Missoula County tells Riverside applicant unzoned status is not approval for a gravel pit, asks for full application materials

Missoula County commissioners agreed to sign a follow-up letter to Mr. Fisher of Riverside reminding him that the county requires full application materials before making any determination on a potential gravel pit.

County staff read the letter aloud to commissioners. It thanked Mr. Fisher for his response about the early-stage planning and noted the county's understanding that he is in due diligence. The letter states that the property is "currently not zoned" and explicitly warns: "the current unzoned status of the property should not be interpreted as our approval of a gravel pit at this location." The letter asks that, if Mr. Fisher applies for a gravel pit permit with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, he also submit a zoning compliance form with a site map, a formal plan of operation and other required documentation under the cited provisions.

The read letter references the land use and zoning compliance application submitted to the county on 09/19/2025 and cites Montana Code Annotated sections as read in the meeting: "82 dash 4 dash 34 and 4 0 3 parenthesis 12." County staff said the additional materials should address prior questions and that the county will "fully analyze it and determining next steps at that time." Commissioners agreed to sign the letter.

The action does not constitute zoning approval; rather, it reiterates the county's process requiring a formal zoning compliance submittal and additional documentation before any permit or land-use decision.