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Missoula commissioners approve one‑acre family transfer so son can return home
Summary
The Missoula County commissioners approved a family transfer exemption allowing Joshua Slotnick and Kimberly Murchison to gift a minimum 1‑acre parcel at 3507 S. Seventh St. W. to their son, Quinn Slotnick Murchison, after staff found no evasion of subdivision rules.
Missoula County commissioners on March 3 approved a family transfer exemption that lets Joshua Slotnick and Kimberly Murchison create and transfer a minimum 1‑acre parcel at 3507 South Seventh Street West to their son, Quinn Slotnick Murchison.
The transfer, presented by Jenny Dixon of the county planning department, affects about a three‑acre parcel in the Dinsmore Orchard Homes No. 5 subdivision. Dixon said staff evaluated the request against the county’s family‑transfer and subdivision rules and found no indicators of evasion that would block approval. The family told commissioners the parcel would allow their son and his family to return from Anchorage, Alaska, and live on the property.
The recommended motion — to allow the family transfer and record the deed as described in the exemption application and affidavit — passed following a short public and applicant presentation. The commissioners called for no additional public comment and recorded the motion as approved.
Why it matters: family transfers are a frequent method for keeping housing accessible to relatives in a high‑cost market; the county reviews them to ensure they are not used to evade subdivision review requirements. In this case, staff noted a prior quitclaim to a family trust within the last year but said the subsequent conveyance into individual ownership and the context indicated estate planning rather than evasion.
Planning context and conditions: Dixon explained the property has an individual well and septic system and is zoned RS‑1 (one dwelling per acre, sanitation often limiting). Staff recommended approval without special additional mitigation. The applicant and the county’s consulting surveyor (Eli and Associates) were present; Eli indicated no objections.
Ending: The commissioners approved the family transfer motion, allowing the Slotnicks to transfer the minimum one‑acre tract to Quinn Slotnick Murchison. The county file will reflect the approved exemption and the conveyance as described in the motion.
