Development Applications

Category Public Forum   Show all

• Public Forum: University of Montana Residence Hall

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  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from MMW Architects on behalf of the University of Montana of their intent to construct a Residence Hall at the corner of Arthur Ave and E Beckwith Ave. The proposal includes construction of a new residence hall, a surface parking lot, and a ground sign. The subject property is located at 32 Campus Drive. The proposed project includes the removal of twenty-seven (27) trees from the site and the replacement of an existing ground sign at the corner of Arthur and E Beckwith identifying the southwest corner of campus.

  The proposed scope of work for the project does not include the replacement of trees larger than 6” in diameter at breast height. Per the landscaping requirements in Title 20, Chapter 20.65.020.B.8, the removal of trees with a diameter breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater, single stem, must be mitigated by providing one or more replacement trees with a total combined DBH that is at least equal to the total DBH of trees that are removed. Approximately 183” of DBH will be removed on-site. The on-site quantity of new DBH is 81”. Including the right of way, the total DBH of proposed trees is 105.5”. The University intends to plant 63 new trees at the site to replace the 27 trees that will be removed. However, the combined DBH of the new trees is not sufficient to meet zoning code so a public forum is required.

  The replacement ground sign will be placed approximately 21’ from Arthur Ave and 34’ from E Beckwith Ave. The proposed sign will be 72 square feet in area and will be 8 ft tall. The proposed ground sign will be non-illuminated. The proposed sign is larger than the maximum allowed area and height for a ground sign in the OP-3 zoning district per Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050.

  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 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 6^th, 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 on behalf of the University of Montana 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.

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• Public Forum: TSOS and Detention Center Parking Lot

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  Update: The public forum was held by City Council on Monday, September 18th at 6:00 pm. This case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation received an application from WGM Group on behalf of Missoula County for the parcel at 2340 Mullan Road, the County Detention Center and Temporary Safe Outdoor Space.

  The proposal is for the development of an area east of the existing Detention Center as an additional parking lot. The installation of the new eastern parking lot requires compliance with several landscaping standards in Title 20, Section 20.65, which will not be met.

  The parking lot will not bring the parcel out of compliance with the 15% General Landscaping area requirement per 20.65.020. However, the required number of trees and shrubs for the parcel will not be met.

  The required number of shrubs per 20.65.030 - Street Frontage Landscaping along Mullan Road will not be met and the required landscaped area, and number of trees and shrubs along Broadway will not be met. The proposed parking lot will not have Interior Parking Lot landscaping or islands per 20.65.040. The existing parking and new parking lots will also not meet the requirements of 20.65.050 - Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping.

  The Buffer required per 20.65.060 for commercial uses adjacent to residential uses will not be provided on the eastern property line. The existing chain link fence will remain with no plantings.

  In summary, standards for general landscaping, street frontage landscaping, interior parking lot landscaping, perimeter parking lot landscaping and buffer requirements will not be met. The number of trees and shrubs required will not be provided.

  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. 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 September 18^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by September 11^th, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by Missoula County when moving forward with their proposal.

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Charlie Ream who can be reached at (406) 552-6351, or reamc@ci.missoula.mt.us.

  
  

• Public Forum: Scott Street Community Land Trust

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  Update: The public forum was held by City Council on Monday, September 18th at 6:00 pm. This case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from Ravara Development LLC as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Missoula to create a minimum of 70 units on a community land trust. The subject property is located at Tract 2 of the Scott Street Development and is currently vacant. In order to facilitate the development’s alignment with City goals to create permanently affordable housing units, the following code sections will not be met and therefore will be addressed by public forum.

  Two of the five buildings will not have an entrance facing the right-of-way in order to facilitate occupants a direct path to parking (Title 20, Section 20.40.090.E.1), and the site will have a deficit of up to four parking spaces (Title 20, Section 20.60.20.A). The requirement for at least 20% of the parcel to be used as designated activity area will not be met on-site, but instead will be located at Tract 3 south of Charlo Street per the Real Property Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Missoula and Scott Street Parcel, LLC, as outlined in Section 7(a)(vi) (Title 20, Section 20.65.020.C.1). Buffer requirements for development abutting parcels occupied by detached houses (Title 20, Section 20.65.060.A.2) will not be met due to the nature of the alley behind the project, as well as community input on overall site design. Finally, Title 20, Section 20.65.040.C.2.e, which requires landscaped islands every 135 feet of parking rows, as well as at the ends adjacent to paved driving surfaces, will also not be met.

