Several residents from Frenchtown told the Missoula Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 4 they oppose a proposed Town Pump development at the Frenchtown I‑90 exit and urged the county to take stronger steps on zoning, traffic analysis and environmental protection.

Sierra Futch, who said she represents a petition effort from the area, told commissioners her group has gathered roughly 2,510 signatures and has sought emergency zoning and an independent traffic study to evaluate safety near the school and the interchange. She said the community is concerned that a large development would worsen traffic and strain local services.

Natalie Goliphon, a resident who identified herself during public comment, said her group has tried to obtain a draft traffic study prepared for the proposal but was told by staff that the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) does not share draft traffic studies and that the county cannot compel MDT to do so. Goliphon said the group will pursue its own traffic analysis and asked for details about the proposed layout and square footage so their engineers can model impacts accurately.

Jan Ellis, another Frenchtown resident, said the water table and irrigation are a central worry because the proposed site is near local wells, the high school and the Clark Fork River. Ellis offered to volunteer on data-gathering and investigation efforts and urged the commission to consider potential impacts on rivers, wildlife and agricultural uses.

Other commenters raised public-safety concerns about emergency response capacity. Testimony described long response times in the area and a reliance on volunteer firefighters. County staff acknowledged the comments and reminded the public that non-agenda comments are recorded for the record; no formal land‑use approvals or votes on the Town Pump proposal were taken at the Dec. 4 meeting.

The county answered that draft MDT materials are not publicly released by MDT and that residents may commission independent studies. Commissioners encouraged continued public engagement and said any formal land-use process would include public hearings and technical review.