MISSOULA — The Missoula County commissioners held an update meeting on Tuesday, June 4, regarding the state of certain development projects.
The projects that were discussed were the following: Russell St. improvements, Bonner West and log yard, three parcels of parkland that are up for bidding to be sold, the Grant Creek Crossing development project as well as the Wye development project.
The status of all the projects is that they are all largely still in the conceptual stage of development.
For Russell St., they are hoping to bury or move utility lines, add more sidewalks and fencing as well as add decorative lighting on both the West and East sides of the street. They are planning on having a scoping meeting for the improvements and after which they will then move into the costs of the project and additional funding sources.
CORRECTION: The commissioners will not hold a scoping meeting for the improvements; staff will. The meeting is between the engineering firm contracted to design the sidewalk and agencies, including staff with the City of Missoula and the Montana Department of Transportation, to narrow down some details that need to be considered in the design. It is a technical meeting on the technical engineering aspects of the project.
Currently, Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA), has funds set aside for the lighting.
CORRECTION: MRA will be asked to help fund these improvements.
For Bonner West and the log yard, the county is currently under contract for development but nothing has yet to be executed.
CORRECTION: The location is called the Bonner West Log Yard. The County is not under contract for development; a private entity is considering buying the property but is not under contract.
The development proposals are to create an industrial subdivision with half of it being used for industrial purposes and the other half being for residential housing. The county would need to change the zoning for this, which could take months to do on its own. The county is also hoping to put in a trail along the power lines in the area to connect the area to the close Fish, Wildlife and Parks state park. The county is “waiting and seeing” now however as the developer for the project could still walk away. “Everything is pretty conceptual still.”
The three parcels of land that are listed for sale — all of them currently being parks — have made the most progress so far. One parcel received a bid for $520,000, which is above the appraised value of $495,000. The parcel would have to be rezoned however, a process that could again take months. The other two parcels of land will be re-listed for sale.
And for the Grant Creek Crossing development project, the county is hoping that it will become a Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) which would allow for tax increment funding (TIF). TIF essentially allows for the increased property tax revenue - that is as the property values increase from development - to be set aside to continue funding for the TEDD.
CORRECTION: TIF money can be set aside to fund infrastructure; the TEDD is the mechanism under state law to collect money. You fund infrastructure through a TEDD. This area does not need to be rezoned, an enticing incentive for the area. This project is still conceptual, however.
As for the WYE TEDD, the county is currently on the public engagement phase now. They are also waiting to see the infrastructure plans for the TEDD before they go ahead and move forward with any further development plans.
CORRECTION: The TEDD at the Wye has already been created following a public engagement process. The county is now conducting an infrastructure plan for the Wye that looks at what the sewer, water and transportation needs are to serve future development. That planning process will include public engagement.
Overall, all these projects are still conceptual and developers for the projects could still walk away at any moment - something the county is hoping doesn’t happen.
