's no gap in service here. This isn't about stopping growth. It's about making sure growth fits the community it's going into.

Please approve the proposed rezoning.

I support this zoning initiative.
As a Frenchtown resident, I am documenting a pattern that has led directly to this situation.
The West Valley Community Council requested that County planning staff, consider zoning in the West Valley area. Visioning sessions were specifically requested so residents could have input on how this area would develop.
County planning staff stated those efforts would have to wait because other areas were a priority.
That decision matters, because the County was already aware as early as 2008 that Town Pump had purchased this acreage and had an approved approach permit. Planning was delayed anyway.
Now the situation is being described as reactive, and the County is stating it has limited authority because the land is not zoned and permits are not required. Zoning is the tool.
Zoning is how the County establishes standards, protects public safety, and guides development. When it is not used, the County’s ability to act is limited by that choice.
This application is the opportunity to use that tool now.
Approval of this zoning would establish standards where none exist, create a framework for addressing safety and traffic impacts, and protect existing community infrastructure.
There are clear, existing conditions that support action:
A school is located approximately one mile from the site
A state park nearby is used year-round by the public
The existing bike and pedestrian path is the only separated route in an area without sidewalks
That path is heavily used by students, runners, cyclists, and families
The proposed access points for a large gas station, casino, and truck stop would intersect that path
These are not hypothetical concerns. These are existing conditions.
There are also numerous public comments on record supporting this zoning request.
This is not a lack of information.
This is not a lack of community input.
This is a decision.
This application is one of the only meaningful tools available at this stage. Not using it continues the same pattern that created this situation. Using it begins to correct it.
The question is not whether the County has a tool. The question is whether it will be used.
I ask the Commissioners to use the authority they have and approve this zoning.

I strongly support the Frenchtown Interchange zoning initiative. Without it, our community is vulnerable to development that would permanently destroy the character of the community.
My primary concerns include:
* Student Safety: The proposed development is too close to our middle and high schools. I am deeply concerned about increased crime risks and student exposure to alcohol and vapes near school grounds.
* Traffic Hazards: Our interchange is already congested. Adding heavy truck traffic creates a significant safety risk for the many inexperienced student drivers and athletes using the nearby bike and walking paths.
* Environmental Impact: Large industrial projects like the proposed truck top threaten our water supply and will create irreversible noise and light pollution.
Establishing this zoning is the only way to ensure growth respects our quality of life and protects kids at the Frenchtown School District.

Missoula County has an opportunity to act proactively by adopting zoning at the Frenchtown interchange to protect public safety, water resources, and the long‑term stability of the community. Frenchtown is already experiencing growth pressure, and without zoning, development will occur in a piecemeal and reactive manner that places long‑lasting burdens on residents, infrastructure, and natural resources.
The interchange area sits between Frenchtown Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and alongside a heavily used memorial bike path. Traffic congestion is already significant during school hours, sporting events, and daily commutes. Introducing large‑scale commercial development—particularly uses that generate heavy truck traffic—would substantially increase safety risks for student drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and families, while also straining a road network that was not designed to handle such volumes.
Equally critical is the protection of Frenchtown’s groundwater. Much of the area relies on shallow private wells, and the community lacks the groundwater safeguards present in other parts of the district. Once contaminated, groundwater cannot realistically be restored, placing public health, recreation areas such as Frenchtown Pond, and future generations at risk. Zoning is one of the few tools available to prevent irreversible environmental harm before it occurs.
Zoning is not an attempt to stop growth. It is a planning tool that allows growth to occur responsibly, in appropriate locations, and at a scale that aligns with local infrastructure and community values. There are already multiple large truck stops within a short distance at nearby interchanges, making such development unnecessary at the center of Frenchtown. Once incompatible development is built, its impacts—traffic congestion, noise, light pollution, environmental risks, and community disruption—cannot be undone.
The strong community response supporting this proposal demonstrates a clear desire for thoughtful, locally guided planning. Approving zoning honors that engagement and reflects Missoula County’s responsibility to protect health, safety, water resources, and quality of life while planning intelligently for the future. Adding zoning in Frenchtown is a prudent, measured step that benefits both current residents and generations to come.

