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County eyes rezone for storage near Bitterroot River

Source: missoulian.com

TL;DR

Missoula County commissioners will decide this month on rezoning an 81-acre site near the Bitterroot River for a storage unit complex.
The property, mostly in the river floodplain, was a former landfill that also hosted a temporary safe outdoor space in 2020.
The county planning board denied the proposal earlier this month after staff concerns, but commissioners hold final say.

The story at a glance

Missoula County commissioners face a final decision this month on a proposed rezoning to allow a new storage unit complex on an 81-acre property near the Bitterroot River. The site, reported by Griffen Smith in the Missoulian on April 6, 2026, mostly lies in the river floodplain and served as a former landfill; it also hosted the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space in 2020. This is being reported now as the board of commissioners prepares to act after the planning board's denial.

Key points

Property spans 81 acres near Blue Mountain Road, with most in the Bitterroot River floodplain.[[1]](https://missoulian.com/news/local/government-politics/article_4eed27a5-1452-4082-906f-8d22534e6cce.html)[[2]](https://x.com/missoulian/status/2041246079581049269)
Previously operated as a landfill and in 2020 held the county's Temporary Safe Outdoor Space for homeless sheltering.[[2]](https://x.com/missoulian/status/2041246079581049269)
Developer seeks zoning change to permit construction of the storage units.
County's planning board denied the request earlier this month, citing concerns raised by county staff.[[1]](https://missoulian.com/news/local/government-politics/article_4eed27a5-1452-4082-906f-8d22534e6cce.html)
Commissioners will make the final call, overriding the planning board if they choose.

Details and context

The article covers a local land-use dispute in Missoula County, where growth pressures meet environmental limits like floodplains. Blue Mountain Road runs south of Missoula along the lower Bitterroot Valley, near Lolo, where the river's floodplain restricts development to protect against flooding.[[3]](https://missoulacountyvoice.com/development-projects?page=6)

Rezoning former industrial sites like this landfill raises questions about remediation, flood risks, and suitable reuse—storage units offer low-impact revenue but may face opposition over aesthetics or traffic.

No further details on the developer, exact parcel, staff concerns, or public input appear in available snippets, limiting insight into trade-offs.

Why it matters

The decision tests how Missoula County balances economic development against floodplain protections along the Bitterroot River. It could mean new storage options for residents and businesses or reinforce limits on building in high-risk areas. Watch the commissioners' meeting this month for the outcome, as it may set precedent for repurposing old landfills.