Public Forum: CS Porter Middle School Dynamic Display Reader Board Sign
UPDATE: The project was approved on November 17, 2025. This case is now closed for comment.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from Missoula County Public Schools of their intent to install a dynamic reader board sign at CS Porter Middle School. CS Porter Middle School is located at 2510 Central Avenue. The sign will be approximately 24.81 square feet in area and 13.5 feet off the ground. The sign will be installed on the corner of Reserve St and Central Ave. The reader board will be primarily used for messaging families and public on events and important dates happening at the school. The display could change daily and will be programmed to turn off between the hours of 10pm-6am.
The sign will not be meeting the dynamic display and ground sign zoning requirements. The proposed sign will be larger than the maximum allowed area and exceed the maximum height for ground signs in RT2.7 Residential (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050). The maximum area allowed is 24 square feet and the maximum height is 6 feet. The proposed dynamic display sign is permitted only in B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, M1, and M2 zoning districts (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.070.F.1). This sign will be in the RT2.7 zoning district. The dynamic display portion of the sign may not exceed 40 square feet or 50% of the total area of the sign, whichever is less, and must be computed as part of the sign’s total area (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050.F2). The displays will exceed 50% of the total sign.
City Council is authorized by state law to hold a public hearing, known as a public forum, when a public agency proposes to use public land contrary to the local zoning regulations. The public agency in this case is Missoula County Public Schools. City Council does not have the power to deny or condition the approval of the project. The proposed use is permitted regardless of the outcome of the hearing. However, public comment is greatly appreciated.
PROJECT APPLICATION LINKS:
The application packet can be viewed here:
https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1638/Private-Development-Projects
PROJECT TIMELINE:
The hearing date is scheduled for November 17th, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meeting virtually or in-person is posted here: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1149/AgendasWebcastsMinutes
PROJECT COMMENT DEADLINE:
Public comment will be taken by City Council until the public hearing is closed. Comments can be submitted through Engage Missoula, via email to the planner noted below, by mailing in a letter to the City of Missoula office at 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT 59802, or during the public meeting.
Your comments may be considered by Missoula County Public Schools when moving forward with their proposal.
PROJECT PLANNER:
The project planner is Claire Lovelace and can be reached at (406) 552-6671, or lovelacec@ci.missoula.mt.us.
