Downtown Great Falls Master Plan

Following up on some of your comments on Facebook , I'd like to share some thoughts on Master plans, and reference specific information about our current Downtown Master Plan, adopted October 2011.

The current Great Falls Masterplan can be downloaded at: http://www.greatfallsmt.net/sites/default/files/archives/records/minutes/yr2011/DTMP.pdf

Master plans are a great way to build general guidelines, and incorporate comments from (extensive) public meetings into one handy document. The goals for our current Master plan could be paraphrased as a connected, flourishing Downtown, that serves as a local destination, offers more residential options, and improved aesthetics. Each of those goals has a set of objectives and implementation outlines, and yes, "Complete Streets" is mentioned more than once. It also lists a number of strategies to bring more life Downtown on evenings and weekends.

When new projects are proposed to the City, folks on the Planning Board, Commission, and City staff review them for general compliance with the plan. While additional public comment is usually required and encouraged, it allows the City to approve compliant projects with relative ease.

That being said, given limited public funds, any master plan heavily depends on residents, developers, and other organizations to bring it to life. Recognizing this, the current plan suggested the formation of a Downtown Developing Board including a variety of community stakeholders and groups. Late 2012 the "Downtown Partnership" was formed,  hopefully channeling the energy and initiatives into more actual progress.

If you are interested in long term planning for Great Falls (beyond downtown), make sure to follow the growth policy update and events. Throughout 2012 the City has received ample citizen participation in formulating the new growth policy, which will guide Great Falls' long term direction and planning decisions.




Provided by Spark Architecture