Missoula County Community and Planning Services today launched the interactive Missoula Area Mapping Project, a new effort focused on incorporating the public’s insight as the County updates its land-use designation map amid continued growth.
Through a dynamic online comment map, available now at http://bit.ly/MissoulaCoMAMP, members of the community will be able to review and provide comment about current land uses, public infrastructure, recreation opportunities, agricultural lands, affordable housing, future development efforts and more.
“Public input is really important to this process,” said Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss. “The land-use map is a vision for our community —guiding future land use, investment in public infrastructure and delivery in local services. By participating in the update, the public has the chance to express what values are important to them and play a part in proactively planning for the future.”
The current land-use map, a visual representation of land-use area designations for the Missoula urban area, was originally adopted in 1975 and requires updating to meet the needs and goals as the area population continues to increase.
“Missoula County is currently growing by nearly 2,000 people a year,” said Andrew Hagemeier, a Missoula County planner involved in developing the effort. “We need input from our community to help us plan for that continued growth and ensure our map reflects Missoula-area values now and in the future.”
The interactive comment map is just one point of outreach for the Missoula Area Mapping Project. Five public workshops are slated for this month in Missoula-area neighborhoods, with additional comment opportunities to come. The schedule of March public workshops follows:
- 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 21: Hellgate Elementary, 2385 Flynn Lane.
- 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 22: Target Range Elementary School Library, 4095 South Ave. W.
- 2-4 p.m. Monday, March 26: Missoula County Courthouse Annex Room 151, 200 W. Broadway St.
- 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27: Bonner/West Riverside/Milltown, Hellgate Lions Club Barn, 1305 Haaglund Drive.
- 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28: East Missoula Rural Fire Department, 314 Montana Ave.
For more information, call Hagemeier at 406-258-3707 or email [email protected]. More information also is available on the MAMP website at http://www.missoulaareamapping.com.