Conditional Use: Wireless Communication Facility at 5425 Gharrett St
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The City of Missoula Development Services has received a conditional use request from Frank Bodiker and Tom Lemmons of Lighthouse Baptist Church for a ground-mounted Wireless Communication Facility to be located at the property addressed as 5425 Gharrett Street in Missoula. The existing use of the property is Religious Assembly and the applicant is proposing a radio tower as a Wireless Communication Facility. The applicant is requesting the conditional use to provide a federally licensed, low-power FM radio station to serve the local Missoula community with educational, religious, and public service programming. The radio tower would be located on the southwest corner of the parcel. The proposed tower height is 80 feet. In addition to the tower there will be a small transmitter shed next to the tower, fencing and vehicle barriers.
The subject property is zoned R8 Residential. Title 20, Section 20.05.020 requires conditional use approval to establish a ground-mounted Wireless Communication Facility in the R8 zoning district. Title 20, Section 20.105.060 defines a Wireless Communication Facility use as “Facilities related to the use of the radio frequency spectrum for the purposes of transmitting or receiving radio signals, and may include, but is not limited to, radio towers, television towers, telephone exchanges, micro-wave relay towers, telephone transmission equipment buildings, commercial mobile radio service facilities or other personal wireless services (such as cellular, personal communication service, paging, specialized mobile radio, and other similar services.) This use category includes all associated equipment unless the written context clearly indicates that another meaning is intended. The term "associated equipment" is to be read broadly and in context. Associated equipment may include, but is not limited to: antenna, equipment shelter or platform, lighting, monopole tower, mounting hardware, supporting electrical or mechanical equipment, access road, and guy system.”
Title 20, Section 20.40.160 applies use and building specific standards to Wireless Communication Facilities. Section 20.40.160.B.1.d exempts radio towers from this section.
City Council is responsible for conducting a public hearing to either approve, conditionally approve, or deny this request.
The subject property is located in the Moose Can Gully Neighborhood and Ward 5.
PROJECT APPLICATION LINKS:
You can review the full application on the City of Missoula website at https://missoulaparks.org/3230/Private-Development-Projects
PROJECT TIMELINE:
City Council: December 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm – City Council consent agenda/Council refers items to Land Use and Planning Committee
Land Use & Planning Committee: December 17, 2025, at time TBD – Informational meeting only
City Council: January 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm – City Council Public Hearing and Final Consideration
PROJECT COMMENT DEADLINE:
Public comment will be taken by City Council until the public hearings are closed. Comments can be submitted through Engage Missoula, via email to the Planner noted below, by mailing a letter to the City of Missoula office at 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT 59802, or during the public meeting. Provide your comment by Monday, December 8, 2025, to be included in the staff report provided to City Council.
PROJECT PLANNER:
The project Planner is Zoe Walters and can be reached at (406) 552-6399 or waltersz@ci.missoula.mt.us.
