Missoula officials begin planning process for 235-acre Roseburg site

City planning staff and the Missoula Redevelopment Agency on the program described the start of a formal planning process for the 235-acre former Roseburg industrial site on Missoula's North Side.

Annie Gorski of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency said the Roseburg property is central to the North Reserve/Scott Street urban renewal district and that the city approved annexation of roughly the first 93 acres. "A lot has changed since 2016," Gorski said, describing residential and commercial shifts in the broader planning area and MRA's interest in guiding future priorities.

City long-range planner Madsen Mathias described the council's resolution as a resolution of intent to initiate the planning process and to comply with 2023 state land-use law changes requiring more structured public participation. "This is a resolution of intent to initiate a planning process," Mathias said, adding that the resolution establishes the governing body's majority-vote path to amend area plans and to bring the public along for the amendment process.

Officials said the change reflects the state's updated Montana Land Use Planning Act and the need for clear public engagement paths; staff encouraged residents to visit the city's Engage in Missoula portal and attend open houses to provide input on the North Side master plan.

Next steps: the resolution moves the planning process forward with public workshops and additional study; no specific redevelopment approvals were adopted on the broadcast segment.