I strongly support the proposed Frenchtown Interchange zoning initiative.

Establishing zoning is an essential step to preserve our local rural identity while still allowing for future growth that maintains the character of the community. As it stands, the lack of zoning exposes this area to development that could strip this community of its unique rural character forever.

I share the widespread concerns regarding safety, environmental preservation, and our collective future if industrial-scale projects are allowed per in an unzoned rural space. This poses a significant threat to our resident’s quality of life, safety, water supply, environmental quality through noise and light pollution and will negatively impact the Frenchtown community and School District in irreversible ways.

I have significant safety concerns regarding the close proximity to the Frenchtown middle and high school. Trucks stops are well documented to be hot spots for crime. School students regularly use the walking/bike path that runs in front of the land for PE classes, training for sports, and walking to and from school. I am concerned for student safety due to potential crime, traffic, and access to alcohol or vapes that this proposed development would bring. I also feel there are safety issues regarding traffic - there is already heavy traffic at the Frenchtown interchange caused by school traffic and cannot accommodate large increases in traffic and large trucks such a truck stop would bring, particularly as many drivers to the high school are younger inexperienced drivers.

I strongly advocate for the approval of this zoning initiative to protect the community and schools in Frenchtown now and in the future.

I believe this zoning proposal is the best way forward for Frenchtown to retain its community. It will protect our water resources as well as our students and others who use the bike path. Additionally, it will allow for the type of growth that fosters and maintains our sense of community.

I support the proposed zoning amendment as a necessary step toward responsible, well-planned growth in the Frenchtown area. Growth is inevitable, but without zoning in place it risks happening in a piecemeal way that overwhelms our roads, infrastructure, and natural resources. The Frenchtown interchange is already heavily traveled, and the existing road network was not designed to handle the additional congestion that a large-scale commercial development would bring. Increased truck traffic would strain intersections, reduce safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and create long-term infrastructure costs for a small community. Equally concerning is the shallow groundwater in this area, which supplies drinking water for homes and nearby recreation. Once groundwater is contaminated, the damage is often permanent and extremely costly to address. Thoughtful zoning helps ensure development occurs in appropriate locations, protects critical infrastructure, and safeguards our water resources for future generations. Approving this zoning amendment is not about stopping growth, but about making sure growth happens in a way that is safe, sustainable, and aligned with the long-term needs of Frenchtown residents.

I support the proposed zoning in Frenchtown and request that it is approved and put into place. I am a current sophomore at Frenchtown High School and feel our school will be negatively affected by the proximity of the travel plaza to our school. I believe it will cause safety concerns due to the increased traffic. Traffic during school hours and school events is already high and would only be increased by the addition of large trucks. As well as the school has a lot of new drivers so this increased traffic could have the potential to cause more accidents. It would also increase safety concerns about student safety for kids using the bike path to run along for track, cross country, as well as to commute to and from the school. Commissioners, please consider adopting this proposed zoning amendment.

I strongly support the Frenchtown Interchange Zoning Initiative. This will bring thoughtful growth to a valley that has housing needs. A truck stop is unwarranted as there is 4 different ones one exit away. Adding another one to this area will bring light pollution, environmental pollution, noise, and unnecessary traffic. As a parent who has children attending the schools in the area I am very concerned about safety (more traffic & congestion, general theft, and crime) due to the close proximity to the schools and bike path that is used.

I strongly urge you to approve the zoning initiative to keep Frenchtown the small community it is. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

I am writing in support of the proposed rezoning due to ongoing traffic and safety concerns and its potential to better preserve Frenchtown’s rural character. Traffic near the 89 exit is already congested during peak school and work hours, and past accidents highlight the risks. A quick drive during these times shows the initial traffic study does not reflect real conditions. I urge decision-makers to consider the E5 Engineering findings and observe the area firsthand during peak hours.

