Missoula’s River Road Subdivision Approved

The council approved the rezone and subdivision request 11-1, with Ward 6 Councilor Kristen Jordan representing the lone no vote.

The Strong Riverstone development, at 2348 River Road, will place 18 two-unit townhouses along a narrow strip of land between two developed parcels.

The project will connect with an interior road from another development and create a loop from River Road. To the north sits the Clark Fork River, where developers plan to keep open green space. 

“This property is centrally located in Missoula, with access to arterial streets that connect residents to key services,” Associate Planner Lauren Stevens said at the meeting. “So this lot is a good example of infill development in an established neighborhood with existing infrastructure in place.”

Since the section of land is so narrow, the council had to also approve several variances, or exceptions to city building rules, to make the development feasible.

Those variances include alterations to parking, block lengths, roadway widths and more. 

Neighbors to the development generally opposed the project, telling the councilors that the new homes will contribute to a dangerous traffic corridor. River Road currently has no sidewalks for most of its stretch and the new development will sit about two blocks from Reserve Street.

Crystal Gluekert, a neighbor to the new development, said she fears the increase in density is much higher than what should be allowed there and the lack of services will compound frustrations for future residents.

“The closest city bus stop to my home is 1.3 miles away, and I would have to ride my bike or walk down to River Road to reach it — that cannot be acceptable for people who will be living in this subdivision,” Gluekert said.

There were also concerns that the development will sit within the new floodplain for the Clark Fork River, which some residents said could hurt the new homeowners if a 100-year flood appears. 

Engineers for the project noted that there is a storm drain system in place for rain events and all of the townhouses will sit on elevated foundations to limit any potential for flooding. 

Overall, councilors approved the project because it satisfied the cities growth policy and would potentially create more starter homes for Missoula residents.

Some councilors noted that the area infrastructure separate from the development must be improved.

“We really need to do something for River Road,” Ward 6 Councilor Sandra Vasecka said.

A proposal to use city open space money to help a nonprofit purchase 8 acres of land in the Orchard Homes area stalled Monday night, as the council voted to send the project back to committee.

The Corner Farm project would create a 75-year lease for farmers to use the parcel of good soil just off of Third and Reserve streets. The applicant, Trust Montana, would restrict the land from development. 

Also on Monday, the city annexed a small piece of property on South Avenue just west of Reserve Street, which will likely be developed into a small housing complex in the future.