Keeping Frenchtown submitted a zoning proposal to Missoula County requesting zoning of approximately 576 acres north of the I-90 interchange in Frenchtown. We need at least 60% of the land owners in this area to sign to support the petition by April 20th . If we reach those signatures, we will go before the County Commissioners on April 30th to request that they adopt this zoning with immediate effect.
 
As you are aware, Town Pump has proposed to build a Travel Plaza (aka "not a truck stop") on about 33 acres just north of the I-90 interchange. We believe that this project, or any large-scale commercial project in this area, will bring dangerous traffic, threaten our water, and put the students at Frenchtown schools (and many other pedestrians) at great risk. Our zoning is aimed at preserving the existing character of that land for rural residential and agricultural use and we have made significant efforts to include the existing commercial uses of the property.
 
Does anyone remember attending that large community meeting at the firehouse last year? The one where Town Pump said that this wouldn't be a truck stop because there wouldn't be any showers? Well, quick update, a couple weeks ago they put out a proposal on Montana Bid (a site for construction companies to bid on work) and let me give you the highlights:
 
Yeah, it's a truck stop (surprise, surprise)
30,000 SQ FT convenience store, casino and generous trucker's lounge
72 truck parking spots
22 fuel pumps (and what looks like 9 pumps at a high-flow diesel island)
2x 100-ft tall LED illuminated signs to brighten our night sky
 
I've attached overlayed the proposed Travel Plaza on a map of the area. This thing is massive... we're estimating at least 15 acres of asphalt and you'll notice there's plenty of room for a hotel on the east side by Belker Lane!
 
All this traffic will come off the freeway overpass, directly across the frontage road, across the walking path, and down a pretty steep grade into the parking lot. JAKE BRAKES ALL NIGHT LONG and best of luck dropping the little ones off at the elementary school in the morning!!!
 
If we get zoning, the proposed Town Pump Travel Plaza will be incompatible with the zoning of the area. If Town Pump continues with the project (and we expect they will) this will set us up for a fight like they just had in Bonner. In Bonner the community WON and the developer's plans for a Travel Plaza were denied! This was just a few weeks ago... I was there and it was amazing!!! There is hope here!

 Our zoning proposal is up for public comment on missoulacountyvoice.com . 
 

Anyone in Missoula County is welcome to add their voice to the discussion (creating an account is easy and free). Please post your thoughts and support for the zoning. Please remember that the zoning is about more than just the Town Pump. It is to preserve the character of the existing land and keep Frenchtown the Frenchtown we love!!!
 
We have volunteers working to gather petition signatures, but this has been a difficult road. There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (as well as some outright misinformation). 
 
People are asking:

Doesn't this mean the county will control my land? I hate to tell you, but the county already tells you what you can and can't do with your land. If you want to build just about anything you need to satisfy all the county requirements (setbacks, septic, building, electrical, water, etc.) with or without zoning.
Aren't we too late already? NO! We just saw zoning work in Bonner. But Bonner already had zoning and we need zoning. We need this to pass to keep the fight alive!
Can I rebuild my property if it burns? YES! In the vast majority of the case we've looked at there are no conflicts with existing land use and the zoning. Barns, workshops, and the like are all compatible with this zoning. Any non-conforming uses are grandfathered in anyway (even onto subsequent owners if you sell the property). If folks have specific concerns we want to talk with them to see if we can help.
Can I subdivide? Well, that depends. Most land in this area has already been subdivided once, so under the local covenants it cannot be subdivided further. Folks on original 10-acre plots that have never been subdivided would still be allowed to divide into 5 and 5 even with zoning (subject to all other county restrictions).
Well, I just don't want my land to be zoned! Again, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Missoula County is planning to zone Frenchtown. It's just a question of zoning now or zoning later. Would you like your zoning with or without a Town Pump?
It doesn't matter, Town Pump will win anyway (so we'll be stuck with a Town Pump and zoning)! Now, that's just giving up without a fight. Most folks within the zoning district will not be deprived of anything by being zoned. We have a plan to fight, but we really need zoning to make it work.
 
I've attached a map of the zoning area. I get it, people are worried about their land rights, but we also need them to think about the impact to their land and their neighbors if we have traffic, water, and safety problems from a Travel Plaza. Nobody's land is worth much if all the wells smell like diesel fuel.
 
We really think this is a really good proposal for almost everyone and likely more generous than what Missoula County will offer in a few years.
 
Our little town needs their support, so badly! Please help us get the word out!
 
What can I do? 

Please post your support for zoning on Missoula County Voice!  
 
If you have friends or family in the zoning area consider encouraging them to support this proposal for the good of our community! We really need their help! We will ALL have to live with the Town Pump but the folks in the zoning area the only ones who can help at this critical moment.
 
We have a ton of information online at  
 
You can sign up for our email list or reach us at info@keepingfrenchtown.org