A large, traffic-oriented development, especially one serving semi-trucks, would worsen congestion, delay emergency response, and increase risks for pedestrians, trail users, and nearby schoolchildren. It would also erode Frenchtown’s agricultural and rural identity. The proposed rezoning instead supports development that better serves local residents and preserves community character and safety.

I am also concerned about the area’s shallow groundwater and the real risk of contamination from large-scale commercial use. Protecting this resource is essential to the health and sustainability of the community.

Growth is inevitable, but it must be guided by safety, sustainability, and respect for our community. The current development proposal falls short of that standard. Please support Frenchtown residents by approving the proposed rezoning.

I am a resident of Frenchtown and someone who attended school here from elementary school through high school. I know this community deeply, and I am voicing my strong support for the zoning initiative before this Commission.
My reasons for supporting this zoning are the same ones shared by so many of my neighbors, and they are personal to me:
• This proposed development sits directly adjacent to our High School and Middle School and right between those schools and our Elementary School. A large truck stop in that location would fundamentally undermine the sense of safety that families like mine rely on every single day.
• Many of us use the memorial bike path daily. It is not just a recreational trail — for students and families, it is how we get to school, to work to each other. Heavy truck traffic from a truck stop would make that path genuinely dangerous.
• Traffic during school drop-off and pick-up is already a real problem. Adding a truck stop to this corridor would not just create congestion it would create more danger for all. The traffic would back up onto the interstate. That is not an exaggeration; it is the predictable outcome. Leaving all residents, commuters, and travelers in the area in an extremely dangerous traffic situation.
• The community already faces water challenges out here. Our wells and our aquifer are under stress. A truck stop — with its fuel storage, heavy vehicle operations, and high-water demands — would make those problems significantly worse for every family relying on a private well.
• Existing fuel services are already adequately provided within the community by two locally-operated businesses, rendering the proposed facility unnecessary to meet local demand. There are four large truck stops fully equipped to serve commercial drivers just nine miles down the highway at the Wye. There is simply no need for this type of facility in our community.

The reason my family has stayed in the Frenchtown area for over 20 years since I graduated High School is for exactly what this town has always been: a small, tight-knit community with a small-town feel. That is not a minor preference — it was a deliberate life choice, and it is the same choice that lots of Frenchtown residents have made. We do not want to see that character erased by a development that serves no local need and creates real, lasting harm.

We need this zoning to be put in place for our safety and the safety of our children, and to preserve the small-town community that makes Frenchtown worth living in. I urge this Commission to act

As property owners and residents of Frenchtown, my wife and I strongly support this zoning effort. Like many of our neighbors, we chose this area specifically because of its quiet, agricultural character — and that's worth protecting. A large-scale commercial truck stop does not belong at the center of our community, and without proper zoning, we have no voice in preventing exactly that kind of development. Beyond the well-documented concerns about water quality and traffic safety, large truck stops are also known to bring increased criminal activity to the surrounding area — the last thing we want near our schools and families. Our water, our roads, our safety, and our neighborhood deserve thoughtful planning, not haphazard growth driven by outside commercial interests. We urge the board to approve this zoning measure and give Frenchtown residents a say in the future of the place we call home.

I support the zoning effort in Frenchtown. This area is so close to the schools and a large truck stop would most definitely cause issues for the safety of the kids and those who use the nearby bike path. It will take away the
small town feel that so many have chosen by living in Frenchtown. It will increase traffic in the area which can't be
supported in a small
community. There are already has stations in Frenchtown and the Wye isn't far away with all of the truck stops- so why does there need to be another? Once this monstrosity is in it can't be undone when it negatively impacts the people that actually live here. Don't choose corporate profit and greed over the safety and happiness of an entire surrounding community.

