On Tuesday evening, the Great Falls City Commission denied annexation of the nearly 22-acre proposal for Wheat Ridge Estates.
The 40-lot residential development was proposed for an area near the east side Walmart at the southern end of 57th Street South.
City staff recommended denial of the annexation due to concerns with water runoff, emergency access and response times as well as encroachment on Malmstrom Air Force Base.
The concerns echoed issues raised last September when the original motion for annexation was tabled.
A vast majority of public comment Tuesday night was against the annexation mostly because of potential impacts to Malmstrom and its future.
Commissioners expressed their hesitation to oppose the development because of the outstanding reputation of the developer, but at this time too many issues remain unresolved.
The commission voted unanimously to deny the annexation, but Mayor Bob Kelly said he made his decision knowing “there will be opportunities in the future to bring this project forward again.”
-Reported by Joe Huisinga/MTN News
