Gallatin council advances Project Phoenix planning, approves revised MOU language after months of debate

The Gallatin City Council on Wednesday voted to advance preliminary planning steps for Project Phoenix, the proposed mixed-use redevelopment in downtown Gallatin, by sending a revised resolution and an amended memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the next council meeting for final consideration.

The council voted to move the revised resolution (filed as R2507-41) forward by a 4-2 margin and to advance the amended and restated MOU to council by a 5-1 vote. The resolution asks the city’s development partner to include plans for a new city hall in Project Phoenix designs so that schematic design, public engagement and additional feasibility work can proceed; it does not commit the city to fund construction.

Why it matters: The votes authorize the next step of technical work that will define the project’s footprint, building program and schedule. Councilmembers and city staff said the additional design work is needed so cost estimates, economic-impact figures and mitigation plans for traffic, parking and downtown businesses can be produced and shared with the public.

Details of the action and timeline

- The revised resolution instructs the developer to include a new city hall in their planning materials (the resolution was amended in committee to remove a contested economic-impact “whereas” line before the vote).

- The amended MOU sets deadlines and parameters for the design period:…