Cascade County Community Input

Adopt an “infill” program with policies and incentives to encourage development of vacant property.
Promote and enhance the post-secondary educational and technical training opportunities available in Great Falls.
Prepare a database and policies concerning the availability of publicly owned properties for development.
Prepare an action plan for the redevelopment and revitalization of the Downtown area.
Promote community amenities and attractions for economic development.

The City should support an equitable distribution of publicly assisted housing units throughout the community to avoid exclusive neighborhoods or subdivisions and give low-income residents more choices to live close to work, school, or services.
The City should continue or expand housing inspection and code enforcement programs to promote neighborhood and community pride and ensure adequate maintenance of the housing stock.
Mixed-use developments should be encouraged to provide increased housing opportunities, especially in the Downtown area.
The City should encourage the development of alternative housing types through innovative land use regulations or financial assistance programs, including attached single-family units, modular or manufactured housing, clustered housing, mixed-use developments, group homes, assisted living facilities, self-help housing, cooperatives, modular or manufactured housing, etc.
The City should strive to allow diverse housing opportunities to meet the needs of the current and future population, including creative planned residential communities, with a reasonable mixture of single-family and multi-family units.

The City should continue to explore new, environmentally safe ways to keep streets safe for winter driving.
The City should require grading/excavation permits and adopt standards and Best Management Practices to control erosion, sedimentation, and dust.
The City should promote development options that preserve open space and water quality.

The City and Neighborhood Councils should work with the Great Falls School District’s Safety Committee to review and, if necessary, update the walking routes, street crossings, and crossing guard locations previously identified by the Committee.
The City should prepare and annually update a joint Capital Improvements Plan with Cascade County for infrastructure and other community facilities or services.
Historical, geological, cultural, archaeological, and other information should be integrated as exhibits or displays in City parks and other community facilities.
The City should conduct an extensive public education and outreach program on the value and community benefits of recycling.
Library is under-funded for acquiring new books and other materials (Great Falls Public Library budget).

The City should work with the Montana Department of Commerce to coordinate the establishment of a regional network of agencies and individuals involved in planning, growth management, economic development, technical education, and resource management.
Water, sewer and solid waste collection systems should be self-supporting with appropriate incentives to encourage resource conservation. Great Falls should be a model community in terms of sustainability.
The City should ensure that extensions or expansions of existing systems, facilities and services are made only after careful evaluation of all the impacts and that all services are distributed in an efficient and equitable manner.

Encourage livable, walkable, visually and functionally cohesive neighborhoods that incorporate traditional design concepts.
Physical elements that contribute to the individual identity of neighborhoods, such as natural features, historic and cultural resources, parks, schools, and other focal points, should be protected.
New development should complement the unique aspects of the City’s setting and character. The visual and scenic quality of the community must be protected and improved when opportunities are presented.

The community should have a comprehensive and fully accessible public transit system. Our community should have streets, trails and walkways that are planned, built, landscaped, and maintained as safe and attractive public spaces linking a balanced system of open lands, natural areas, recreational facilities, schools, and parks with trails and urban streetscapes.
Traffic circulation and parking in Downtown Great Falls are very important issues facing the community. As the primary function of the Central Business District shifts from a retail area to a mixed-use area, the need to maintain and improve circulation and parking will continue to be a major issue.
High traffic volume, congestion, physical condition, and appearance of 10th Avenue South are major problems. Methods should be identified to improve access, parking, and the streetscape (signs, landscaping, etc.).
Complaints are increasing about traffic hazards, congestion, speeding, parking and other problems near schools. These problems obviously increase the hazards facing teachers and students who walk or bike to school as well the hazards facing parents and others driving near the schools.
Great Falls should be a city of cohesive, distinct, diverse, attractive, and safe neighborhoods with a compact land use pattern. The transportation and land use decisions made by the City and County should be mutually supportive.

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