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Columbia Falls kicks off state-required land-use plan update; consultants outline schedule, outreach and next steps
Summary
Cushing Terrell presented a six- to eight-month schedule to update Columbia Falls's land-use plan to comply with the Montana Land Use Planning Act; the project website and online survey (open through Dec. 11) were launched and residents pressed for stronger outreach, notices and attention to housing affordability and natural resources.
Cushing Terrell, the firm contracted to update Columbia Falls's land-use plan, presented the project schedule and community engagement plan at a joint planning commission and city council workshop and urged residents to use the project website and an online survey available through Dec. 11.
The kickoff presentation described a four-phase process: a current kickoff and outreach phase; data gathering and baseline analysis; drafting a future land-use map and recommendations; and formal adoption. The consultants said the timeline is designed to meet the Montana Land Use Planning Act compliance deadline of May 2026. Nora Bland, director of planning for Cushing Terrell, told the workshop the survey is live and that a utility-infrastructure public meeting will be held on Nov. 20 to share related materials.
Why it matters: the plan will set the future land-use map that guides zoning and development decisions. Consultants and staff said the plan itself will be advisory,…
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