Swan Valley Planning Committee survey results
- preservetheswan3
- Apr 22
- 10 min read
Swan Valley Montana
Planning Committee News
April 18, 2025
Swan Valley Residents Support Community’s Rural Nature, Clean Air and Water, Open Spaces, Wildlife, Survey Shows
Local Planning Committee Seeks Comment on Updated Neighborhood Plan April 26, June 14
(Contact: Helene Michael - 406.214.8221 & Jonathan Simon - 406.754.3190 / Bill Lombardi - 406.459.8860)
(Condon, MT) – Swan Valley residents overwhelmingly support open spaces, wildlife, recreation, clean rivers and lakes, hunting and fishing and the low-population density of the valley nestled between the Mission and Swan mountain ranges in western Montana, says a recent survey conducted by the area’s planning committee.
Meanwhile, Swan Valley residents think that large-scale resort developments, major residential subdivisions and conversion of homes to vacation rentals would have negative impacts on their community.
Swan Valley residents, the survey also says, would support a land-use regulation that only prohibits large commercial or resort developments that have the potential to alter the character of the area. Area residents also would endorse a land-use regulation that prohibits the encroachment of new development on streams and rivers within a certain distance, and thereby protect water quality, according to the survey.
The community survey, which was conducted by the Swan Valley Planning Committee in late 2024 to help guide it in its planning process in updating the area’s 1996 Swan Valley Neighborhood Plan, received 232 responses – a 31-percent response rate. A total of 754 surveys were mailed to the tax address of every home in Upper Swan Valley; 69 percent of the 232 respondents filled out the paper survey, and 31 percent of respondents took the survey online.
“We’re excited to talk to Swan Valley residents about the future of their valley and what they want to see in their neighborhood plan,” Swan Valley Planning Committee co-chairs Helene Michael and Jon Simon said. “We invite our neighbors to two public planning committee feedback meetings from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 26 and June 14 at the Swan Valley Elementary School in Condon. The more Swan Valley voices that are heard, the stronger our collective voice will be in creating and obtaining a future where we all want to live and thrive. We hope all Swan Valley residents will participate in this community endeavor.”
Community residents will be able to see and comment on all the draft planning documents to date and provide comments on the planning committee’s direction and recommendations, Michael and Simon said.
Committee members are updating the 1996 Neighborhood Plan using the existing Swan Valley conditions, feedback from the Community Survey, and individual conversations with community members. A large part of the committee’s work to date has been to document the history and changes that have occurred over the last several decades and, from that, to describe the community’s wishes for the future.
The planning advisory committee developed three core values from the recent survey results and that are consistent with the 1996 Neighborhood Plan. The values that are most important to community members are to:
● Preserve the rural character of the Swan Valley (low density and open space)
● Enjoy clean air, water and and a resilient forest with abundant wildlife
● Ensure accessibility to our public lands for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, riding, etc.
Documents related to the Swan Valley planning committee’s work, survey results and Existing Condition Report can be viewed at the Missoula County Voice webpage (under Documents), as well as at the Swan Valley Community Library. The link to the Survey can be found here.
The survey was conducted anonymously. It was administered by the Missoula County Planning Department, which is helping the Condon-area planning advisory committee to update its Neighborhood Plan. The Swan Valley Planning Committee was appointed in November 2023 by the Swan Valley Community Council, whose members are liaisons to the Missoula County Commissioners and provide “information from citizens and residents of their areas to the attention of the Commissioners.”
Asked to briefly describe the Swan Valley to someone who has never been there, respondents, for instance, wrote:
“One of the last BEST undeveloped places in Montana.”
“Most of the locals do not desire this special place to be developed anymore than it already has.”
“Well, I wouldn’t describe it at all, because folks who aren’t from Montana probably wouldn’t understand. But if I had to, I’d say it’s a special place where working-class neighbors wave and help each other, wildlife is free and unbothered, the water is clean, and the world is quiet.”
“Rural, natural and filled with wildlife and a slice of Montana and the West that could be prone to extensive development if residents and Montanans and Americans don't work together to protect its rustic and small community feel. Filled with pristine rivers, creeks, streams and lakes, tall mountains on the east and west, and endangered species that need habitat to flourish, the Swan Valley is part of the natural fabric of the Southwest Crown of the Continent and a part of history that future generations should be able to enjoy.”
