Council rezones three Missoula Development Park parcels to M1-2 limited industrial; vote 10-1

Missoula City Council approved an ordinance July 21 to rezone three parcels in Missoula Development Park (identified as Parks 4, 6 and 8 in staff materials) from OP-3 public lands and institutional to M1-2 limited industrial, retaining the Missoula Development Park neighborhood character overlay. The motion passed 10-1 after staff presentation, an applicant statement and brief council comment.

Claire Lovelace, an assistant planner with the Community Planning, Development and Innovation department, presented the staff report. Lovelace said the three parcels total about 367,210 square feet and are located along Expressway between Sandpiper Drive and West Harrier Way, north of Missoula International Airport and south of Interstate 90. The city's 2045 land-use plan designates the area as industrial and employment; staff recommended the M1-2 district as consistent with that place type and with existing adjacent M1-2 zoning.

Joe Dehnert, representing IMEG (working for the county/development applicant), said the parcels have functioned as unmaintained open space since annexation and that sale proceeds would fund stormwater improvements and maintenance in the larger development park under an interlocal agreement. Dehnert said the current OP-3 zoning was appropriate when the land served a public owner purpose, but the parcels were vacant and not performing that function.

Councilors discussed the loss of potential open space versus infill and infrastructure reuse. Councilor Carlina said she was concerned about converting open-space zoning and called for keeping city green space; Councilor Becerra said the area is an industrial part of the community and the rezoning more closely matches surrounding uses. Planning Board had voted unanimously in favor of the rezoning recommendation on July 1.

The roll-call vote on the ordinance was 10 in favor, 1 opposed (Councilor Carlina). Council staff noted that future redevelopment will require connection to city water and sewer and conform to overlay standards including setbacks and height limits; the M1-2 zoning will permit a broader range of commercial and limited industrial uses than OP-3, including caretaker apartments subject to overlay rules but not other residential building types.

Votes and next steps: The ordinance passed on the council floor; any future redevelopment proposals on the parcels will require applicable permitting and compliance with overlay and Title 20 standards, including setback and minimum parcel-size provisions.