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The "Our Missoula" City Growth Policy is Available for Your Review and Comment

The City Growth Policy and revised Land Use Map can be found on the project website’s homepage at http://www.ourmissoula.org, and comments will be considered between September 15th 2015 and September 30th, 2015. To submit comments, please go to http://www.ourmissoula.org and use the online comment form found on the main page. Comments can also be emailed to [email protected], or mailed to the project team at: City of Missoula, Development Services, 435 Ryman, Missoula, MT, 59802. Additional copies of the document are available for review at City Hall, Development Services Office and at the City of Missoula Public Library.

The ‘Our Missoula’ City Growth Policy is the fundamental policy document that guides growth and community development in Missoula. The document’s development was driven by a robust public involvement process based on extensive community participation from citizens, community leaders, business interests, agencies, and staff. Citizen input flows through the document, providing continuity from the early education and engagement phases of the public involvement process through to the implementation phase, which empowers community members with prioritized strategies and actions to reach a shared vision for the future. Developed over an 18-month period between April, 2014 and September, 2015, the ‘Our Missoula’ Growth Policy Statement provides a vision for what our community will look like by 2035.

The vision for Missoula in 2035, with supporting land use concepts, goals, objectives, and implementation strategies, will manage growth while meeting the needs of the community’s residents and, at the same time, conserve the qualities and characteristics that Missoulians value. The goals support a vision of a sustainable, livable community with a diversified economy, improved infrastructure and environmental quality, and affordable housing options for all.

The process for having the document approved and adopted by City Council starts with the public review and comment period beginning today (9/15/15) and lasting two weeks. In conjunction with the public release of the comprehensive community plan entitled ‘Our Missoula’, an informational presentation is scheduled for September 15th during the upcoming Planning Board meeting. Following the Planning Board informational presentation, a public hearing will be held during the Oct. 6th Planning Board Meeting where public comment will be considered. Additional presentations to community groups, LUP, and City Council will occur between September and December, 2015, with final plan adoption occurring before January 2016.

Thanks for your time,

Tom

Tom Zavitz, AICP

Senior Planner

Development Services, City of Missoula

[email protected]

406-552-6632

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Tips for Writing Better Planning Documents

As planners, many of us review and/or write a variety of planning documents daily. While some may dread these tasks, I actually enjoy them. It is no secret that I am a “plannerd” who is passionate about urban planning, and that I love reading and writing about a broad range of planning issues. However, even if you do not like to write or struggle in this area, I think you would have to agree that writing is a key part of our job and we must do it well. In my opinion, two of the biggest ongoing challenges for planners are communicating clearly with the public and maintaining interest on important planning issues. One way to tackle these challenges is to prepare thoughtful and articulate plans or reports that not only reflect the input of our constituents, but are also easy to read and understand. Provided below are ten tips that I have learned over the years.

By Clement Lau

Full Story: http://losangeles.urbdezine.com/2015/09/08/writing-tips-planners/

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Residents offer 1,200 comments on Billings’ growth plan http://www.matr.net/article-67864.html

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Forums brainstorm ideas as the Gallatin Valley urbanizes http://www.matr.net/article-67863.html

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