Planning board recommends approval for 97-lot South Hills subdivision
Another large development could eat up a chunk of open land in the South Hills after the Missoula city-county consolidated planning board recommended approval of a 97-unit neighborhood, which now heads to Missoula's City Council.
The Meadow View Homes subdivision would build detached homes and two-unit townhouses on 32 acres west of Hillview Way. The proposed development sits across the street from the Wildroot subdivision , which the city approved in September.
While the planning board ultimately recommended unanimous approval, residents who spoke at the meeting are concerned about increased traffic in the South Hills.
Natalie Bursztyn, a resident who lives near the development, said she is already seeing an increase of people driving on Hillview Way and said she worries what the traffic will look like once all the development is completed.
"To put all of the exit point, all of the exit eggs — 400 cars — in one street basket is terrifying to those of who live on that street already," Bursztyn said.
City staff did say a traffic study was completed in the area and did not show a need for increased infrastructure. The city is requiring the developers to make some improvements in the area as a condition of approval.
Residents at the meeting advocated for more roundabouts and other traffic control measures.
Representatives for the developers said the area would feature larger home lots and seven common spaces spread out across the subdivision. Steep slopes would also be common in some of the proposed neighborhood.
The planning board members said they ultimately approved the development because it meets the city's growth policy and would add more housing to Missoula's stressed housing market.
The city council is expected to make a decision on the subdivision on Oct. 28. If approved, the development would be built in five phases over 11 years.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
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