Grass Valley Gardens Planned Unit Development (PUD) Subdivision in the Wye

Removed by moderator.

Stop the over development of the Missoula area. We are encroaching upon our wildlife and endangering our water supply. Ruining the vibe and culture of our community. Once we build it up and out we can only see what it looked like before in pictures. The closer you get to the mountain the more you cannot see it’s vast beauty. Once you have built around its base you have defaced it. It cannot be undone!

I own a manufacturing company within a quarter mile of Grass Valley Gardens. Like most employers in town, it's hard for our team to find reasonable housing options, especially close to where they work. If this project is approved, it will be a huge help in providing our team with more housing choices. It'll also provide food options and retail services within walking distance of our manufacturing facility. I strongly support the approval of this project.

My company recently purchased land near this project. We plan to build a new building later this year and hire more people for our knife manufacturing facility. 90 percent of our revunue comes from out of state which is a huge benefit to our local economy. It's likely we'll have 200+ employees working here in the next few years. In order for us to grow our company and others to grow theirs, we need employees and a water infrastructure system. Like everyone else, our employees need a place to live, and affordable options are hard to come by. A project like this, right down the road from us, would be a great place for our employees to live, and would cut down on their commute times. It'd also be really nice to have a grocery store and better restaurants nearby since the Wye doesn't have them right now. I am 100% in favor of this project and I'd ask that the commissioners also support export industries in the County by helping to alleviate the housing crunch for our employees. Without a project like this, we may have to take our business to another county where employee housing and infrastructure is more available.

Worth asking: from a recent article regarding Bozeman saying NO to a subdivision. Imagine that, ok just a small bit of delusional humor.
“We would like to pose a question to the Bozeman City Commission. Imagine we could wave a magic wand and dramatically increase Bozeman’s housing supply overnight. Let’s say we could wake up tomorrow to 1,000 new units of all kinds of housing. Do you think the average housing price would decrease? Our hunch is that most, if not all of you, believe the answer is yes. Your actions are those of people who believe unaffordability in housing is caused mostly by low supply in the market, and that we can build our way to affordability. But we suggest that is a false premise. We don’t have a supply problem in our market; instead, we have a market that caters to Wall Street instead of answering the needs of working Bozemanites. If we woke up tomorrow to 1,000 brand-new housing units, they would be snatched up by same people who are snatching them up today: 20 percent would go to wealthy people from Bozeman who can afford to move up or invest; fifty percent would go to wealthy newcomers; and the remaining thirty percent would go to out-of-state investors. Jeff Krauss isn't the only one looking at reality and saying NO to the claims of local officials that poor developers just need LESS red tape in order for them to magically fix the housing crisis. “This whole system is corrupt. The way the city works in the interest of the developer is corrupt, and it needs to change,” said Bozeman resident Stuart Mitchell. “Maybe you should recognize why the public is so upset, and standing here repeatedly, and being very emotional, because they're not heard, and they don't trust you. Going back to the Bozeman article, here's a more detailed description of why this particular housing project got nixed Tuesday night: Developers proposed 111 units, 9 of which would have two bedrooms, with the remaining 102 being one-bedroom units. 56 of the total units were to be priced affordably for those making 80% of area median income, with one-bedroom units permitted to be priced with an occupancy of two people in mind. But commissioners pointed out that the one-bedroom units were similar to studios in size, layout and lack of a true kitchen, leading to a discrepancy in the calculation of affordable rent. “I do think that a reasonable person would look at both the one bedroom and the one bedroom plus arrangements and discern that that is a studio apartment,” said Commissioner Bode. Other rationale put forth by commissioners for denial of the application included questions of whether the affordable units were equitable in terms of views and location within the building, questions of ADA compliance in regard to the cramped site plan, and concerns about traffic congestion and safety impacts on the midtown neighborhood. Are officials in Missoula paying attention to this? I bet they are, and they should be, because locals here are also getting very tired of the corrupt self-dealing that's rampant, obvious, and ultimately self-destructive to the supposed goals of HELPING those who struggle to afford a roof over their head.

As a longtime resident of Missoula, I've seen firsthand the pressing need for more housing, with an emphasis on affordable housing options. This development seems to hit all the right notes. The phased approach seems thoughtful with a thorough understanding of our community's diverse needs. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of amenities such as community gardens and recreation areas to foster a sense of community and sustainability.

I am excited to see thoughtful, sustainable, and intelligent development in the Wye Area. Addressing affordable housing and job opportunities while reducing the carbon footprint is no small task. This project has my full support, and I am grateful it is happening in my community.

