Join the City of Missoula for Draft Land Use Plan Events!

The Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update & Code Reform project, led by the Community Planning, Development, & Innovation Department (CPDI), is an extensive planning process that will work with the community to update Missoula's vision for future growth and to modernize the City's development regulations, one of the key tools for achieving this vision.

We have a draft Land Use Plan! Come see the results of our collective visioning! There are multiple ways to participate! Community presentations; drop-in review and discussions with City staff; online; or contact Community Engagement Specialist Ashley Brittner Wells at 406-552-6221 or brittnerwellsa@ci.missoula.mt.us. Find the one that’s best for you at https://www.engagemissoula.com/our-missoula

Join the City of Missoula for the release of the Our Missoula Draft Land Use Plan! We are sharing the results of our collaborative community process through a series of public events and on the Our Missoula website. Learn what this plan means for our community and share your thoughts about Missoula’s vision for the future.A land use plan is the foundational document that cities in Montana use to: highlight community priorities for future growth; put in place long-term land use strategies that aim to address the City's emerging issues and challenges; and align development rules and regulations with community priorities and City plans. It influences how Missoula's built environment looks and feels - this includes all of the places we live, work, and play.

While these events are hosted and managed by the City of Missoula, the Draft Land Use Plan represents the areas of the Land Use Plan boundary, which currently includes part of Missoula County. Staff invite city and county residents to participate. This is the last opportunity to learn about and comment on the Draft Land Use Plan before it begins the process for adoption.

There are multiple ways to learn and engage:

Presentations: Learn about the Draft Land Use Plan through a staff-led presentation followed by small group discussions with staff and neighbors. Presentations start promptly at the event start time.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
GoodWorks Place, 126 W. Alder St.
Dinner and kids' activities provided!

Monday, October 21, 2024
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Missoula Public Library Cooper Room, 455 E. Main St.
Lunch and kids' activities provided!

Drop-in review and discussions with City Staff: Learn about the Draft Land Use Plan through printed materials and one-on-one discussions with staff. These are drop-in opportunities; come and go as you can, stay for as long as you would like.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Missoula Public Library Cooper Room, 455 E. Main St.
Snacks and kids' activities provided!

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Missoula Public Library Cooper Room, 455 E. Main
Snacks and kids' activities provided!

Monday, October 28, 2024
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Missoula Public Library Cooper Room, 455 E. Main St.
Snacks and kids' activities provided!

Online: The full draft Land Use Plan will be available for public review on the Our Missoula website. Look for an announcement next week for when this option will be released!

Get in touch: Contact Community Engagement Specialist Ashley Brittner Wells at 406-552-6221 or brittnerwellsa@ci.missoula.mt.us.

If anyone attending a meeting needs special assistance, please provide 48 hours advance notice by calling Community Engagement Specialist Ashley Brittner Wells at 406-552-6221 or emailing brittnerwellsa@ci.missoula.mt.us. We strive to create a supportive and accessible environment, and it is crucial to understand and address any potential barriers that might affect participation. Please share anything that may impact your continued involvement. This can include, but is not limited to, childcare, transportation, parking, accessibility, language, or other circumstances.

Legislative Updates Impacting Engagement

During the most recent legislative session, the State of Montana passed the new Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA). The MLUPA shifts the opportunities for public engagement surrounding land use and development to be during the planning and adoption of city land use plans and codes, rather than during site-specific developments. This shift means that public participation during City planning processes, like the Our Missoula project, is critical to ensuring that community voices are heard during the development of the City’s land use policies and regulations.

If you have questions, feedback, or want to get involved,
email Community Engagement Specialist Ashley Brittner Wells at brittnerwellsa@ci.missoula.mt.us or call 406-552-6221.

Join us for a lunch and panel discussion! Land Use in Montana: Housing, Development, & Community Needs. Community responsiveness at a national and local level.

Thursday, October 10, 2024
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Zootown Arts Community Center, 216 W. Main St.
Or online via webinar

The Montana Association of Planners and the City of Missoula invite the community to a lively panel discussion and lunch event, “Land Use in Montana: Housing, Development, and Community Needs." Join special guest and nationally recognized planner Angela Brooks, FAICP, the current President of the American Planning Association (APA), along with local perspective from Missoula.

Learn about local partnerships in the affordable housing and planning space; examine how national trends compare to local challenges and what lessons Missoula can learn and offer; and hear from staff and partners of the Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update & Code Reform project in advance of the release of the Our Missoula draft Land Use Plan.

Register for the in-person event and lunch here.

For residents unable to attend in person, register and attend via webinar here.

Panelists include:

Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, President, American Planning Association
Andrew Hagemeier, Legislative Committee Chair, Montana Association of Planners
Brittany Palmer, Executive Director, North Missoula Community Development Corporation
Justin Metcalf, Wishcamper Development Partners
Mike Nugent, Land Use and Planning Committee Chair, Missoula City Council

Moderated by Eran Pehan, Director, City of Missoula Community Planning, Development & Innovation