These comments to the first question summarize a strong feeling among respondents that they treasure the Swan Valley’s rural nature, abundance of wildlife, clean air and water, rivers, creeks and streams, sense of solitude and privacy, small-town community feeling, easy access to public lands and recreation (hunting, fishing, hiking, etc.), minimal development, and a general feeling that there are few rural valleys like this left in the Lower 48.
While some questions allowed respondents to answer open-ended questions, other questions asked respondents to rank the values and characteristics of the area and to think about the future of the valley, which, while largely surrounded by federal public land, could face pressure to the rural landscape’s social fabric, wildlife and ecosystem from increased development, recreation and tourism.
In ranking important elements of the Swan Valley in Question 3, 225 people responded, with these values being ranked as “extremely important” in a ranking from 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely important and 1 being not important:
Subject # Ranked Extremely Important
● Clean rivers and lakes 211
● Wildlife 202
● Open spaces 200
● Low-population density 166
● Recreation 119
● Hunting and fishing 105
● Local businesses 75
● Other (open-ended response) 32
Some respondents to this question also noted that there is a lack of affordable housing in the valley.
Question 4 asked respondents to rank the type of services they see as critical to the future of the Swan Valley, and 223 respondents ranked these services as extremely important (5 as extremely important and 1 not important):
Subject # Ranked Extremely Important
● Fire protection 154
● Emergency response 146
● Schools and education 118
● Road maintenance, infrastructure and bridges 101
● Public safety and protection 98
● Healthcare and medical services 79
● Snow removal 68
● Services for senior citizens 64
● Trash removal 59
● Other 18
Question 5 asked what are the biggest challenges facing the Swan Valley. This question received 224 responses, with the number of respondents ranking these issues as extremely important:
Subject # Ranked Extremely Important
● Threats to the natural environment 157
● Resort-type or other development that could change character of valley 151
● Wildlife/human conflict 88
● High cost of living 61
● Lack of economic opportunities 48
● Other 26
● Social isolation 20
Question 6 asks how the quality of life in the Swan Valley compares since residents moved there and why. The question received 227 responses:
Quality of Life in Swan Valley since you moved here
● About the same 109
● Other (explain) 69
● Somewhat worse 64
● Somewhat better 20
● Much worse 13
● Much better 12
Many of the “Other” comments bemoaned the changing nature of the valley, increased highway traffic in the summer, the increasing demand of tourism on the valley, crowded hiking trails, more wildfires, restricted access to public lands, and “being priced out by the wealthy driving up land and housing.”
“It is still a wonderful valley, but pressure to develop the valley has been very evident in the past decade,” one respondent said in answer to Question 6.
Question 7 asked what kind of impact each of the following types of development would have on the community. Respondents were asked to select one option for each type of development – Negative, Neutral, Positive. This question received 231 responses:
● Small hotels or lodges (fewer than 50 beds) ○ 58 positive, 89 neutral, 81 negative
● Small establishment guest ranches (fewer than 24 people on average a day) ○ 58 positive, 111 neutral, 58 negative
● Large-scale resorts (more rooms, amenities, services) ○ 7 positive, 14 neutral, 209 negative
● Small stores and service businesses ○ 130 positive, 83 neutral, 15 negative
● Conversion of homes to vacation rentals ○ 9 positive, 90 neutral 127 negative
● A workforce housing development ○ 77 positive, 80 neutral, 70 negative
● Minor residential subdivisions (creating five lots or fewer) ○ 42 positive, 105 neutral, 80 negative
● Major residential subdivisions (creating more than five lots) ○ 10 positive, 20 neutral, 196 negative
Question 8 asked, “Currently, Swan Valley is governed by regulations such as building permits, subdivision review and environmental health standards (e.g., wells and septic systems). While the Swan Valley neighborhood plan is not a regulation, it can guide the type and location of development and explore the potential for specific land use regulations that address community concerns or values. With the above information in mind, which new land use regulations below could you potentially support? (Please select one option for each type of development: Negative, Neutral, Positive)” This question received 229 responses:
● A land-use regulation that is applied only during the subdivision process that specifies a minimum lot size (e.g., 5, 10 or 160 acres) or density to help keep the character of the area, or a portion of the area, rural ○ 147 positive, 41 neutral, 32 negative
● A land-use regulation that only prohibits large commercial or resort developments that have potential to alter the character of the area ○ 163 positive, 18 neutral, 43 negative
● A land-use regulation that prohibits the encroachment of new development on streams and rivers within a certain distance, protecting water quality ○ 182 positive, 25 neutral, 19 negative
