Assessments Defined

Assessment areas are listed below from the most objective assessment area (Topographical) to the least objective assessment area (Cultural). A definition is provided for each value assigned (0,1,2, or 3). This glossary is also embedded within the GIS tool.

Topographical Assessment

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2 or 3, with 3 having serious topographical barriers that preclude development and 0 having no topographical barriers to development. Topographical assessment is based on the following factors: slope, floodplain, stormwater utility and parcel size. This value was assessed for all properties. 

Topographical Value 0: Parcel size is over 3,000 square feet, slope is flat, serves no stormwater management purpose and is out of the floodplain. 

Topographical Value 1: Parcel size is over 3,000 square feet, slope is mixed or rolling, out of the floodplain and serves no stormwater management purpose. 

Topographical Value 2: Parcel size is under 3,000 square feet, slope is mixed, rolling or flat, out of the floodplain and serves no stormwater management purpose. 

Topographical Value 3: Parcel located within the floodplain, is too steep to build or serves a stormwater management purpose; size is not relevant. 

Built Environment Assessment 

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2 or 3, with 3 having serious constraints and 0 being easily buildable. 

Built environment was assessed on the following factors: right-of-way/utility easement, existing structures, zoning, and public water and sewer access. This value was assessed for all properties. 

Built Environment Value 0: Parcel has no right-of-way or utility easements, no existing structures, parcel is zoned for development and has public water and sewer access. 

Built Environment Value 1: Parcel has no right-of-way or utility easements, may have existing structures on a portion of the property but parcel is large enough to accommodate additional structures, any type of zoning or unzoned, may or may not have access to public water and sewer. 

Built Environment Value 2: Parcel has an existing structure on most of the property that makes it unlikely to accommodate additional development, any type of zoning or unzoned, may or may not have access to public water and sewer. No public right of way or utility easement on the parcel. 

Built Environment Value 3: Parcel is designated as public right-of-way or has a utility easement. 

Administrative Assessment 

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2, or 3, with 3 being essential and 0 being irrelevant to the administration of County government. This value was assessed for all properties, regardless of whether the properties have official names or designations. 

The administrative assessment assumes that all County departments are equally necessary to fulfilling the County’s mission; however, not all parcels used by County departments are necessary to that departments function.  

Administrative was assessed on the following factors: how essential a parcel is to conducting Missoula County operations and how widespread the operations cover. Roads are not assessed in this section; rather, they are assessed under Built Environment. 

Administrative Value 0: Parcel does not serve any administrative purpose for Missoula County. This includes parks with no buildings or undeveloped lots. 

Administrative Value 1: Parcel may be helpful but is not necessary to conducting County operations, such as an employee-only parking lot that isn’t open to the public. 

Administrative Value 2: Parcel is necessary to conducting County operations, but operations do not extend County-wide, such as a community center that only serves one community within the County. 

Administrative Value 3: Parcel is necessary to conducting County operations, and operations extend Countywide, ranging from the Courthouse to gravel pits.  

Conservation Assessment 

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2 or 3 as determined by current or future conservation benefits. This value was assessed for all properties, regardless of whether the properties are officially designated as parklands by state law or by Missoula County’s 2014 Parks and Trails Master Plan. 

Conservation includes natural resource benefits, open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural interests and aesthetics. Values were determined based on the following factors: use, uniqueness or redundancy compared to other conservation properties in the area, location, size, configuration, impact from adjacent properties and external factors. 

Conservation Value 0: Parcel does not provide notable conservation value.  

Conservation Value 1:  Parcel has limited natural resource, open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural or aesthetic value.  

Conservation Value 2: Parcel has moderate natural resource, open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural or aesthetic value.  

Conservation Value 3: Parcel has high natural resource, open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural or aesthetic value.   

Recreation Assessment 

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2 or 3 as determined by the parcel’s current or future usefulness as a recreation asset. This value was assessed for all properties, regardless of whether the properties are officially designated as parklands by state law or by Missoula County’s 2014 Parks and Trails Master Plan.   

Active recreation areas support activities such as playgrounds, sport facilities, dog parks, community gardens, picnic shelters and other similar developed opportunities for recreation enjoyment. Passive recreation areas provide for self-guided, low-impact and unprogrammed activities such as walking, hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing or other similar activities.  

The following factors were assessed as part of its recreation value: well-defined recreation, recent capital improvements, public reach, public access, location, configuration, nearby properties, quality of use, redundancy with recreational amenities in the area. 

Recreation Value 0: Parcel does not provide notable active or passive recreation value.  

Recreation Value 1: Parcel has limited active or passive recreation value.  

Recreation Value 2: Parcel has moderate active or passive recreation value.  

Recreation Value 3: Parcel has high active or passive recreation value.   

Cultural/Historic Assessment  

Parcels were assessed a value of either 0, 1, 2 or 3, with 3 being culturally significant and 0 being culturally insignificant. This value was assessed for all properties, regardless of whether the properties have official names or designations. 

Cultural value was assessed by the following factors: historic significance, promotion of the arts, education, heritage and human connection. 

Cultural Value 0: Parcel does not promote the arts, heritage, education or human connection and has no historic significance. 

Cultural Value 1: Parcel has no historic significance. Parcel does promote the arts, heritage, education or human connection. However, the use could be relocated elsewhere and retain its cultural value.  

Cultural Value 2: Parcel promotes the arts, heritage, education or human connection and may have historic significance. It is possible but would be challenging to move the use and retain its cultural value.  

Cultural Value 3: Parcel has both historic significance and promotes the arts, education, heritage or human connection. The property itself and use would lose their cultural value if relocated.