Developers of the Paisley Park Subdivision received the green light to build 671 housing units on 100 lots after the Missoula City Council unanimously approved the project on Monday night.
Paisley Park is located on 40 acres southeast of the Missoula Montana Airport. Council approved annexing the land into city limits and an eight-phase plan to build the subdivision over the next 20 years.
While some residents raised concerns over increased traffic and impacts to local schools, the council said the project follows area neighborhood plans to address rapid growth in the area.
“It is important for us to recognize that everything the city does in the planning process then creates a set of expectations,” Ward 4 Councilor Mike Nugent said. “… If you are going to develop out in Missoula, we need you to follow these and be a part of that. It creates some predictability.”
More than 2,000 new housing units are planned between Mullan Road and West Broadway as development grows outward into what was previously agricultural land, according to the city.
Developers for Paisley Park, Spokane-based company OO Land Holdings LLC, said they envision a mix of single-family homes and more dense buildings like duplexes, mansion homes and traditional apartments, with options to buy and rent.
Roughly 4.5 acres of the property will be dedicated parkland open to the public, but maintained by a neighborhood homeowners association. Two trails are planned to connect to the larger city pedestrian network.
England Boulevard and Chuck Wagon Drive will both be extended to reach the development. Some parts of the land is restricted in housing density because it falls within a special airport approach and departure area.
The plans call for approximately 671 dwelling units, but Ward 5 Councilor Bob Campbell said that number can shift depending on housing market conditions and whether some lots become commercial developments.
“The build-out timeline could take decades and the market conditions could change,” Campbell said. “To really agree on a particular number I think it is pretty tough to do at this point.”
The city’s proposed new zoning map and forthcoming unified development code could also change the number of units allowed in the area.
Nugent said the city cannot decide how many homes are built on the land, but rather the number of subdivided lots, the density on those lots and how public infrastructure will be created in the area.
The area falls under the Sxwtpqyen neighborhood plan, which requires certain building types and also incorporates impact fees to supplement the cost of new city infrastructure.
The city also received a $13 million federal BUILD Grant to improve the roadways while adding new connections in the area, although the city needs an additional $10 million to complete these plans.
Impact fees from new buildings in the area, like Paisley Park, could help pay for the remaining needed roads from West Broadway to Mullan Road (who said this? Important point as to why development continues to increase in that area.).
Hellgate Elementary Superintendent Molly Blakley said on Monday night much of the new development in the area lacks proper space for school buses and contain dangerous intersections.
“We are surrounded by poor planning, we have neighborhoods that our buses cannot get down the streets because the streets are so narrow,” Blakely said, noting the layout also poses a risk to children walking or biking to school.
She said Hellgate Elementary officials need an exact number of units planned in the neighborhood to plan for future growth of the independent school district, which she said is currently at full capacity.
City officials said last month they estimate the development will add 167 school-age children to the area once all phases are built out, the Missoulian reported.
Nugent said he recommends Hellgate Elementary officials work with the city’s Public Works and Mobility Department to solidify safe street options in the area for school buses.
“I agree that street width is a concern that we hear a lot, and that is not necessarily set at the subdivision process but more of a public works manual thing,” Nugent said.
Other business
Also on Monday night, council approved a change to the city’s fire department residency rules and a new parking fine schedule for people who park in disabled parking spots.
City firefighters can now live up to 60 road miles away from a city fire station. Currently, 90% of firefighters live in or within 15 minutes of the city, according to Missoula Fire Chief Lonnie Rash.
The parking fine updates are meant to comply with a new state law that increases the penalty for parking in a disabled spot. A first violation is $150, a second is $250 and each additional fine is $500, according to Missoula Parking Director Jodi Pilgrim. Previously, each disabled parking spot fine was $100.
City council will next meet on Wednesday to discuss proposed changes to its public comment system and discuss a design contract for a new park in the Northside neighborhood.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
You must be logged in to react.
Click any reaction to login.
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Griffen Smith
City/County Government Reporter
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today