A proposed commercial and storage development near Buckhouse Bridge, road safety on Highway 83 in the Swan Valley, and several other land-use issues are among the local government matters worth watching around Missoula this week.
Missoula County commissioners are scheduled Wednesday to review the next zoning step for the 83-acre Buckhouse Shoptown property off Highway 93 South. Earlier planning decisions for the property moved forward despite concerns raised by the consolidated planning board about traffic, high groundwater and flooding.
In the Swan Valley, residents have an unusual opportunity Tuesday to speak with both state and county transportation officials about speeding and safety on Highway 83. Missoula City Council also meets Monday evening, although readers should check the city's final posted agenda for confirmed hearings and votes.
At a Glance
Monday, July 20, 6 p.m. — Missoula City Council regular meeting at City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St., with virtual participation available.
Tuesday, July 21, 6 p.m. — Swan Valley Community Council meets at Condon Community Hall for a discussion with state and county officials about speed and safety on Highway 83.
Wednesday, July 22, 2–4 p.m. — Missoula County commissioners hold a Lands & Communities update covering Buckhouse Shoptown zoning, Seeley Lake land use, flood mitigation, wildfire season and other issues.
Thursday, July 23, 2 p.m. — Missoula County commissioners hold their regular public meeting at the Sophie Moiese Room in the Missoula County Courthouse Annex, 200 W. Broadway, with hybrid participation available.
Agenda status: As of Sunday evening, the final agenda for Thursday's county meeting had not been posted. Land-use items described below are drawn from Wednesday's briefing agenda and prior public records. Readers should check the county meeting portal for the final agenda and packet before attending or submitting comment on a specific item.
Missoula County: Buckhouse zoning could move another step forward
The most consequential land-use issue to watch this week may be the next step in plans for the Buckhouse Shoptown property, an 83-acre parcel off Highway 93 South near Buckhouse Bridge and north of the Bitterroot River.
Missoula County commissioners are scheduled to be briefed Wednesday on a citizen-initiated amendment to Zoning District #39 associated with Buckhouse Shoptown, LLC.
Commissioners previously approved growth-policy and land-use-map changes for portions of the property, including about 8 acres designated as a commercial center and 11 acres designated for open resource and recreation uses.
Those changes moved forward over the recommendation of the consolidated planning board, which had raised concerns about traffic, high groundwater and flooding.
The zoning amendment represents another step toward the company's planned dry-shop and heated-storage development.
What happens this week
The Buckhouse amendment appears on Wednesday's Lands & Communities briefing agenda, which commissioners use to review matters that may advance to formal public meetings.
Whether the amendment appears for action at Thursday's 2 p.m. public meeting or at a later meeting will not be confirmed until the final agenda is posted.
For residents following development along the Highway 93 South corridor, the key questions are how the proposed zoning would shape development of the site and how concerns involving traffic, groundwater and flood risk are addressed as the project moves through the county review process.
Other land-use issues headed for county review
Wednesday's Lands & Communities agenda identifies three additional land-use matters for commissioner briefing:
- A variance request for 905 Gladis Drive
- A Duff Family Transfer, a family-transfer land division
- A Seeley Lake shoreline construction permit and variances
These items may be headed toward formal commissioner consideration, but their appearance on Thursday's public-meeting agenda had not been confirmed as of publication.
Flood mitigation, wildfire season and Green Power also on Wednesday's agenda
Missoula County commissioners have several other community and infrastructure issues scheduled for discussion during Wednesday's Lands & Communities update.
The agenda includes an annual update on county flood-mitigation projects, a Green Power Program lead community agreement, a Columbia Gold Project presentation, and wildfire season updates from the Office of Emergency Management.
The Lands & Communities update runs from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday in Conference Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine St., with remote participation available through Microsoft Teams.
The meeting opens with an opportunity for public comment on matters not otherwise listed on the agenda.
Commissioners also have litigation and chief officers' updates scheduled Wednesday morning, followed by a chief administrative officer update Thursday at 10 a.m. These are generally routine administrative briefings unless posted agendas indicate otherwise.
Missoula City Council: Monday meeting, final agenda should be checked
The Missoula City Council meets Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at 140 W. Pine St., with virtual participation available.
The city's final agenda could not be independently verified when this preview was prepared. Residents planning to attend, comment or follow a specific issue should check the city's agendas and webcasts page for the confirmed lineup of hearings and votes.
Two issues from recent council business remain worth following as city policy work continues.
Dark-sky and outdoor lighting standards
Earlier in July, the council directed staff to explore possible updates to Missoula's outdoor-lighting ordinance, which has not been substantially updated since 2017, and to assess a potential International Dark-Sky Community designation.
That work is expected to develop alongside implementation of Missoula's new Unified Development Code.
Water building financing
In June, the council's Budget and Finance Committee advanced two revenue bonds totaling roughly $9.7 million for improvements to the Broadway water building used by Public Works and Mobility.
About $5.4 million would be backed by water-system revenue, with the remainder supported through road-district assessments. The road-district portion was estimated to cost about $8 annually for a home valued at $500,000.
Residents following either issue should check upcoming council agendas for their next formal steps.
City Council committees also meet Wednesday, with individual committee agendas available through the city's meeting portal.
Swan Valley: Residents can question state and county officials about Highway 83
Swan Valley residents will have an unusual opportunity Tuesday to hear directly from both state and county officials about speeding and road safety on Highway 83.
The Swan Valley Community Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Condon Community Hall.
Representatives scheduled to participate include Joel Boucher of the Montana Department of Transportation and Missoula County Public Works Director Jason Mitchell.
The community council's agenda specifically encourages residents to attend, noting that bringing county and state officials together for the same discussion is uncommon.
The council is also expected to consider sending Missoula County commissioners a letter requesting a speed study for Highway 83.
For Swan Valley residents concerned about speeding or roadway safety, Tuesday's meeting provides a direct opportunity to raise those concerns with officials from both levels of government.
Public comment is invited.
Other meetings around Missoula County
The Missoula Food Policy Advisory Board meeting scheduled for Monday, July 20, has been canceled, according to the county meeting portal.
No meetings for other county community councils, including Bonner-Milltown, Lolo and Seeley Lake, were posted on the county portal for this week as of publication.
How to comment before decisions are made
Missoula County commissioners: The regular public meeting begins at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Sophie Moiese Room at the Missoula County Courthouse Annex, 200 W. Broadway. Remote participation is available through the Microsoft Teams link included with the posted agenda. Written comments can also be submitted to the commissioners' office at bcc@missoulacounty.us.
Residents can also attend Wednesday's Lands & Communities update from 2 to 4 p.m. in Conference Room 206 at 199 W. Pine St. or participate remotely. The meeting includes public comment on matters not listed on the agenda.
Missoula City Council: Attend Monday's 6 p.m. meeting at Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St., or participate virtually using the instructions included with the city's posted agenda. Written comments can be submitted to the city clerk and council before the meeting.
Highway 83 and Swan Valley: Attend the Swan Valley Community Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Condon Community Hall. The meeting includes discussion with Montana Department of Transportation and Missoula County Public Works officials, and public comment is invited.
Because agendas can change, residents interested in a specific hearing or vote should confirm meeting times, agendas and participation links with the appropriate government meeting portal before attending.
