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Missoula County adopts resolution of intent to amend zoning regulations after staff maintenance review
Summary
County planners presented a package of maintenance updates to zoning regulations — typographical fixes, alignment with state law, and flexibility for residential and industrial districts — and the commission approved a resolution of intent to move the amendments forward after a planning‑board recommendation.
Lauren Ryan, planner with Missoula County Planning, Development & Sustainability, presented a set of maintenance updates to the county’s zoning regulations that include typographical edits, clarifications, and several context changes meant to resolve implementation issues.
Ryan said staff proposes removing minimum width and depth requirements in primary residential districts (R, RM, L) because those standards prevented some building types, such as townhomes, from being permitted as intended. She also described aligning minimum area requirements with maximum density standards in some districts to allow flexibility for existing irregular lots, and proposed an "industrial flex space" use to allow light industrial activity within heavier industrial zones where appropriate. Ryan noted a small change required by the legislature to remove an energy conservation requirement related to cannabis cultivation.
Ryan said staff conducted outreach (an informational presentation Oct. 20, a Planning Board hearing Oct. 21 and an online Missoula County Voice page) and that the Planning Board recommended a resolution of intent by a 5–2 vote after staff corrected an earlier interpretation about which multiplex housing types require a permanent affordable‑housing component. A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution of intent to amend the zoning regulations as recommended; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote ('All in favor. Aye.'). The board scheduled a public hearing on a resolution to adopt on Jan. 8, 2026.
The county did not adopt final text at this meeting; the resolution of intent advances the amendments to a formal adoption hearing with further public notice.