We support the proposed zoning amendment submitted by Keeping Frenchtown.

We are native Montanans and have lived in Frenchtown for close to 30 years. We have pride in our small town community and love this valley.

It would be a shame to lose the sense of safety and security we have come to know by allowing this large travel plaza to be built. The increase in traffic, noise, lighting, and crime would be a DETREMENT to our beloved community. As mentioned by many others, this intersection is extremely dangerous and adding more traffic will only make it more dangerous. Thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists use our walking path regularly. Safety is a huge concern, as this proposed location sits between our elementary and high school. Every day there are numerous 'near-misses'. Not to mention extracurricular and sporting events that drive traffic into Frenchtown.

Our local water supply is of great concern. As noted in the study, the groundwater is shallow and fuel leakage could contaminate our precious resource. As Montanans, our state constitution declares that the state must maintain and improve a 'clean and healthful environment' for present and future generations. Water quality protections are needed to protect our valued resource.

Commissioners, please consider adopting this proposed zoning amendment.

I support the zoning proposed and request that it is approved and put into place. The many reasons have already been listed in one way or another in earlier comments. I agree with them all except for the one comment that does not support this zoning request as of this comment submittal. We need to protect this areas water and other natural resources as well as the rural/residential qualities that are here. It is time for this zoning to be done. Thank you.

I support the Frenchtown Interchange zoning proposal. This area is currently unzoned and Frenchtown does not have the same groundwater protections that apply in other parts of the district, which makes smart zoning even more important here. We need to protect our drinking water, contamination that affects our recreation (Frenchtown Pond) the rural character of our community from incompatible large commercial development. Traffic safely, free space for our children to live and recreate without fear and traffic danger, light pollution, drugs, and all other things that come with large truck stops and their transient traffic. This is not about stopping all growth. It is about making sure growth does not put our water, safety, and way of life at risk. Please approve the zoning proposal and do what the people are asking for.

I support the Frenchtown Interchange zoning proposal. This area is currently unzoned and Frenchtown does not have the same groundwater protections that apply in other parts of the district, which makes smart zoning even more important here. We need to protect our drinking water, contamination that affects our recreation (Frenchtown Pond) the rural character of our community from incompatible large commercial development. Traffic safely, free space for our children to live and recreate without fear and traffic danger, light pollution, drugs, and all other things that come with large truck stops and their transient traffic. This is not about stopping all growth. It is about making sure growth does not put our water, safety, and way of life at risk. Please approve the zoning proposal and do what the people are asking for.

I support the proposed zoning amendment by Keeping Frenchtown.

After selling my home in Missoula, I chose to rent in this area prior to purchasing because I fell in love with the rural, small-community feel that makes Frenchtown so special. However, with the proposed Town Pump and additional developments nearby, I no longer feel confident investing here long-term.

Putting zoning in place is a smart and necessary step to protect the rural and agricultural character of this area while still allowing for reasonable, well-planned growth. Right now, being unzoned leaves the door open for incompatible development that could permanently change the nature of this community.

Like others in the community, I also have concerns about safety, environmental impact and long-term quality of life. Large-scale development in a currently unzoned, rural area has the potential to affect water, wildlife and the overall wellbeing of residents in ways that cannot be undone.

Overall, this is a proactive step to preserve what makes Frenchtown unique while planning responsibly for the future.

I fully support the zoning request. There is a plethora of reasons to support this request the majority of which have been mentioned in the prior comments. I have been so disillusioned with all the growth in the valley and it feels like a slap in the face to think that the County would approve a truck stop smack dab in the center of Frenchtown. I realize that growth is inevitable but lets not make an unnecessary mess of Frenchtown.

As a 40 year Frenchtown resident I would like to strongly encourage those in charge to accept and pass this zoning request. I firmly believe that the integrity and feel of and for our community needs to be preserved. I understand that change is inevitable however we need this as a tool to control what that change will look like.
Thank you signed Wayne Futch