Missoula County commissioners on Jan. 20 approved a one‑year extension to Dec. 31, 2025 for the final plat submittal deadline for phase 10 of the Ranch Club subdivision, while leaving phase 11's deadline unchanged at the end of 2026. The hearing included sustained public comment urging swift completion of a permanent second access to Mullen Road.

Planner Tim Worley summarized the subdivision history dating to the county's 2003 approval and said all but two phases have been filed; phase 10 technically expired Dec. 31, 2024 but the applicant filed an extension request beforehand. City Public Works and the Fire Department urged completion of a permanent second access through filed phase 9b, while the developer and his engineering representative discussed a temporary emergency egress route (referred to in the record as a potential Paniolo approach) as a backup if permanent access cannot be completed quickly.

Troy Munro, city engineer for development review, explained that the city's adopted fire code appendix requires a second egress once a subdivision reaches 30 residential units and that a full second access point is preferred to a fire‑only access. Residents who called in and spoke in the hearing, including homeowners from Ranch Club, said traffic and safety concerns make the permanent second access a priority: "We would like to see phase 10 completed with that permanent road," one resident said.

Developer representatives acknowledged prior delays and said they intend to complete phase 10 but noted financial and permitting obstacles, including state (MDT) and city review and upgraded infrastructure requirements. Genesis Engineering's Chris Wasia said he believed the developer could finish the work in a year: "Yes. I do," he said when asked whether phase 10 could be completed within 12 months. County counsel summarized options if a developer later sought further extensions, including that a final plat or an improvements agreement guaranteeing construction could be filed.

Commissioners moved to approve the one‑year extension for phase 10 to Dec. 31, 2025 subject to master conditions of approval; the motion passed on voice vote. In the hearing record, county staff and city engineers encouraged either completing phase 10 this year or installing a temporary emergency access as soon as MDT and city approvals allow so the neighborhood will not face the access problems experienced after a 2023 residential fire.

No specific bond amount or construction schedule was required in the extension motion; staff advised that developers can use subdivision improvements agreements or bonding mechanisms to guarantee infrastructure if they choose to file a final plat instead of returning for another extension request.