Upcoming Engagement

The City of Missoula is hosting three Community Growth Policy Workshops during the first and second weeks of December to launch the update to the Growth Policy as part of the Our Missoula: Growth  Policy Update and Code Reform project. Since the City’s current Growth Policy, Our Missoula 2035, was adopted in 2015, more pressing issues have emerged, including social, cultural and racial inequities, housing shortages and rising housing costs and the worsening effects of climate change.

These workshops will help the City confirm how well the current Growth Policy captures our community values and if we need to update our vision accordingly. The City wants to learn what its residents think and what questions they have and want to get them involved in the update. This workshop will be held at three different times to provide multiple opportunities to engage:

• Monday, December 4th, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – Goodworks Place, 129 W. Alder St.
• Wednesday, December 6th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Home Arts Building at the Missoula County Fairgrounds
• Wednesday, December 13th, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Missoula Public Library 4th Floor

These interactive events will feature brief presentations from City staff, facilitated small group discussions and individual activities to hear comments from the community. Residents can expect to learn about the process of land use and development in Missoula and how policy shapes that process. The Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update and Code Reform Project will update our community’s vision for future growth and change our development regulations to reflect that collective vision. More information about upcoming events will be available on the Events page.

If anyone attending a meeting needs special assistance, please provide 48 hours advance notice by calling 406-552-6221.

Why are we Updating the Growth Policy?

Priorities for future growth are captured in the city’s Growth Policy, which defines strategies to address goals and challenges related to land use over the course of 20 years. While many of the priorities of the current Growth Policy remain relevant, the Our Missoula process will provide an opportunity to refocus the Growth Policy as needed to better address these emergent issues and reflect our current priorities as a community.

What Have We Been Up To?

Engagement throughout the summer and fall focused on the findings of the Equity in Land Use Report as part of Phase 2 of the Our Missoula Code Reform project, which is dedicated to defining the problem. Staff hosted presentations, small discussions, and table talks in partnership with Common Good Missoula. We learned from residents about their lived experiences in relation to equity, housing affordability, displacement and gentrification. The upcoming community workshops will expand on these conversations to continue defining what residents value and prioritize in their neighborhoods now and in the future.

Inform the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan

The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee and the Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development & Innovation are seeking input on the draft Annual Allocation Plan. The Allocation Plan, informed by the Annual Landscape Assessment is developed by the Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee and approved by the mayor each year to set priorities and goals for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund investment. The Allocation Plan informs competitive award cycles and the reserve balance. Please share your feedback by Thursday, November 30th, 2023. You can share comment on Engage Missoula or send it directly to Emily Harris-Shears, Senior Housing Policy Specialist, at harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us to compile for the public meeting. 

The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee will review all public comment received and finalize the Annual Allocation Plan at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Jack Reidy Room in Council Chambers (140 W Pine St. Missoula, MT 59802) and on Teams. Meetings are public and can be streamed from the City's website. Members of the public are invited to attend and share public comment during the meeting, in addition to sharing written comment prior to the meeting.

Housing Needs Survey

The City of Missoula receives two annual federal grants: CDBG and HOME. These grants allow us to support essential community services and housing development and rehabilitation programs.

Every 5 years we outline goals for the use of these funds.

But we need your input to ensure that we set the right goals.

Please take 10 minutes to complete our Housing and Community Needs Survey and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Your perspectives will directly inform how we allocate our grant dollars to programs Missoulians need most.

Thank you for helping us better serve our community. With your participation, we can make sure our HUD funds target Missoula's most pressing needs.

Here’s that survey link again.

More details about our funding can be found here.