City Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve annexation, zoning and dedication of public right-of-way for the Little Shell’s planned housing development after roughly three hours of staff and applicant presentations and public comment.

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana requested annexation of 18.4 acres for their Good Medicine housing development, to be constructed in phases.

The Little Shell also requested a planned unit development zoning classification, with an underlying R-9 zoning, to develop two apartment buildings, each with 25 units, and a mix of 65 single-family homes and duplexes, for a total of 115 residential units.

City Commission sets July 21 public hearing on proposed Little Shell housing development

Commissioner Joe McKenney voted in opposition since he said he would prefer to push the decision to the second meeting in August to allow for more time to work on details of the development.

City planning board recommends approval of Little Shell’s annexation request for housing

The city planning board voted unanimously in May to recommend approval.

All the housing units would be rentals, with priority given to Little Shell members.

This story will be updated.