Gregory Morris' Blackfoot Crossing remarks

Blackfoot Crossing
Gregory Morse — Missoula County Commissioners — Thursday, March 5, 2026

Introduction

I’m Gregory Morse, the developer of Blackfoot Crossing. I’m a mission-oriented developer, and my mission is attainable housing. That’s what I wake up for every day. Every choice I’ve made on this project—some quite difficult—is in the service of that mission.

I’m originally from California, I live in Bozeman, and I’m a Bobcat fan. Now you know everything bad about me.

But I’m also a Montanan, a Missoula business owner, and father to three amazing kids who I’d love to be able to afford to stay in this state. I serve on the executive committee of a nonprofit dedicated to ending family homelessness and providing affordable childcare. I care about this work because I live it. Enough about me.

Thank You

I’d like to thank the commissioners, the planning commission, and staff—Jennie, Kathleen, Izzie, Karen, Chet, Randy, Andrew, and Flanna—and my team, especially Jamie, Caitlin, and Jeff at WGM Group.

To my supporters: I won’t let you down. To the thousand Missoulians who will eventually buy their first home here, raise their kids here, or live here—this wasn’t the easy path, but it’s all worth it.

And to my critics: your feedback made this project better. Thank you for meeting with me, for listening, and—for many of you—for becoming supporters. As we move forward, I hope you continue to engage constructively. Mark, Keturah, Brett, Suzette, Tori, Lindsey, Monica, Amanda, John, Caroline, Bruce, and others—I hope someday one of your children, family members, or friends live here, hikes or bikes here, enjoys a business here, or works here. I hope that I demonstrate through this development that we can mix uses together and deliver something great for this community.

The Question at Hand 

This is not a question of whether or not to have a travel plaza.

This is a question of whether you’d prefer attainable housing, kids in Bonner School, trails, and wastewater treatment—or the status quo: a gravel pit, an asphalt plant, and a concrete plant.

I’m not saying that to scare anyone. It’s what the current zoning and lack of infrastructure allows, and where there is interest from users. I have no interest in that future. That’s why I’m fighting to protect this neighborhood from it.

What I’ve Heard

I started this project talking with neighbors almost two years ago. Here’s what they asked for, and here’s what I’ve done.

Neighbors asked for public lands and trails. I’ve dedicated public access easements for trails to Woody Mountain and up the Blackfoot River, including a connection between the two sections of Milltown State Park. We’ve offered additional parking for Milltown State Park at our cost. I’m converting the river frontage from industrial heavy to resource and open lands, tearing down some fences and berms to open the property to the community and wildlife. And I’ve founded the Blackfoot Trails Alliance to preserve and expand access for the long term.

Neighbors asked for safety and traffic improvements. I’m building a sidewalk along First Street so kids can safely get to school instead of walking in the road. Two protected crosswalks where none exist today. A dedicated left-turn signal from Highway 200. And a roundabout at First and Cowboy Trail.

Neighbors asked for a reduction in industrial uses. I’ve eliminated all heavy industrial zoning we own except two smaller light industrial lots. This blocks future use as a gravel pit while still allowing job-producing light industry.

Neighbors asked for attainable housing. With county TIF support, I’ll be delivering the most attainable starter homes Missoula has seen in years—for sale and for rent, with garages and yards, many permanently affordable through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and Front Step Community Land Trust. Some have claimed that’s just a promise. It’s not. Our state and county leaders have attached an enforceable workforce housing requirement for projects using TIF funds—which I support wholeheartedly. And so importantly these homes will be all-electric, every roof will have solar. I ask everybody here to hold me accountable to that promise. Also, the density is limited to what the neighborhood asked for.

Neighbors asked for kids in Bonner School. I’m building hundreds of starter homes to bring families into the school community—not just studios and one-bedrooms—to restore enrollment and deliver affordable housing for teachers.

Neighbors asked for community-serving businesses. Our zoning supports attainable commercial space: vets, gyms, coffee shops, restaurants, food trucks, daycare, medical—and maybe even a farmers market, coop, or grocery if the community supports one.
Neighbors asked for wastewater and water. After months of hard work, our wastewater treatment plant is now pending approval by MT DEQ, with one procedural issue we’re wrapping up as we speak. It eliminates more than twenty permitted exempt wells and septic systems, replaces them with two DEQ-tested wells sited far from the community, and brings fire hydrants and fire water storage to an area that has none.

Neighbors asked me to be a good neighbor. I’ve participated in community council meetings, supported trash cleanups, hosted hikes, towed abandoned vehicles at our cost, and met with every single person who’s asked. I’ve made a lot of friends here. And I promise: after this meeting ends, I’ll continue to be a good neighbor.

Areas of Disagreement

There are a few areas where we haven’t always found agreement. I want to address these directly.

The travel plaza. Fifteen acres of 107 may be a travel plaza. If I could make it work without it, I would. But that’s the reality of fighting to deliver on my attainable housing vision. Fifteen acres of travel plaza funds ninety-two acres of community benefit—sidewalks, wastewater treatment, public lands, and attainable housing. It’s regulated by modern zoning, located as far as possible from surrounding homes, and significantly smaller than the existing travel plaza.

Local business. A common refrain in the comments is that the community would like a grocery or some other community serving businesses. I absolutely agree. Our zoning request and community plan includes exactly that modest sized, attainable commercial space to support these kinds of businesses. Also, I’d love to bring a market as soon as there is enough demand to support one.

Binding commitments. Some have questioned whether traffic improvements and attainable housing are just promises. They’re not. As part of our approval, we are legally required to deliver traffic and safety improvements—the majority in the first phase. And if we take one dollar of TIF funding, we have a binding legal obligation to deliver attainable, workforce housing. Both are enforceable by this board.

Zoning density. Some say our zoning is too dense. Others say we should build more housing. We’ve tried to find the right balance, and we’ve offered a binding limit on density to address the concern. But I will not accept zoning that adds tens to a hundred thousand dollars to the cost of these homes. Housing attainability is the mission. I won’t compromise on it.

Water supply and wastewater. Some have raised concerns about impact on the aquifer and river. I’d like to reiterate that our wells are required to be tested by a hydrogeologist while a neighboring well is monitored to ensure water levels are not impacted. Our wastewater plant has been approved by MT DEQ and exceeds the standards required of us, and it will be monitored by DEQ and licensed wastewater operators.

Finally—others worry I’ll build the travel plaza and nothing else. I’ve spent two years on this and I’m not walking away from the attainable housing vision. But even in that scenario, the neighborhood gets sidewalks, public trails, wastewater treatment, and is blocked from becoming a gravel pit. Not perfect—but a far cry from what could be there today.

Conclusion

Most of you know I love talking, food, and beer. If anybody wants to continue the conversation, please join me tonight at Kettlehouse Brewing starting at 5:30. Beer and food on me. I’d love to talk about how we make this a true asset for the community, help craft the mission of the Blackfoot Trails Alliance, or just enjoy a good conversation.

In the two years I’ve worked on this project, I’ve come to love this community and this place. It’s that potential that has motivated me to pursue this more difficult path.
Here’s to the kids who will grow up here, go to school here, and fight to make the world a better place.

Here’s to the trails, public lands, sidewalks, jobs, and community businesses this site will support. Here’s to attainable housing for families—and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.