● A land-use regulation that reduces wildfire risks, for example, prohibiting building on steep slopes, requiring vegetation management and fire-resistant construction for new buildings, and improving access and water supply requirements ○ 132 positive, 54 neutral, 38 negative
● A more complete set of regulations that define multiple elements such as minimum lot sizes or densities, allowed uses, building setbacks from neighboring property lines, and height limits ○ 114 positive, 59 neutral, 52 negative
● I don’t support any additional land-use regulations ○ 37 positive, 55 neutral, 89 negative
Question 9 asked the top three housing challenges for Swan Valley residents, with respondents asked to rank elements on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being not challenging and 5 extremely challenging. This question received 221 responses, Answers below note responses signifying extremely challenging:
Subject # Extremely Challenging
● A lack of affordable homes to buy 73
● A lack of affordable homes to rent 66
● A lack of home types (e.g., condos, townhomes, small homes) 28
● Not enough homes that allow for aging in place 27
● A lack of good quality homes 24
● Not enough homes accessible for people with disabilities 21
Question 10 asked where respondents work. This question received 228 responses:
● I am retired 138
● Outside the Swan Valley 39
● In the Swan Valley 36
● I work remotely 17
● I do not work 5
Question 11 asked how long respondents have lived in the Swan Valley (one option to select). This question received 228 responses:
● More than 20 years 99
● 11-20 years 35
● I do not live in the Swan Valley 35
● 6-10 years 31
● 1-5 years 28
● Less than 1 year 4
Question 12 asked respondents if they live seasonally or year-round in the Swan Valley. This question received 224 responses:
● Year round 109
● Seasonally 105
● I don’t live in the Swan Valley 12
Question 13 asked respondents’ age range. This question received 192 responses:
● Over 65 127
● 55-64 44
● 45-54 12
● 35-44 7
● 25-34 2
● Under 18 1
And, finally, in Question 14, the survey asked respondents if they own or rent their home. This question received 225 responses:
● Own 214
● Rent 6
● I neither own or rent 6
Background
Introduction to the Swan Valley Neighborhood Plan Questionnaire Report
In the summer of 2024, the Swan Valley Planning Committee began a public participation process to support an update of the 1996 Swan Valley Neighborhood Plan. The Swan Valley Community Council, a public body composed of members elected by the voters in the Upper Swan Valley, established the Swan Valley Planning Committee on November 21, 2023.
This anonymous questionnaire was an important part of that process. Paper copies were sent to
the tax address of record for every home in the Upper Swan Valley. The questionnaire included a return envelope which was used to mail the response back to the Missoula County Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability (MCPDS), who administered the questionnaire. A follow-up letter from the Swan Valley Planning Committee that provided additional information was sent in December, 2024 to the same group of addresses. In addition, an online version was available onSwan Valley Planning Committee section of the Missoula County Voice. Respondents could mail in the survey, return it to drop off locations at the Swan Valley Library or Swan Valley Mercantile, or complete the questionnaire online.
In order to reach as many residents as possible, the questionnaire was publicized online using the Swan Valley Facebook group and Missoula County’s social media accounts. It was also publicized at several in-person public events: the Condon Community Conversation in October, 2024 and at the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society’s Frostbite Festival in December, 2024.
The purpose of the questionnaire included the following:
1. Involve the community in the planning process
2. Inform the committee of the demographics and homeownership status of respondents
3. Help develop community goals and strategies for the neighborhood plan update
4. Solicit public input on specific topics of concern, such as land use and infrastructure
The questionnaire was open from October 20th until it was closed on January 1st, 2025. Of the 754 surveys that were sent, 232 total responses were received, a 31% response rate. Of these, 161 (69%) were received as paper copies, either mailed in or dropped off, and 71 (31%) were completed online. MCPDS staff scanned each paper response and logged the answers into the
same system that collected the online version. Staff also tracked which questionnaires were received as paper copies and which were filled out online.
In the report that follows, responses to each question are summarized. Responses to essay or
open-ended questions are all included. In the cases of the paper copies, these were transcribed by MCPDS staff. The date and time stamps for written responses reflect the date and time that a paper questionnaire was logged and transcribed by staff, not when it was filled out by the respondent.
For more information about the Swan Valley Planning Committee, please read the letter that was prepared by the Committee and sent out by mail in December 2024:
Information about the planning process is available on the Missoula County Voice:
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