Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the
Zoning and Subdivision Regulations Update?
The zoning and subdivision update project has
been initiated by the Mayor and City Council with the
goal of cleaning up and modernizing the City’s zoning
and subdivision regulations, something that hasn’t been
done in over three decades. The goal of the project is
to create an up-to-date set of rules that will govern
land development in the City.
- Why is the
update important to me?
The project is important for two key reasons.
First, the existing regulations are out-of-date as well
as difficult to use and understand. In fact, nearly
everyone who deals with the regulations complain about
their unrefined, unpredictable and mostly
incomprehensible nature. Second, and perhaps most
important, the existing regulations increasingly fail to
produce the kind of results—such as neighborhood
preservation, sustainable development practices, or
decreased automobile dependency—that Missoulians desire.
- Who is
running the project?
The zoning and subdivision update project is
being administered by the City’s Office of Planning and
Grants (OPG). A consultant team has been hired to
facilitate public involvement efforts, prepare initial
recommendations for what the new regulations will
address, write the new regulations, and assist in the
adoption process.
- What is the
citizen advisory group?
The Mayor and City Council have appointed a
citizen advisory group to assist with the project. This
29-member group is responsible for offering advice on
issues and ideas that emerge during the project and for
helping keep the lines of communication open with the
community as a whole. The diverse nature of the advisory
group will provide an important “sounding board” and
touchstone to the broader community of interests in
Missoula. Click
here to see bios of group members.
- How and when
will residents get their say?
Since beginning the project in June of 2007,
the consultants have been learning about development
issues facing the City and about the values of
Missoulians. Events to garner input included a town hall
meeting, two community forums, and, in September and
October, 45 separate, small-group listening sessions
with individuals representing a broad range of
interests. As the project goes forward there will
continue to be many opportunities for citizens to stay
aware of the project’s status and weigh-in on subjects
of interest. Stay tuned to the website for
announcements
of coming events and summaries of previous activities
and events.
- How can I be
involved in the update process?
Citizens are encouraged to be involved in the
process. Suggestions for how to stay involved include:
- Attending future project meetings
and presentations, including citizen advisory group
meetings, which are all open to the public. Times
and locations of all meetings will be publicized in
many ways, including the website (www.zoningmissoula.com).
- Sharing your thoughts and views
with advisory group members as you see them around
town.
-
Sending a note with your thoughts to:
Laval Means
Missoula Office of Planning and Grants
Phone: 406.258.3797
Fax: 406.258.4903
Email:
lmeans@co.missoula.mt.us
- What
is the role of City staff?
A staff technical team has been
formed to provide the consultants with technical
advice and assistance. The staff technical team
is made of representatives from City of Missoula
departments and allied agencies that have a role
in administering and enforcing the existing
regulations.
- How
will the update be carried out?
Beginning in 2008, the consultant team
will prepare an assessment of the City’s current
regulations and suggest ideas for modernization
and improvement. This work will first be
delivered to the staff technical team and
advisory group for review and comment. It will
then be presented to the public. The same basic
process will be repeated during the ordinance
drafting stages of the project: (1) drafts
prepared by consultant; (2) reviews conducted by
technical team and citizen advisory group; (3)
reviews by public at-large.
- What
is the anticipated timeline?
The project began in June of 2007 and
will likely run through the Spring of 2009.
[printable
timeline]
- Is
my property (or the property near me) being
rezoned?
The answer depends on your definition
of “rezoning.” The City’s ultimate objective is
to adopt a comprehensive revision of its zoning
ordinance and revised subdivision regulations.
The focus is on the text of the regulations, not
the zoning map. The City is not planning as part
of this project to change the zoning boundaries
that currently appear on the zoning map, nor to
rezone property from—as an example—single-family
to multi-family or mixed-use. Viewed from this
perspective, this is not a “rezoning” project.
Others will argue (and have argued) that
changing any of the rules in the zoning book—allowing
something previously not allowed, disallowing something
previously allowed, or establishing new requirements for
how property can be developed for example—is, in effect, a
rezoning. This is a fairly unconventional definition of
what “rezoning” means—at least in legal and technical
circles—but it’s something many folks feel strongly about,
so it’s a viewpoint that will be recognized and respected.
It is far too early at this point to know
exactly what types of ordinance changes will be proposed
as part of the project. In the final analysis though, the
City and the consultant team understand that the success
of the project depends on gaining community trust and
considerable buy-in to any new concepts. So from that
standpoint, debate over what constitutes a zoning map
amendment versus a general ordinance (text) amendment is
unimportant. What matters is gaining support for the
revised regulations…from a broad cross-section of the
community.
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