The Planning and Community Development Department of Great Falls, Montana, has released the first draft of its updated Growth Policy. The document will be available for public review beginning January 12, 2026. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback and participate in a series of open house events.
The Growth Policy outlines the city’s approach to future development and addresses topics such as land use, housing, transportation, public infrastructure, economic development, and community character. State law requires communities to periodically update these policies to ensure they reflect current conditions and priorities.
Open house meetings will take place at the Gibson Room in the Civic Center on January 12 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, January 14 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, and January 15 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. City staff will be present at these events to answer questions and collect comments from attendees.
The draft policy can also be reviewed online at futuregreatfalls.com. Comments may be submitted electronically through this website.
“The City encourages everyone to participate and help shape the future of Great Falls,” according to city officials.
Great Falls is located along the Missouri River in Montana, an area known for its waterfalls that drop over 500 feet—these are the only visible falls in the Missouri-Mississippi system without a dam (source). The city was established in 1884 by Paris Gibson due to its strategic location near these natural features (source). Today, Great Falls operates under a commission-manager form of government with a City Commission as its policy-making body (source).
The city continues efforts toward transparent governance and community empowerment through collaborative decision-making (source).