The Missoula City Council has approved a new zoning code, map, and development requirements to boost housing in the city. Missoula’s new land-use plan focuses on expanding housing options, enhancing walkability, and achieving climate objectives. This overhaul encourages diverse housing styles across neighborhoods, shifting some areas from limited development.
“I just hope the community supports this and does not balk at change,” Council Member Gwen Jones stated. “If we can embrace this change, it will work to keep Missoula vibrant, inclusive, community-oriented, and maybe it’s a place where our grandkids can live.”
After a five-and-a-half-hour meeting, the council passed the unified development code following public input and four amendments. The unified development code merges previously separate regulations on zoning, subdivisions, and parks, streamlining compliance and reducing conflicts. The updated Standards and Specifications Manual clarifies administrative rules and design standards.
Since November, the planning commission and city council dedicated approximately 75 hours reviewing the code, Council Member Mike Nugent noted. The council examined over 50 proposed amendments to the code and zoning map, sparked by the planning commission’s approval and suggestions from staff and council members.
The code reform considers public feedback, developers, and architects’ input to address housing equity, supply, affordability, and ease of navigation while supporting transportation and climate policies. It aligns with the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan, forecasting a population increase to 37,000 by 2045 and calling for 1,100 to 1,500 new housing units annually over the next decade.
The new zoning map allows apartments in 89% of residential and mixed-use areas, a shift from 64% under current rules. New zoning districts include limited-urban, urban, and downtown, with no density limits, while special-use districts cover transitional, industrial, and civic zones. The council eliminated parking requirements in commercial and industrial zones, trusting developers to make parking decisions. The council also modified lot sizes, setbacks, and building requirements, enhancing zoning coherence on blocks.
After debate, the council altered East Missoula’s zoning for a proposed subdivision, addressing infrastructure concerns. Despite challenges, the council unanimously approved the zoning code and land-use plan amendments, effective in 30 days. For 120 days post-effective date, developers can choose the old or new code for reviews. “Missoula is choosing to meet the urgency of housing affordability,” Mayor Andrea Davis commented, committing to ongoing improvements.
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