Public Forum: University of Montana Parking Lots & Welcome Sign
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Community Planning, Development, and Innovation received a notice from MMW and SMA Architects on behalf of the University of Montana of their intent to construct four new parking lots throughout campus and install a welcome sign at Rankin Park. The parking lot proposal includes Tennis Court Lot, Miller Hall Lot, Aber Hall Lot, and Champion Center Lot. Nine (9) trees will be removed and twenty-seven (27) will be planted.
The proposed projects will not meet (20.65.030) street frontage landscaping, (20.65.040) interior parking lot landscaping, and (20.75.050) sign Title 20 zoning regulations. Installation of the parking lots on campus triggers the requirement for street frontage landscaping and interior parking lot landscaping. The UM will not be adding additional street frontage landscaping as part of this project. While some landscaping is being proposed in the new parking areas, there are less landscaped islands than would normally be required by zoning code. At Rankin Park, the ground sign will be placed approximately 20’ from Madison Street Bridge and Maurice Ave. The proposed sign will be approximately 100 square feet in area and will be 10’ tall. The proposed sign is larger than the maximum allowed area and height for a ground sign in the OP1 Open Space zoning district per Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050. The maximum allowed area is 24 square feet and a maximum height of 6’. Rankin Park is zoned OP1 and the UM campus is zoned OP3 Public Lands and Institutional.
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 the University of Montana. 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/3230/Private-Development-Projects
PROJECT TIMELINE:
The hearing date is scheduled for May 13th, 2024 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 MMW Architects and SMA Architects on behalf of the University of Montana when moving forward with their proposal.
PROJECT PLANNER:
The project planner is Jon Sand and can be reached at (406) 552-6629, or sandj@ci.missoula.mt.us.
