Ag Excerpts from Missoula Co. Growth Policy

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Excerpts Citing Agriculture from the

MISSOULA COUNTY GROWTH POLICY 2005
Amended March 25, 2010 by BCC


CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Page 1
PURPOSE OF GROWTH POLICY Page 1-1
Create a truly healthy community by: 1) protecting critical lands and
natural resources, such as wildlife habitat; riparian resources;
hillsides; air and water quality; and open spaces; and

Page 1-3 Urban Fringe Development: Land assessed as agricultural was
considered “developable” because of its low assessed value

CHAPTER TWO: MISSOULA COUNTY PROFILE
Page 2-8 Agricultural Land Use:
Table 2 Missoula County Land Uses By Tax Classification
AGRICULTURAL LAND USES
The 2002 Census of Agriculture, a tool used by the U.S. Government to
track farming information, reports that although the total number of
farms in Missoula County increased 5.4% from 1997 to 2002, the total
land in agricultural use decreased by 4%.11 In 1997, 262,419 acres
were used for farming in Missoula County, decreasing to 258,315 acres
in 2002. Although the number of farms in the County has risen to over
640, a level not seen
Area
Land Use
Acres
Agricultural
531,381
31.7%
since 1954, over half of these “farms” are timberland. As such, fewer
than half (312) of Missoula farms produced crops, with only 17% in
cropland and 29% in pasture in 2002.12
Table 3 Trends in Farming for Missoula County 1997-2002
Decreasing prices for agricultural products, economic factors, and
development pressures deeply affect farmers and ranchers in Missoula
County.13 As the total market value of farm and ranch products
declines, farm and ranch lands become more profitable when sold for
development. As shown in Table 4, 60% of farms had sales of less than
$2,500 in 2002. Less than 1% of the County’s total net income is
derived from raising livestock and crops.14
Table 4 Number of Farms by Value of Sales
Missoula County Growth Policy 2005 Update
Page 2 -8
In response to decreasing farmland and other issues in the food
system, a collaborative group of students, faculty, and citizens
initiated the Missoula County Community Food Assessment (MCCFA) to
comprehensively research local food and farming systems. A primary
recommendation resulting from the MCCFA was to create a Food Policy
Council. Out of that recommendation, a multi-stakeholder coalition
called the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) was formed
in 2005 to address community needs related to food and agriculture.
CFAC focuses on increasing dialogue among a wide array of individuals
in order to support the local food and farm system. They intend to
facilitate projects that will increase food production, improve access
to nutritious food for low-income people, raise funds and create
educational campaigns.
Missoula farmers’ markets continue to expand. One market operates
downtown from May to October each year and another operates at the
Fairgrounds. In 2005, the City Council approved a third farmers’
market for the area between the Millennium Building on Higgins Ave.
and the Clark Fork River to provide a sales outlet for local meat
producers.

Table 5 Subdivision Activity in Missoula City and County 1990-2004

Number of Acres Subdivided by Region January 1, 1996 – December 31,
2004
Missoula County Growth Policy 2005 Update
Page 2 -11
FIGURE 2

Much of the County is constrained for development due to steep
terrain, difficult access, distance from services, and the locations
of rivers and streams. (See Natural Resources for information on
environmental constraints.) As a result, much of the subdivision and
development activity in Missoula County has occurred in the valleys,
near existing communities and in areas that were previously in
agricultural production. (See Natural Resources for information about
development on agricultural lands.) As housing in the valley reaches
capacity, pressure is increasing to develop other areas such as
floodplains and hillsides.

Page 2-43 Table 14 Missoula County Soils of Agricultural Importance

CHAPTER THREE: COMMUNITY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND LAND USE OBJECTIVES
Page 3-4 Encourage the continuation of agricultural and forestry
operations and protect them from adverse impacts of urban development.
Distinguish between urban and rural land use patterns in land use
decisions related to agriculture. Support local sustainable
agriculture.

Balance the consideration of efficient public services, preservation
of natural resources, continuation of agricultural opportunities, and
availability of existing lands within the Missoula Urban Service Area
by referring to the Residential Development Allocation Map (Map 18)
for identification of where residential development should occur
within the Missoula Urban Service Area.

Chapter Four: Implementation
COMMUNITY ATTITUDES
Page 4-13
According to the survey, Missoula City and County residents believe
that issues raised by growth can be managed by local government and
believe that local government should exercise about the same or more
control over the development and use of private property. Residents
also support a range of implementation tools including:
•Protect sensitive lands by regulation (86.9%);
Use voter approved money to purchase open space (71.3%);

CHAPTER SIX: SUBDIVISION REVIEW
DEFINITIONS OF RESOURCE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY CRITERIA Page 6-3
1. AGRICULTURE : Agriculture is defined as the use of the land for
growing, raising, or marketing of plants or animals to produce food,
feed, and fiber commodities. Examples of agricultural activities
include, but are not limited to, cultivation and tillage of the soil;
dairying; growing and harvesting of agricultural or horticultural
commodities; and the raising of livestock, bees, fur- bearing animals,
or poultry. Agriculture does not include gardening for personal use,
keeping of house pets, kenneling, or landscaping for aesthetic
purposes. Agricultural land includes land used for agriculture or
having a soil type defined by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service as having agricultural importance.
EVALUATION OF SUBDIVISIONS AGAINST RESOURCE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY
CRITERIA
Page 6-4
The governing body may require the subdivider to design the
subdivision to reasonably minimize potentially significant adverse
impacts identified through the evaluation of a subdivision proposal
against the resource, health, and safety review criteria. When
requiring mitigation, a governing body may not unreasonably restrict a
landowner's ability to develop land, but it is recognized that in some
instances the unmitigated impacts of a proposed development may be
unacceptable and will preclude approval of the plat.11
Impacts to agriculture, agricultural water user facilities, local
services, the natural environment, wildlife and wildlife habitat, and
public health and safety will be evaluated based on a consideration of
the types of factors listed below. This list is illustrative and not
inclusive. All of the factors may not apply to all subdivisions.
Because the presence and value of resources varies across the County,
regional or vicinity plans may include other or more specific
evaluation factors.
Evaluation of subdivision proposals against these criteria requires an
assessment of how the public interest is best served. The relative
value of each criterion and the significance of potential impacts to
it will be weighed in the context of goals and objectives as expressed
in regional plans, vicinity plans, issue plans, or other similarly
specific policy documents. Land use designations in these plans take
into account the review criteria as well as other factors.
AGRICULTURE •Agricultural soils defined as having prime, statewide or
local importance by the Natural Resources Conservation Service
•Agricultural productivity •Agricultural land use