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• What community priorities will the Growth Policy Update address?

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  Much of the Growth Policy that was adopted in 2015 remains relevant and is an important expression of the community’s values and priorities. Yet, the intention is for the Growth Policy Update to address issues that have evolved or have become more pressing in recent years. These issues include but are not limited to:

  • Social, cultural, and racial inequities

  • Housing shortages and the rise in housing costs

  • The accelerating effects of climate change

  The Our Missoula process will seek the community’s input to further define and focus on these issues.

• How can/will the community be involved?

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  The City will follow a process that is accessible to all and provides many opportunities for residents to engage; here are some of the ways Missoulians can be involved.

  Just want to stay in the loop? Sign up for project updates on the right side of this page.

  Interested in attending an event? See what’s coming up here.

  Have other questions or want to set up a 1-on-1 meeting with someone from the project team? Contact us using the information on the right side of this page.

  
  

  There are many points within this project when your feedback will help influence the Unified Development Code and Growth Policy Update. It is critical to understand the top priorities for Missoula residents such as:

  Creating more affordable housing options.

  Preserving natural and working lands, etc., particularly because there will inevitably be trade-offs between different priorities. Your feedback and evaluation of different strategies for future growth will be what drives the ultimate set of recommendations and strategies that will be adopted by City Council.

  This is your opportunity to help shape the future of your city. How it grows and provides housing, jobs, and opportunities for all Missoula residents to thrive. Because this is an important project, you will be asked for your input and priorities many times throughout the process.

  
  

  The Our Missoula project will impact residents by providing the criteria that future development must use for:

  Building new housing.

  Building new commercial areas.

  Building other amenities necessary to live, work and play.

• How will this process be different from before?

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  Our Missoula places a priority on extensive and inclusive community engagement. The project team is partnering with community groups to engage a wide range of resident input. This includes traditionally marginalized and underrepresented communities.

  This process will also elevate and address emergent housing, climate resilience, and equity-related issues. The community visioning process for future growth will directly inform updates to the codes. The codes are one of the key tools for implementing the City’s vision for growth). By updating the code directly after refreshing the vision for future growth, the vision for future growth will:

  • Align the code with the community’s current needs for the foreseeable future.
  • Align the code with the community’s priorities for the foreseeable future.

  This process is different because the City is overhauling the development code rather than making incremental changes. The goal is to make a more meaningful change.

• How will the Growth Policy Update and Code be implemented? How will it show up in my community?

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  Both the Growth Policy and the code are implemented when a development project is proposed. In most cases, a development project must show that it complies with the rules and regulations in the code. In some cases, the development project must also show that it contributes toward the broader goals of the Growth Policy. These codes set the criteria by which the City must approve or reject a development proposal.

  However, the Growth Policy also affects other actions the City takes, such as where new streets, trails, and parks are built. It may also influence where and how the City targets certain programs like funding for affordable housing or economic development.

• Why should I participate in Our Missoula? How does this project impact Missoula Residents?

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  This is your opportunity to help shape the future of your city. How it grows and provides housing, jobs, and opportunities for all Missoula residents to thrive. Because this is an important project, you will be asked for your input and priorities many times throughout the process. The Our Missoula project will impact residents by providing the criteria that future development must use for:

  • Building new housing
  • Building new commercial areas
  • Building other amenities necessary to live, work and play.

• How will my feedback shape the Growth Policy Update and Code Reform?

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  There are many points within this project when your feedback will help influence the Unified Development Code and Growth Policy Update. It is critical to understand the top priorities for Missoula residents such as:

  • Creating more affordable housing options
  • Preserving natural and working lands, etc., particularly because there will inevitably be trade-offs between different priorities.
  • Your feedback and evaluation of different strategies for future growth will be what drives the ultimate set of recommendations and strategies that will be adopted by City Council.

• Who is making the ultimate decisions on the Growth Policy Update and Code Reform?

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  Adoption of the Unified Development Code and Growth Policy is decided on by the Missoula City Council and Missoula Planning Board.

• Why is the City using outside consultants for this project?

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  Our Missoula is a complex project that requires expertise in planning, facilitation, and code development. The breadth of expertise that the project requires includes:

  • Community engagement that focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion;
  • Knowledge of zoning and other land use regulations;
  • Process and equity auditing;
  • National and Montana land use law;
  • Transportation, architecture and design, and historic preservation best practices;
  • Utility infrastructure and environmental resource protection;
  • Development financing;
  • Implementation of sustainability initiatives;
  • and best practices in community planning and policy development.

  A larger team consisting of City staff and consultants expands capacity and is more efficient. This project requires responsiveness.

  Shifting the code from what it is to what it could be takes global expertise that the consultant team brings. The Our Missoula project will involve some challenging conversations about the kind of change we want to see in our shared community. There is a benefit to having an outside party guide those conversations from a neutral vantage point. Consultants bring ideas rooted in best practices and based on experience with other communities doing similar work and facing similar challenges. The consultant team is there as a resource, not to lead. It is ultimately up to us all to decide what we want to do in our own community.