WYE — There has been a lot of discussion about developing land west of Missoula at the Wye.
The developer, Grass Valley Gardens, owns a 187-acre parcel of land at the Wye.
“This seems like a logical place to invest in and develop,” shared developer Matt Mellott.
When driving down Highway 10, you will see many businesses, but as Mellott pointed out, there are very few homes. “We are aware that many employers in this area are struggling to find housing for their employees,” he said.
County Planner, Jennie Dixon, explained that the land was zoned in 2022 to allow for residential development.
“It is actually a minimum residential density. You are required to have a certain number of houses in order to proceed with the development,” said Dixon.
“Our section is zoned as neighborhood residential, allowing for 8 to 1 unit per acre,” Mellott added.
If approved, Grass Valley Gardens plans to introduce hundreds of residential units to the area over the next decade.
Dixon informed MTN, “There will be 218 lots on 66 acres, housing around 445 dwellings including single-family homes, duplexes, and even some apartment buildings. This development of 445 homes is expected to take 12 years.”
Since some of the land is already used for agriculture, the proposed subdivision plans incorporate agriculture into the design, giving rise to the term ‘agri-hood.’ Mellott explained, “There will be market gardens spanning 5 to 10 acres managed by small-scale farmers, serving as the focal point of the community.”
Pointing at the phase map of the Grass Valley Garden development, Dixon elaborated, “The residential component is here, while the commercial component and some agricultural community centers are located in this area. The entire development has been designed around agriculture.”
Missoula County
While Missoula County is working on a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the Wye area, Mellott mentioned that the Grass Valley Gardens team is planning to establish their own sewer and road system. However, these systems must meet county standards. “This involves engineering water samples, well testing, background water sampling, and a required traffic impact study,” Mellott stated.
A concern highlighted from last fall’s neighborhood meetings, according to Mellott, is the potential strain on nearby schools if this development is approved and inhabited. “One of our initial meetings was with Les Meyer at the Frenchtown school district to understand the impact on the school system. We have allocated a three-acre parcel to donate to the Frenchtown school district for an elementary school,” Mellott added.
There are two upcoming meetings where community members can share their views:
6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16
2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8
Both meetings will be held in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse.
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