If we want to curb escalating housing costs, we have to increase the supply of housing. This development is thoughtful in its approach to designing a neighborhood around agriculture and community, while keeping the housing prices attainable. It is donating acreage to Frenchtown school district as well.

Missoula has been growing for years now. It is inevitable that, that growth heads to the west. The south hills are already over run and heading for Lolo. The east and north have been bought by the property owners in Missoula city limits, and closed. So who cares if there isn't enough water to go around. Too many septic's, too many wells, is a recipe for failure. It's time for the county "commissioners" to step up and tell us where all this water is going to come from, and where it's going to go. Missoula's Aquifer is not endless.

The Wye does not need this! The county is ruining Missoula one “plan” at a time! Leave the country/farm land ALONE! Missoula has enough housing! It’s not affordable because people think their property/rentals are worth a mint! So many rentals and houses that are vacant! Missoula county is just driving out the locals and making way for people coming from out of state that are willing to pay ridiculous prices and live in the “country”! Stop!

I am against this development because anyone who has done water well testing in this area knows a development that size can’t be sustained by local water resources. The wells that exist currently run super deep and water pressure for current residents has already been reduced by new full size lot homes going in. I suggest having a water well expert do testing to support my claims and to weigh in on a development of this size with this many homes. Water in this area has long been known to be scarce. Privatized water rights should be taken into account. Cost of water bills should be considered. As more homes go in, will the price of water increase while availability decrease?

I am thrilled about the new residential development in Missoula. It’s refreshing to see a solution to our housing issues that embraces community, diversity, and sustainability. The concept of multi generational living and varying income tears coexisting is fantastic. The inclusion of community gardens and ample living space creates a sense of togetherness and connection that is often missing in modern developments. Personally, I can’t wait for the chance to be a part of such an innovative and exclusive community. This project is a step in the right direction and Missoula‘s future, offering both practical solutions and enhanced quality of life.

This has got to be the most short sighted thing Missoula has ever done. Let's put another huge housing problem right on a rail road, and right under the traffic patter for the airport. We will be having people protesting the airport and wanting it shut down as soon as they move in. Missoula has some problems with its short sightedness, but this has to be one of the worse I have ever seen!

My primary concern for any and all growth in the west valley is school space. Hellgate, DeSmet and Frenchtown are all at or nearing dire capacity. The existing community has shown there is not support for funding to make improvements to current campuses, much less buying land and building new campuses. What is the Missoula County plan for continuing to educate children as Missoula County fills in, especially as housing goes in beyond the boundaries of MCPS?

218 residential lots, so does that mean since the zoning was changed to 10-12 homes per acre this equates to (218 x 10) 2180 homes?

I am against this subdivision for many reasons. The Frenchtown School district failed to pass a much needed levy. There is literally no heat in some of the classrooms. Adding more kids to an already over-crowded and over-burdened school is a mistake. I do realize there are "plans" to build a school in the future with this development, but it will take time and it does not show what phase the new school will be in.
I am opposed to this subdivision because the traffic on Hiway 93 North is horrible. It took me 12 minutes to try and get across Hiway 93 to go north on 93 from I-90 west. Adding 4. 2 trips per home will make this dangerous and will create huge traffic issues.
I am opposed to this subdivision because the homes are shoved into the development like sardines. The same developer built homes in East Missoula that are in a cluster development. They are 500 square feet and rent for $1400 per month.
I am opposed to this development because the infrastructure is not in place to support this growth, The TEDD 2 and TEDD at the Wye will take time to process, this development should be ON HOLD until the infrastructure is in place to support it. It is not in place as we speak and this is a dangerous precedent.
I am opposed to this development because it is not indicative of the rural feel of the area. Residents in the West Valley DO NOT want a "small city" at the Wye.
I am opposed to this development because the density is in my opinion unrealistic. I can't fathom 8-12 homes per acre in this area.
The developer will continue this type of development on the 187 acres adjacent to this 45 acre piece. It will effectively ruin the feel and the landscape of this area and I am adamately opposed to it.
Ag land is disappearing, once the land it clustered with homes, it is gone forever. I do not want to see that happen and feel this subdivision does not fit in this area. I drive by the Hayden Homes subdivision and it looks like a war zone. It is extremely unattractive and this will be worse because at this point it is double the amount of homes.
I have looked at the subdivisions the commissioners have passed and they have approved every subdivision that has crossed their desks. Unfortunately, even with strong opposition, this one will likely pass. Once again, if that is the mark the commissioners and planners and the develops want to leave..... Very unfortunate. I have lived in Montana my entire life. I moved to Frenchtown in 1984. It has changed and quite honestly, the changes are driving me to move.

Will funding include needed improvements to Wye infrastructure? It should! Traffic is already deadly in that area!