Happy Saturday Everyone,
We hope that this message finds you well! On Wednesday, the Urban Land Use and Planning Committee discussed the proposed Midtown Commons development and decided to push it forward to council this coming Monday, the 18th. Here is the video of the meeting if you haven't been able to watch.
There were many great questions that councilors asked during the meeting on Wednesday including:
- More clarity and specifics around the use of TIF money.
- More clarity about Miramonte Companies allowance to sell portions of the property to other companies once the land is sold to Miramonte Companies.
- Whether Miramonte Companies is marketing Missoula as an investment opportunity to get return on premium rent.
- Whether Miramonte Companies is willing to include stipulations including deed restrictions and below median price point housing in the deal, which the owner of the company, Chris Kemmerly, verbalized that he would do in the meeting on Wednesday but is not legally required in the sale documents at this point.
- What type of environmental and ecological assessments did the City conduct? Do the assessments include species count, plant count, tree count and identification of native and keystone species? The environmental assessment that was provided to the public only accounts for soil testing.
- What type of climate impact and air quality studies have been done? One councilor who had visited the land recently remarked that it was notably cooler under the trees and wondered about possible climate impacts of cutting the trees.
- Why was the proposed park chosen to be where it is?
- Is it an equity issue to cut down all of the trees, including mature shade trees?
- How many years will the residents in this area have to wait for a park and trees once all of the trees are clearcut?
- Why are we selling this land at the same price that we bought it for 18 months ago?
In this meeting it was also revealed that neither the City nor Miramonte Companies had done a tree count on the land. A group of us went out and did an unofficial count.
Here's what we found:
Total tree count (roughly): 250
Total healthy trees: 215
Total unhealthy trees: 35
Of the healthy trees there are:
1. Cottonwood: 21 - native and Keystone Species
2. Maple: 6 - native
3. Choke cherry: 3 - native
4. Fir: 1 - native
5. Box elder: 22 - native
6. Dogwood: 9 - native
7. Juniper hedge: 7 -native
8. Pine tree: 35 - native
9. Cedar: 3 - native
10. Honey suckle shrub: 3 native
11. Crab apple: 1
12. Siberian Elms: 90
13. Apple tree: 1
14. Russian Olive: 7
15. American Basswood: 6
Along the ditch we estimate there are roughly 125-130 healthy trees and the remaining 85 are behind Bob Wards.
Native plants: Copious amounts of equisetum (horsetail) along the ditch. Yellow bells and buttercups this spring.
Neighbors have observed this spring: great horned owl, Canadian geese, mallard ducks, deer, and a variety of raptors and songbirds.
What is next:
Unfortunately, the Mayor has declined hosting a Town Hall regarding this proposed development. She also did not attend the February 11th neighborhood meeting that residents petitioned to hold to discuss this proposed development. At the end of this neighborhood meeting citizens called for another meeting where the Mayor was present. The Mayor never followed up on this. In January a smaller group of us asked to have a meeting with the Mayor in her office. She refused to meet with us then.
At a time when federally Town Halls are being shut down it is worrisome to see this reflected locally.
Where does that leave us?
We need you! Will you be a tree? The proposed plan will clearcut all of the trees on this land. Our vision is to have all of the trees represented at Monday night's City Council meeting. You can be a tree by wearing green and attending the meeting. Public comment is always encouraged and is a great way for us to learn more about each other as community members, however, if you do not feel comfortable speaking your presence while wearing green will also be a powerful visual reminder of what will be lost if these trees are razed.
The trees show up for us 24/7, 365. It's our turn now. If you'd be willing to attend in representation of one of the 215 healthy trees please add your name to this list.
When: Monday, May 18th 6:00PM
Where: City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine
You can also write to city council members and let them know that you are in support of saving The Grove if you are not able to attend.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out at savemidtowngreens@gmail.com
Thank you all for your support!!!