  City Council is authorized by state law to hold a public hearing, known as a public forum, when a public agency (City of Missoula) proposes to use public land contrary to the local zoning regulations. The City of Missoula is the property owner. 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/DocumentCenter/View/67392/Full-application-packet

  PROJECT TIMELINE:

  The hearing date is scheduled for September 18^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by September 5^th, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the City of Missoula and Ravara Development LLC when moving forward with their proposal.

  
  

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Tara Porcari and can be reached at (406) 552-6085, or porcarit@ci.missoula.mt.us.

  
  

• Public Forum: University of Montana Indoor Practice Facility

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  Update: The public forum was held by City Council on Monday, July 17th at 6:00 pm. This case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation (CPDI) has received a notice from OZ Architects on behalf of the University of Montana of their intent to construct an Indoor Practice Facility at the intersection of the vacated S Van Buren St. and S 5th St. E. The proposal includes a seasonal, air-inflated dome that will enclose a track and turf field. The project also includes the inflation equipment and two masonry buildings that will house the facility’s entrances, offices, and restrooms. The subject property is located at 655 S Van Buren St. The proposed project includes the removal of six trees over 6” in diameter and no additional landscaping. The project intends to provide additional recreational and practice space for University of Montana athletic teams and other Missoula athletics.

  The footprint of the indoor practice facility will be approximately 217 feet North-South and 485 feet East-West. The dome will be 66 feet in height when inflated.

  The proposed scope of work for the project does not include the replacement of trees larger than 6” in diameter at breast height. Per the landscaping requirements in Title 20, Chapter 20.65.020.B.8, the removal of trees with a diameter breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater, single stem, must be mitigated by providing one or more replacement trees with a total combined DBH that is at least equal to the total DBH of trees that are removed. Approximately 108” of DBH has been removed and none will be replaced in the scope of the proposed project.

  The proposed scope of work for the project also does not include the minimum number of shrubs required by 20.65.020.B3. General site landscaping must consist of at least one tree and six shrubs per 1,000 square feet of required general site landscaping area. The required landscaped area is approximately 93,554 square feet for a total of 564 shrubs. The provided landscaped area is compliant, but the number of required shrubs is not.

  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/1638/Private-Development-Projects

  
  

  PROJECT TIMELINE:

  The hearing date is scheduled for July 17^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by July 3^rd, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the University of Montana when moving forward with their proposal.

  
  

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Charlie Ream and can be reached at (406) 552-6351, or reamc@ci.missoula.mt.us.

  
  

• Public Forum: YMCA and Missoula County Landscaping, Parking, and Signage for Renovations and New Facilities

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: On May 15, 2023 City Council held the public forum. This case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  Community Planning, Development, and Innovation received an application from Paradigm Architecture on behalf of the YMCA and Missoula County for the parcel at 3000 Russell St.

  The proposed project includes the renovation of the existing YMCA facility and the addition of an Airnasium, childcare facility, and five new signs. There are several variations from local zoning regulations across the site and structures.

  A Day Care Center of thirteen children or more is not a permitted use in OP3. There is currently a day care with the same use on the existing site. That building will be demolished, and a new childcare facility will be constructed.

  The required number of vehicle parking spaces for the proposed new structures and uses is not met on site but is fulfilled by an adjacent lot to the south, leased from the City of Missoula by the YMCA. The site will also not meet short or long-term bicycle parking requirements.

  General landscaping, street frontage landscaping, interior parking lot landscaping, and perimeter parking lot landscaping requirements will not be met. The number of trees and shrubs required for general landscaping will not be provided. The number of shrubs required for street frontage landscaping will not be provided. The parking lot will be mostly unchanged and the existing parking lot islands are not landscaped with trees or groundcover. There are not as many existing parking lot islands as are required. The new islands in the parking lot addition for the childcare facility will have trees but not groundcover. Perimeter parking lot landscaping standards will not be met through a berm, wall, or plantings. The ground-mounted mechanical equipment on site will not be screened from view of the street or park.

  There will be six signs in total, five wall signs and one window sign. There is proposed to be two wall signs on the existing YMCA building, when only one is allowed per building. Both signs will be larger and taller than is permitted. There is also proposed to be a window sign on the second floor of the existing building, which is not permitted. There is proposed to be two wall signs on the new childcare facility. Both signs will be larger than the maximum area permitted and taller than the maximum height permitted. There is proposed to be a wall sign on the new Airnasium to be larger and taller than permitted.

  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. 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 May 15^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by May 12^th, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by Missoula County when moving forward with their proposal.

  
  

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Charlie Ream who can be reached at (406) 552-6351, or reamc@ci.missoula.mt.us.

