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City keeps Little Shell–area parcel designated as 'Traditional Neighborhood' in growth policy draft
Summary
At a May 19 work session, the City Commission agreed to retain a parcel adjacent to land proposed by the Little Shell Tribe as 'Traditional Neighborhood' on the Future Land Use Map, after debate over a land‑acknowledgment statement and fee‑to‑trust implications.
The Great Falls City Commission on May 19 agreed by consensus to retain a parcel linked to a proposed Little Shell development as "Traditional Neighborhood" on the city's Future Land Use Map, after commissioners debated language in the draft Growth Policy and the legal effects of a potential fee‑to‑trust conversion.
Planning and Community Development Director Brock Cherry opened the work session by saying the Commission was not required to reach formal consensus that night but that staff sought direction to proceed. Cherry told the Commission the Planning Advisory Board had recommended the Little Shell–subject property remain identified as Traditional Neighborhood and that existing city parks remain designated as open space.
Commissioner Rick Tryon said he wanted to avoid what he described as sociopolitical language in the Growth Policy. "The document should not serve as a sociopolitical document," he said, urging removal of extended historical references from the land‑acknowledgment text while keeping the final two sentences. Several commissioners disagreed with removing the acknowledgment entirely: Commissioner Casey Schreiner said the wording is commonly used in other western jurisdictions and was likely included by consultants, Commissioner Shannon Wilson noted the city's Indigenous population and said the acknowledgment is appropriate, and Commissioner Joe McKenney said a shortened acknowledgment retaining the core recognition would be acceptable.
Mayor Cory Reeves and Acting City Manager David Dennis said there is no legal basis requiring the city to change its land‑use designation due solely to a potential fee‑to‑trust conversion, and Dennis warned that changing the map now could limit the city's ability to raise concerns in other processes. Director Cherry said that if Little Shell sought annexation, a map amendment would likely be required and that fee‑to‑trust would be necessary for the tribe to proceed with the gaming use described in some proposals; he also noted state law restricts that gaming on the property.
After discussion, the Commission "consensed" to keep the property designated Traditional Neighborhood on the Future Land Use Map. No formal motion or roll‑call vote was recorded during the work session.
The decision leaves the Growth Policy's guidance in place for how future annexations or rezoning requests would be evaluated; Director Cherry said the Future Land Use Map is the starting point for such conversations and that map amendments remain possible if a future, well‑developed plan is proposed.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the Growth Policy timeline incorporating the Commission's direction. The Commission also indicated it would revisit specific language in the land‑acknowledgment section to make it more direct and apolitical, per Cherry's commitment to "clean up" that section.
