2025 Amendments to the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan
Introduction
The Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan and Map has been adopted and is already guiding how Missoula grows. The plan helps manage where and how development happens so that growth reflects community values, considers real-world constraints, and meets the needs of residents. Visit the interactive “What’s My Zoning?” map to explore the City’s Place Types, or view the full Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan here.
As we finalize the Unified Development Code (UDC)—Missoula’s new rulebook for development—we’re making sure it aligns with the Land Use Plan, as required by state law. This means a few minor but important updates. These minor updates will be notified, reviewed, and adopted alongside the Unified Development Code.
Text Amendments
Several updates improve policy clarity and consistency:
- Comparable zoning districts are updated to align with the new UDC (Title 22). This includes the renaming of Title 22’s Industrial Mixed Use (I-MU) zoning district to Transitional Mixed Use (T-MU) in order to clearly show its purpose in guiding industrial areas toward urban mixed-use development.
- Childcare centers are now allowed in Industrial and Employment Center Place Types, supporting care closer to workplaces.
- The Airport Hazard Area is now included as a development constraint for the Urban Residential High, Urban Mixed-Use Low, and Civic place types.
- The Street Types Map description now clarifies that it is approximate and for illustrative purposes, with the official version available on the City’s website.
Map Amendments
Select locations are being designated more appropriate Place Types:
- In the Riverfront neighborhood, a block is changing to mixed-use to match the existing mix of uses, nearby amenities, and multi-modal access.
- In Sx͏ʷtpqyen (S-wh-tip-KAYN), the Grant Creek “horseshoe bend” will be straightened and realigned, allowing for the conversion of what was only potential Industrial area to Urban Mixed-Use Low.
- In the Westside, the area between the railroad and West Broadway will change to Industrial and Employment.
- Parcels at the intersection of Miller Creek Road and Linda Vista are changing to mixed-use to reflect its approved development rights and status as a neighborhood mixed-use node. There are currently a restaurant and market on the site.
- In the Upper Rattlesnake, an existing winery and vineyard will have an expanded place type to allow additional agricultural and related uses, supporting “working lands” in a rural context.
- Parcels near campus and owned by the University of Montana are being changed to Civic to align with the current public use of the land.
- Updates also align the Land Use Plan with the 2025 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails (PROST) Plan, re-designating select parcels to Parks and Conservation across the city.
Review the Amendments Proposed for Adoption
The final phase of the Our Missoula project focuses on updating the City’s zoning map and development codes—key tools for putting the Land Use Plan into action. Learn more about the Code Reform process here.
To view the outdated current, Adoption Draft of the Land Use Plan amendments, download the PDF under the "Documents" header on the right. You can also view the outdated public review draft of the proposed amendments in the interactive document reader below.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-552-6093 Email matthiasm@ci.missoula.mt.us -
Long Range Planning Supervisor
Community Planning, Development & Innovation, City of Missoula
Level of Engagement
Inform: We are giving information to the community.
Consult: We would like the community's opinions and thoughts.
Were there any tribal leaders or members that were on the core team that worked on this? Please post my questions and the responses publicly. Thank you.