• Public Forum: Scott Street Community Land Trust

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: The application was withdrawn prior to the public forum. However, the applicant will be resubmitting in the near future. The project will then be rescheduled, noticing will be sent out again, and updated dates will be provided here.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from Ravara Development LLC as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Missoula to create a minimum of 70 units on a community land trust. The subject property is located at Tract 2 of the Scott Street Development and is currently vacant. In order to facilitate the development’s alignment with City goals to create permanently affordable housing units, the following code sections will not be met and therefore will be addressed by public forum.

  Two of the five buildings will not have an entrance facing the right-of-way in order to facilitate occupants a direct path to parking (Title 20, Section 20.40.090.E.1). The requirement for at least 20% of the parcel to be used as designated activity area will not be met on-site, but instead will be located at Tract 3 south of Charlo Street per the Real Property Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Missoula and Scott Street Parcel, LLC, as outlined in Section 7(a)(vi) (Title 20, Section 20.65.020.C.1). Additionally, buffer requirements for development abutting parcels occupied by detached houses (Title 20, Section 20.65.060.A.2) will not be met due to the nature of the alley behind the project, as well as community input on overall site design.

  City Council is authorized by state law to hold a public hearing, known as a public forum, when a public agency (City of Missoula) proposes to use public land contrary to the local zoning regulations. The City of Missoula is the property owner. 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 March 6^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by February 20^th, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the City of Missoula and Ravara Development LLC when moving forward with their proposal.

  
  

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Tara Porcari and can be reached at (406) 552-6085, or porcarit@ci.missoula.mt.us.

  
  

• Public Forum: Airport Motor Vehicle Repair

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: The public forum took place on March 6, 2023. The case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation department has received a notice from Missoula County Airport Authority that they leased spaced to Krusers Mobile Services LLC an automobile servicing business on May 26, 2020. The subject property is located at 4955 Aviation Way. The leased space includes a commercial building with 1,458 square feet of office space, 2,012 square feet of shop/garage space and 7,650 square feet of paved parking area. Krusers will provide their services to other airport tenants.

  The proposed use of Motor Vehicle Repair, a subclass of Vehicle Sales and Services, is not an allowed use in the A, Aviation Zoning District (Title 20, Chapter 20.20.020).

  Please see the link below for the full application.

  The Missoula County Airport Authority is a government agency and City Council is authorized to hold a public hearing when an agency proposes to develop or use public land contrary to these zoning regulations (Title 20, Chapter 20.85.095.A). City Council shall hold the public hearing as a public forum and shall have no power to deny or condition the proposed use but shall act only to allow a public forum for comment on the proposed use (Title 20, Chapter 20.85.095.E).

  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 March 6^th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by February 21^st, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the Missoula County Airport Authority when moving forward with their proposal.

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Trey Reinhardt and can be reached at (406) 552-6041, or reinhardtt@ci.missoula.mt.us.

  
  

• Public Forum: University of Montana Gilkey Directional Sign

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: The public forum took place on January 23, 2023. The case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from SMA Architecture and Design on behalf of the University of Montana of their intent to replace an existing sign with a larger sign at Gilkey Hall at the intersection of Arthur Ave. and Connell Ave. The proposal includes the addition of one 8’-10” tall ground sign on the southwest corner of Gilkey Hall, perpendicular to the sidewalk along Arthur Ave. The subject property is located at 950 Arthur Ave. The proposed project includes the removal of the existing informational sign at the same location on Arthur and Connell Avenues and the addition of a taller sign in the style of the University’s new wayfinding signage initiative. The size and orientation of the new design will better orient visitors to the University of Montana Campus and intends to improve vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian campus circulation and safety.

  The ground sign would be placed 5 feet from the Arthur Ave. sidewalk and 6 feet from Connell Ave. The sign will be 31.25 square feet in area and 8’-10” feet in height. The sign is composed of an illuminated black box with white text and an arrow reading ‘Harold and Priscilla Gilkey Welcome Center’ and topped with an illuminated UM logo approximately 2’-10” x 4’.

  The proposed sign is larger than the maximum allowed area and height for a ground sign in the OP-3 Public Lands and Institutional zoning district (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050). The maximum area allowed is 24 sq. ft. and the maximum height is 6 feet.

  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/1638/Private-Development-Projects

  PROJECT TIMELINE:

  The hearing date is scheduled for January 23^rd, 2023 at 6:00 PM. The item will also go to Land Use and Planning Committee on January 11^th, 2023 as an informational item. Information on how to attend the meetings 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.

  Provide your comment by January 3^rd, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the University of Montana when moving forward with their proposal.

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Charlie Ream and can be reached at (406) 552-6351, or reamc@ci.missoula.mt.us.

