[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6494988,"mediaKeyId","5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9","parentId",5609053,"title","Residents press commission over parks master plan proposals for McGee Drive, Miles Park Road and a proposed parking layout","audioSeconds",715,"startMs",73000,"endMs",788000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9&start=73&end=788","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9/thumbnail_73000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6494988/Livingston-City/Park-County/Montana/Residents-press-commission-over-parks-master-plan-proposals-for-McGee-Drive-Miles-Park-Road-and-a-proposed-parking-layout","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494988-d9121ae51dc5810f5a226eef397d0435/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170103&Signature=NWdnDms2trvVZzqYl6OlL1XKNec0jYVuNdSrf6Js~ZQ4TA0K9ngM73wussQ5718KjmJ1~uwcw40G5mS56c0cbNtBJO1yISbGIkHSOWPGcMrVs3zrtmRZ1toXqe5OAYAP~ajH4JpFv7DB082Acj8tf5rmxHbBD6Y4t4g5~nP5ZhYQuF58Oa1o3iQIMkIEZyj0gMAkPlga8EuN1dVZRU2X44oB2G900StAwMUpquklWYU3038cMBdW-0RD9MwYW9g2ylPQ02n4XA5nDvQmA~vNZwzOYIqZ7zpoRApP7u3fomLQaUHibj~gK8tnDNIn6iUy2y2uuGuUGg8R8TBz-pJFVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Livingston, MT","date","2025-08-20T13:46:04.847Z","article","Residents raised multiple concerns at the start of the Livingston City Commission meeting about proposals in the city’s parks master plan, focusing on a suggested closure of McGee Drive through a park, removal of green space for a large parking pad, the proposed closure of Miles Park Road between athletic fields and the high school, and a relocation of a flag display.

Barbara Britt, speaking during public comment, said she has lived in Livingston most of her 80 years and opposed closing the McGee Drive access through the park, arguing the road contributes to the park’s natural character and daily access for neighbors. Britt also said a proposed parking layout would hold 51 cars and remove a large amount of green space; she compared it to another parking lot she counted in Town and Country that holds fewer cars. She expressed concern that closing Miles Park Road would leave only one exit from the large athletic parking area during school events. Britt said she had talked with local fire department personnel, who told her they believed emergency vehicles could access the area but that they had not been broadly consulted.

City Manager James Gager and staff answered those remarks during the meeting. Gager said the parks master plan is a preliminary plan and had been developed from public input; nothing in the draft is final and staff expects further public comment and revisions. The staff presentation confirmed the online survey will remain open through September and that a draft master plan is expected to be presented to the commission in October for formal review and the approval process.

On the specific concerns: staff said department heads, including public works and fire, have reviewed the proposed recommendations. The proposed closure of Miles Park Road described in staff materials is limited to the portion after the entrances to the high‑school property and would in part restore a historical configuration that once included removable bollards. Staff said removable bollards are a likely tool to preserve emergency and maintenance vehicle access while restricting general through traffic. Gager said staff will confirm that the survey includes questions about the McGee Drive closure and the flagpole relocation; if the questions are missing, staff will correct the survey and re‑engage the public.

Staff encouraged neighbors who feel they cannot fully express their views in the survey to email the city manager (citymanager@livingstonmontana.org) or submit comments via the website contact form. The commission did not take action on the park proposals at the meeting and characterized the draft as open for revision based on public input.

Residents and commissioners asked staff to continue outreach and to publish the draft plan and any revisions for public review before formal adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025_08_19 City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Residents urged the Livingston City Commission to preserve park access and trees and to reject a proposed large parking pad and road closures in the parks master plan during public comment.","taxTitle","Livingston City, Park County, Montana","taxId",52298,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6494993,"Commission approves Brookstone PUD rezoning for 48 deed‑restricted apartments with conditions on fire access, drainage and trees",3387,4853000,8240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9&start=4853&end=8240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9/thumbnail_4853000.jpg","/articles/6494993/Livingston-City/Park-County/Montana/Commission-approves-Brookstone-PUD-rezoning-for-48-deedrestricted-apartments-with-conditions-on-fire-access-drainage-and-trees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494993-b66b468e5fa26e2ff29d743f816217fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170103&Signature=Arrrz37jHPuZOTlwMiyYhoAnZrufowRnBbjQaaGMh0Y7vUEQGw782WVduA6xwd-3~-cwSXnUCCUyaNPHTVyyjDKehAEyBUWMnyFsUG8dfmenGLGNL6GZ-T1N8CfXuSRjz6zko4Cx6Gyj9IJkdeYT-uU8nQswLbPmDO34rHpKvCiu72dkV~gBf3yDCtdDf63Yi8HH9Y2SW~jcq7PFw5Fd~xFvpVMfwu3wcy4JFqhKtN-NM4W83m5lb-KtZZg23bfQ6mZzOWHVhNdJHLpkS7XtISC3TEbnasDN9RQyN-deUhESYlLdstAJwUkRKDwWn3h--XyJzkHsBojLOFJvd1U1TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Livingston City Commission on second reading approved an ordinance rezoning property on Brookstone Street to create the Brookstone (Sheep Mountain) Planned Unit Development, allowing two buildings and 48 residential units that the applicant will deed‑restrict as affordable housing.

