Columbia Falls launches land-use plan update, consultants outline tight timeline and outreach

Columbia Falls officials and residents on Tuesday kicked off a city-led update to the municipality's land use plan as consultants from Cushing Terrell outlined a four-phase schedule and public-engagement strategy designed to meet a Montana compliance deadline.

"This is the current, kind of nomenclature for that...and how the community can be involved," said Elizabeth Sackman, an architect with Cushing Terrell, introducing the firm's role. Nora Bland, director of planning for the firm, told the meeting the project website and an online survey have launched and the survey will be available through December 11.

The consultant team said Phase 1 is the kickoff and outreach; Phase 2 will gather data and establish a baseline; Phase 3 will produce a draft future land use map and recommendations; and Phase 4 is adoption. Bland tied the schedule to state requirements, saying the work is intended to keep Columbia Falls in compliance with the Montana Land Use Planning Act and that the city must be in compliance by May 2026.

The consultants laid out a sequence of public events and review steps: stakeholder interviews in December–January, a council workshop Jan. 26, planning commission sessions Feb. 12 and March 12, a round of outreach beginning in April with a virtual public meeting and an April 13 council workshop, a planning commission meeting April 23, a first council reading May 4, and anticipated council adoption May 18.

Residents used the workshop to press the city and consultants on outreach breadth and timing. "Have you considered just even putting up posters that are just around town?" asked Tabitha Graves, who suggested printed flyers and QR codes to boost participation. Mike Burr, a resident, told officials the project materials had not been posted promptly to the city website: "It wasn't even on your website until Monday."

Officials responded that the project website will be linked from the city website and that outreach will include social media, press releases, stakeholder meetings, mailings on utility bills where feasible and virtual open houses. City staff said budget constraints limited in-person consultant travel and that some outreach will be virtual; the city also said it received a $392,000 planning grant to cover the land use plan and two engineering plan updates.

Several speakers raised housing and infrastructure concerns. One attendee cited the city's housing study and told officials there is "almost a $250,000 gap" between what many families can afford and what housing costs, urging action to expand more affordable options. City staff said a fresh housing study was completed this year and that water and sewer capacity studies are being updated to inform growth decisions.

Environmental protections and the plan's scope also came up. Shirley Folkwine and others asked whether the plan would identify environmentally sensitive areas, hydrology, soils and wildlife corridors. Bland said the team will evaluate slopes, wildlife habitats, flood areas and other natural-resource data, primarily through GIS layers and state data, and invited residents to submit maps or studies for consideration.

Residents also asked about notification when developers propose projects. Staff referenced recent legislative changes described in the meeting as an amendment to "3 82," saying it creates a process that includes a notice to neighbors (a 15-day notice on projects) and preserves administrative and judicial appeal paths through the commission, council and district court.

Bland closed by thanking attendees for the turnout and encouraging sign-ups on the project website for updates and future engagement opportunities. The chair adjourned the workshop after no further comments were offered.

What's next: the consultant team will proceed with stakeholder interviews and data collection while the city posts meeting materials and continues outreach. The public can find documents, the survey and a schedule on the Columbia Falls project website.