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Neighbors urge more clarity on Midtown Commons plan, MRA spending and parking
Summary
Residents from South Gate and Southgate Triangle told council they need clearer information about Midtown Commons, especially where commercial uses and parking will be located, how much the Missoula Redevelopment Agency will invest in infrastructure, and whether nearby parks are being preserved.
Multiple residents spoke during public comment at the Oct. 27 Missoula City Council meeting asking for more public information and for clearer decisions on Midtown Commons planning and MRA involvement.
Barbara Pulley of the South Gate neighborhood said she attended the Oct. 22 Midtown Commons presentation and asked the council to ensure more public input on allocation of multifamily housing, parks, commercial tenants and townhouses. Pulley asked specifically whether commercial uses should be near existing businesses on Paxson Street rather than at the south end near Dixon Avenue and whether the developer's plan includes a parking strategy. She also asked, "Will our taxes increase next year for the Urban Renewal District 32 due to this development?"
Carrie Schreiber, from Southgate Triangle and a leadership team member for the neighborhood, said the community workshop was "pretty confusing" and that attendees lacked clarity on what types of commercial businesses might be allowed. "They had no idea," she said of MRA and planning staff responses she received at follow-up meetings. Schreiber said residents who had advocated for thoughtful development felt disappointed by how the plan was presented.
Bob Moore used public comment to criticize the Missoula Redevelopment Agency generally, asking why the MRA would spend large sums on redevelopment. He urged changes to MRA priorities and suggested the agency should not direct tens of millions to private development projects.
Councilors and staff responded that the Midtown Commons materials are available on the city's "Engage Missoula" site and said upcoming public meetings, including park planning and design sessions in November, will provide additional opportunity for input. Staff and several councilors also noted that many land-use regulations and subdivision processes narrow council decision space and that some technical reviews, including traffic, sewer and infrastructure funding, were addressed during prior approvals or will be addressed in committee and public hearings.
Neighbors asked for clearer acreage and funding commitments from the MRA, and whether Bonner Park was being counted as open space in the plan; staff said park mapping rules are tied to floodplain and other technical considerations. Residents said they will remain engaged in upcoming meetings.
