ASK: LONE MOUNTAIN LAND COMPANY

Has LMLC started planning out Town Center and if so what percentage will be commercial, residential, open space, community amenities?

Since the acquisition of the remaining Town Center land, LMLC has been refining the Master Plan around housing, conservation, sustainability, and transportation. That road mapping includes engaging the Big Sky community, consultants and community organizations to ensure a sustainable path forward for a growing Big Sky community.

As LMLC looks to further define Town Center as Big Sky’s central hub, the near-term focus is improving the plaza through new amenities, retail offerings, and food and beverage opportunities. The planning includes collaborating with BSCO in the creation of open space, parks, and contiguous trail systems throughout Town Center. We hope to have more concrete plans in the upcoming months to share with the community, and we will not be breaking ground on anything for the remainder of 2023.

Why do we need more hotels in Big Sky’s Town Center?

The presence of more hotels in Town Center attract more tourists and business travelers, leading to increased economic activity. This, in turn, can create job opportunities and generate revenue for the local community and businesses, and help expand retail and commercial opportunities for the entire community. Big Sky’s shortage of hotel rooms also contributed to the explosion of shortterm rental properties the last 5 years, with over 1100 homes in Big Sky converted from long-term to short-term rental, exacerbating the housing situation. Even a small increase in additional hotel rooms can help alleviate this problem and create more opportunities for long-term rental.

How involved is LMLC in traffic studies? Have they considered a reroute through Town Center to avoid construction around Big Sky Roadway 64 and Ousel Falls Road?

LMLC maintains regular communication with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), sharing drone and video footage to keep them updated on Big Sky’s traffic situation. We installed traffic cameras on our buildings to aid TIGER Grant applications for funding improvements, while promoting carpooling to job sites. Because Ousel Falls Road has Big Sky’s only traffic light, it has been determined that using the road for a reroute wouldn’t be beneficial. LMLC supports MDT’s infrastructure projects on MT 64 and Hwy 191, prioritizing traveler safety. Additionally, we contribute to updating the Transit Master Plan and developing a comprehensive long-term plan and funding potential to enhance public transportation in collaboration with the Transportation District.

In Town Center, if LMLC has only broken ground on community housing projects in the last two years, what are the large white boxes to the east of Town Center?

The mysterious white boxes are actually modular units for the RiverView Place Community Housing development. This is a temporary storage solution in the field. We are preparing to start assembling them on the RiverView site the week of July 31.

Last summer LMLC had a farmer’s market booth collecting feedback from the community for Town Center. What were the top suggestions received?

There were many great suggestions, these were the most frequently received: Swimming Pool, Rooftop Bar, Dog Park, Bowling Alley, Pickleball Courts, Nail Salon, More Trails