You need to be signed in to add your comment.

Round 1: Interim Zoning Urgency Ordinance (with 12-month extension)

Update

Approved unanimously on October 16, 2023 for 6 months. Effective immediately, through April 16, 2024.

A 12-month extension was approved in March of 2024.

A second extension of this ordinance is scheduled for consideration at City Council on March 10, 2025.

Introduction

The City of Missoula Community Planning, Development and Innovation Department (CPDI) is amending the City of Missoula Title 20 Zoning Code. The proposed amendments comply with mandates outlined in the seven bills affecting the zoning code recently passed by the Montana State Legislature.

Overview of Bills & Changes

Key themes for these bills include changes to various zoning regulations, including:

Allowing microbreweries to co-locate with beer & wine sales
Raise maximum limit for Residential Day Cares from 12 to 15 children/adults.
Allowing data centers & digital asset mining in industrial districts.
Allowing Religious Assemblies to accommodate temporary overnight visitors.
Setting a maximum of 1.0 parking space per unit for multi-dwelling buildings in Commercial districts.
Repeal TED standards related to: public noticing, parkland dedication, and conditions of approval.
Repeal the Design Review Board.
Amend and repeal design standards unrelated to public health & safety within Design Excellence (Section 20.25), Use- and Building-Specific Standards (Section 20.40), ADUs (Section 20.45), Landscaping (Section 20.65), and Signs (Section 20.75).

The City's amendments to the City of Missoula Title 20 Zoning Code incorporate State law changes into our local regulations and create a solid baseline for the Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update and Code Reform project. The proposed amendments are limited to integrating legislative changes from the 2023 session and correcting obvious mistakes. Changes are in:

Chapter 20.01 – Introductory Provisions;
Chapter 20.05 – Residential Districts;
Chapter 20.10 – Business and Commercial Districts;
Chapter 20.15 – Industrial and Manufacturing Districts;
Chapter 20.20 – Open Space, Public, and Aviation Districts;
Chapter 20.25 – Overlay Districts;
Chapter 20.40 – Use- and Building-Specific Standards;
Chapter 20.45 – Accessory Uses and Structures;
Chapter 20.60 – Parking and Access;
Chapter 20.65 – Landscaping;
Chapter 20.75 – Signs;
Chapter 20.85 – Review and Approval Procedures;
Chapter 20.90 – Administration;
Chapter 20.100 – Terminology; and,
Chapter 20.105 – Use Classifications.

In addition to the mandatory legislative changes, staff have identified a number of proposed amendments that do not specifically relate to State land use legislation but were necessary to include in this update. These include:

Correcting formatting issues; and,
Correcting cross references.

For additional background please reference the Round 1 folder under Materials in the sidebar containing the Summary of Proposed Changes and Summary Table of Legislative Bills.

Key Dates

October 16, 2023: Initial 6-month approval by City Council.
March 25, 2024: Approval by Council of a 12-month extension.
March 10, 2025: Consideration by City Council for another 12-month extension.

Important Links

1 comment

Recently active Posted first