Missoula council annexes 1-acre Flynn Lane parcel, approves amended development agreement for 170-unit 55+ community

The City of Missoula on April 21 unanimously annexed a 1-acre parcel at 2100 Flynn Lane and rezoned it B2-1 (community business), and separately approved an amended and restated development agreement with the property owners that clears the way for a 170-unit, age-restricted (55+) multi-dwelling development by the Inland Group.

Dave DeGrandpre, planning supervisor with the City of Missoula Development Services Office, told council the annexation tract is “1 acre in size and is described as Tract 1 of Certificate of Survey number 5023,” and is surrounded by existing city limits and city rights-of-way. He said the city’s staff recommended approval of annexation and zoning but proposed two conditions of approval tied to on-site street improvements and right-of-way dedication.

The actions matter because the annexation and the amended and restated development agreement are linked: the development agreement’s amendments are contingent on annexation and rezoning. The agreement updates a 2019 master plan and would allow the developer to consolidate Area C for an active-adult (55+) community and to increase density in that area, in exchange for a cash contribution to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and required public improvements.

City staff outlined the planning context. DeGrandpre said the property lies within the city’s annexation Area A on the annexation policy map and within the Missoula 2045 land use plan’s "urban mixed use low" place type. He said the city zoning requested upon annexation, B2-1, is consistent with the land use plan and allows a higher maximum density than county zoning (staff noted the city B2-1 maximum can be as high as 43 dwelling units per acre while the county district allows up to…