• Public Forum: Missoula County Pallet Shelter

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: The public forum took place on September 12, 2022. The case is now closed for comment.

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
  Community Planning, Development, and Innovation (CPDI) has received notice from WGM Group on behalf of Missoula County of their intent to provide amenities for temporary and emergency shelter on site through the Temporary Use, Emergency Homeless Shelter, and Group Living uses. The subject property is located at 2340 Mullan Road. The site will provide temporary safe outdoor space with prefabricated modular shelters, bathroom units and office space. This proposal is intended to address the housing crisis in a new way – aiding both individuals and the community.

  The proposal includes 30 short-term living units alongside one office building (Building A) and two restroom buildings (Buildings B & C) in the north-eastern corner of the subject parcel. A storage container will also be located on site. The proposal includes general-site landscaping nearly three-times in excess of what is required by Title 20. The existing trees and fence will remain on the north-eastern side of the site. A chain-link fence is proposed along all sides of the proposed development space, with a vehicular access point off West Broadway in the north-eastern corner of the site and a pedestrian connection and gate in the south-east corner of the site. The pedestrian connections on site consist of concrete and gravel.

  The City Council is authorized to hold a public hearing when an agency proposes to develop or use public land contrary to these zoning regulations (Title 20, Chapter 20.85.095.A). City Council shall hold the public hearing as a public forum and shall have no power to deny or condition the proposed use but they shall act only to allow a public forum for comment on the proposed use (Title 20, Chapter 20.85.095.E). Missoula County is an agency and authorized to vary from the aforementioned zoning requirements by going through the public forum process.

  PROJECT APPLICATION LINKS:
  The application packet can be viewed here: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/61931/Public-Forum-Application.

  PROJECT TIMELINE:
  The City Council hearing date is scheduled for Monday, September 12^th, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. The item will also go to Land Use and Planning Committee for a preview on Wednesday, September 7^th, 2022 (time TBD). Information on how to attend the public forum virtually and whether a hybrid or in-person option is available can be found online at 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. Provide your comment by August 30^th, 2022, to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by Missoula County when moving forward with their proposal.

  PROJECT PLANNER:
  The project planner is Madson Matthias and can be reached at 406-552-6625, or matthiasm@ci.missoula.mt.us.

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• Public Forum: Missoula County Fairgrounds Heritage Signs

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  UPDATE: The public forum took place on June 27th. The case is now closed for comment.

  
  

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received notice from A&E Designs on behalf of Missoula County Fairgrounds of their intent to replace an existing sign with heritage signs at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. The subject property is located at 1075 South Avenue W. The proposed project includes the removal of the existing overhead entrance sign at Fair Way Drive and South Ave and the addition of two internally illuminated ground signs arching over the Fair Way Drive vehicle and pedestrian fairgrounds entrances. The new design will reflect the heritage of the Missoula County Fairgrounds using distinctive design and lighting, and a historically accurate arch and text font.

  The large arched sign to be placed overhead of the vehicle entrance will be 46 square feet in area and 25 feet in height. The small arched sign to be placed overhead the pedestrian entrance is 11 square feet in area and 17 feet in height.

  The proposed signs meet the definition of a heritage sign (Title 20, Chapter 20.100.010). A heritage sign is one that employs distinctive graphics, symbols and lighting that is a unique design to the community and are historically-accurate, reflecting the heritage of Missoula. Heritage signs maybe in the form of nonconforming signs or new signs that do not fit within the typical definition and measurements of wall, ground, or other sign.

  Both signs were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Officer on March 14, 2022, and were found to comply with the Title 20 Heritage sign definition 20.100.010.

  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 Fairgrounds. Title 20, Section 20.75.100.B.4 requires heritage signs to be approved by Design Review Board (DRB). However, Missoula County is an agency which allows them to vary from the requirement to establish heritage signs through DRB by holding a public forum at City Council. 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/DocumentCenter/View/60790/Application_Missoula-County-Fairgrounds-Compiled-Public-Forum-Intake-2022_04-28_reduced

  
  

  PROJECT TIMELINE:

  The hearing date is scheduled for June 27^th, 2022 at 6:00 PM. The item will also go to Land Use and Planning Committee on June 22^nd, 2022 as an informational item. Information on how to attend the meetings virtually and whether a hybrid or in-person option is available 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. Provide your comment by June 14th, 2022 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by Missoula County Fairgrounds when moving forward with their proposal.

  
  

  PROJECT PLANNER:

  The project planner is Zoe Walters and can be reached at 406-552-6399, or waltersz@ci.missoula.mt.us.