Council approves rezoning for Linda Vista Estates phases 2–4 to allow duplex and townhouse forms

The Missoula City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance on second reading rezoning most of the Linda Vista Estates subdivision phases 2 through 4 to allow residential two-unit forms and designating an adjacent 18-acre common area as open and resource lands.

Senior planner Lauren Stevens of the city’s Community Planning Division presented the rezoning request, saying the site is about 81 acres on the far south end of the city, accessed by Shaver Drive via Miller Creek Road and Lower Miller Creek Road. Stevens said the request would change most of the site from R-5.4 to RT-5.4 — a district that permits two-unit houses (duplexes) and two-unit townhouses in addition to detached houses — and rezone an 18-acre tract of conservation land to OP-2 open and resource lands to protect steep slopes and trails held under a conservation easement administered by Five Valleys Land Trust.

“The requested zoning will continue to permit medium-density residential development and will result in development similar in character to the surrounding area as envisioned in the land use plan,” Stevens said, noting the RT-5.4 district keeps the same parcel and building standards as the current zone while allowing attached two-unit building forms. She told council the OP-2 designation is intended to preserve open space and sensitive resource areas and would allow parks and recreation uses consistent with the conservation easement.

At the Land Use and Planning Committee and at the Planning Board, staff said the request is supported by goals in the Missoula 2045 land use plan; the Planning Board recommended approval on March 4. Councilor Nugent moved the ordinance; no second was recorded on the public transcript before the roll-call vote. Council members asked one question about maintenance and fire mitigation for the canyon open space; Stevens said subdivision covenants require the homeowners association to budget for trail and weed maintenance and to allocate 10% of assessments for parks, trails and open-space upkeep, and that the conservation easement permits Five Valleys Land Trust to perform trail and vegetation work.

After brief council remarks in support, the council conducted a roll-call vote and approved the ordinance unanimously. The measure rezones the designated portions of Linda Vista Estates phases 2–4 to RT-5.4 and OP-2 as shown in the staff exhibit and adopts the findings of fact and conclusions of law in the staff report.

The council’s action is limited to the rezoning request and does not itself approve final plats or construction permits; infrastructure and future platting will be subject to separate subdivision and building-review processes.

Votes at a glance: the rezoning ordinance passed on second reading by a unanimous roll-call vote.