After vote on rezone, Missoula council passes Grant Creek development agreement

The Missoula City Council on Monday approved a development agreement tied to a lower Grant Creek housing project, saying it should provide surety to area residents over what to expect as construction begins.

The agreement was voluntarily offered by KJA Development as it sought a change in zoning for the property, which was approved. Both the rezone and the agreement represent two separate issues and were considered individually, though they played out side by side, causing concern among some.

“There's been a lot of work and good faith on the development agreement,” said council member Jordan Hess. “They submitted the agreement on a voluntary basis as part of their rezoning application. It was largely a public service to carry these two items together. It makes sense for those two to travel in tandem.”

The agreement offers a number of concessions on the part of KJA, including a self-imposed cap of 700 housing units, which is less than what zoning allows. It also limits building heights to 45 feet and identifies a trail easement, among other things.

“This is a separate agreement. It's an enforceable contract between the developer and the city, where the developer would provide certain amenities,” said city planner Dave DeGrandpre. “Most importantly for the neighborhood, it reduces the amount of density that would normally be permitted under the zoning.”

The agreement also details setbacks and the amenities the developer has pledged to include in the project, such as a swimming pool, a playground and hiking trails. It also includes wildlife smart additions and language surrounding a bus stop.

But several council members opposed moving the agreement forward with the vote on the rezone, saying it conflated the issues and could cast doubt over the city's decision making process.

The agreement passed on a 10-2 vote with council members Daniel Carlino and Kristen Jordan in opposition.

“In the future, I'd propose the council discuss rezones without a development agree on the table for consideration,” said Jordan. “The development agreement is awesome. But I can't support it because I don't want to be accused of considering it with my vote (on the rezone).”