Board adopts growth policy amendment and rezoning for Buck House Shop project west of Buck House Bridge

Kathleen Arthur of Missoula County Planning, Development, and Sustainability summarized the final resolution to amend the growth policy and rezone approximately 83 acres just west of the Buck House Bridge at the request of Shoptown LLC (applicant Jason Rice). Arthur recapped the review history: the item came before the consolidated land‑use board and planning and zoning commission, and the board had adopted a resolution of intent on April 23 and opened the statutory 30‑day comment period, during which the county received no public comments.

Arthur said staff had initially prepared a report recommending denial because of sanitation and infrastructure concerns and the broad range of uses allowed in the proposed commercial center designation; she noted staff supported riparian protections. Commissioners discussed whether a special exception process could be used later to condition allowable uses and whether rezoning was the cleaner path versus other zoning changes. One commissioner said rezoning would align zoning with the current growth policy. The board moved and adopted the resolutions to amend the land‑use map and to rezone the property, each motion carrying with aye votes.

Next steps: the applicant must still pursue special exceptions, sanitation review, MDT approach permits and all applicable building and planning reviews required for future development on the rezoned tracts.