Use Variance to Expand Gravel Operation South of Lolo

The Missoula County commissioners voted to approve this use variance request at a special public meeting on Aug. 6, 2024.

You can view the approved Record of Zoning Restriction here.

Missoula County has received a use variance request from Western Materials for property located west of Old Highway 93 South, just south of McClain Creek Road near Lolo. The variance request is to allow the existing 80-acre gravel operation on the east (shown outlined in green) to expand into the 70-acre area shown outlined in red and yellow. The expansion will nearly double the size of the operation.

All tracts are zoned Citizen Zoning District ZD#40, a residential zoning district the Missoula County Planning and Zoning Commission adopted in 1976. The existing gravel operation pre-dates this zoning and so is permitted to continue as a legal nonconforming use. However, since the zoning does not authorize resource extraction, the applicant must request, and be granted, a use variance to expand beyond the existing 80 acres. The application cover letter describes in depth why the applicant believes the western 70 acres qualifies for a use variance.

You can find the full application here.