City Council approves Phase 2 of southside Cowboy Flats subdivision
The Missoula City Council on Monday unanimously approved the second and final phase of a 32-lot southside subdivision, calling it a traditional development in an era of updated land-use plans.
Lots within the project have been on the market for several years, and roughly 8 homes have been constructed. The project will include 32 homes for a density of roughly 6 dwelling units per acre.
Phase 2 includes 16 lots served by 38th Street and Dore Lane.
“This is a tradition subdivision, which we don't see a lot of anymore in an era of other land-use approval projects,” said council member Jordan Hess. “I appreciate that this is a relatively straight forward, relatively traditional type neighborhood, and it's an exhibit of our subdivision regulations working at their best.”
The City Council approved Phase One of the project back in 2017, also on a unanimous vote. At the time, it represented the city's first major subdivision approval since 2008. Missoula has since hit a housing shortage, which plays a role in the cost of housing.
Since initial approval of Cowboy Flats, a number of large housing projects have come online, though few have been as straight forward. Several projects, including the controversial Hillview Crossing project, came through what's known as a townhome exemption development, which falls under different review guidelines.
More recently, the Hellgate Meadows project was approved as a master-planned, mixed-used development, which also includes some traditional housing. The city will debate a similar project planned off Interstate 90 at the base of Grant Creek in the coming weeks.
Unlike those projects, Cowboy Flats will consist entirely of single-family homes with buyers aged 55 and older in mind, according to developers. Three years ago, members of the council pushed for greater density in the project, though it won unanimous approval without it.
“We're quite proud of the layout of Cowboy Flats,” said project affiliate John Kellogg. “We think its a very successful development for infill in Missoula.