The commission's action follows staff analysis showing the proposal meets PUD objectives by supplying 100% of units as deed‑restricted housing — 17 units targeted at 50% of area median income (AMI) and 31 units at 60% AMI — and by accepting public benefits in exchange for density and fee incentives. The commission added a condition requiring the applicant to plant four new trees on the project site prior to certificate of occupancy, in consultation with city staff.

Planning staff and the applicant described site constraints and several technical items that remained to be resolved at building permit stage. Planning Director (name not specified in transcript) said the project relies on low‑income housing tax credit financing and that the developer will receive a density bonus (nine additional units under the PUD incentives) and a waiver of impact fees because of the deep affordability of the units. The applicant's architect, Scott Freeman, and engineer Derek Schultz told commissioners they will work with city departments to finalize details at building permit review.

Among the conditions approved, the commission requires:
- A letter or agreement between the applicant and the Livingston Ditch Company, addressing conveyance or piping of ditch water through the property, before issuance of a building permit.
- Revised parking and circulation design to meet Livingston Municipal Code parking standards and public‑works and fire code requirements. Staff offered two engineering options to protect sidewalk clearances: shifting both buildings roughly 3.5 feet east (to allow full‑size spaces on the west) or converting the west drive aisle to a one‑way with adjusted dimensions; the final approach will be approved by the public works director and the fire chief during permit review.
- Installation of one additional hydrant on the south side and agreed locations for fire department connections (FDCs) as discussed between the applicant and the fire chief.
- The added requirement that the applicant install four new trees on the project site prior to certificate of occupancy, in consultation with city arborist staff.

Planning staff and the fire chief advised that a 24‑foot two‑way drive aisle is preferable for ladder truck deployment, but that 20 feet may be acceptable with the proposed hydrant and FDC layout. Staff emphasized these remaining technical items will be resolved through the building permit process and will not trigger a re‑review of the PUD if addressed in the ways described in the approved conditions.

Commissioners who participated said they supported the project because it adds deed‑restricted rental housing and advances goals in the city housing action plan. Two commissioners recused themselves earlier in the meeting from this item because of personal conflicts disclosed on the record; the ordinance passed on the second reading by a majority of commissioners present. The commission also authorized the chair to sign a separate letter of support to the Montana Board of Housing for the project's 9% low‑income housing tax credit application.

The developer may proceed to final engineering and building permit submittal, subject to the ditch‑company agreement and the public‑works and fire chief approvals stipulated in the conditions.","The Livingston City Commission on second reading approved an ordinance rezoning property on Brookstone Street to a planned unit development to allow two buildings and 48 deed‑restricted apartments, with conditions addressing fire access, drainage and tree replacement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6494979,"Commission adopts tax levy conversions, assesses street and lighting districts and assigns gateway overlay to annexed parcel; roll calls recorded",6311,1249000,7560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9&start=1249&end=7560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9/thumbnail_1249000.jpg","/articles/6494979/Livingston-City/Park-County/Montana/Commission-adopts-tax-levy-conversions-assesses-street-and-lighting-districts-and-assigns-gateway-overlay-to-annexed-parcel-roll-calls-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494979-fa6fa40ea492c7156d2cae46c38cf1ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170103&Signature=Y5vMQZOq65egPaSsh0PsdyLdpHGpFFVcqcveVJJLBEPjcshz8xoP393lXd8k68K17-MtDs0LrEh~W4wUI1pbvq-8qLR5~AJ90ayBwk2ROSJavD8ynEb1gErtfx1HiNLStX8DOJicJXLU3T1du-9K7L5oQvzTrhHSwhfzrQQbU3LPwYpcLAbiC8fAiKPmExqnApVrzC41XECkY2Zsn2TJiZThUIRixbKF0gQyYiPgbrR-mHkwIfvidQwSNWoQfJJcYRoEX-yZerIxXA~6H~X~hTmk18JgLcorZhR7iCYkdHP1K~2jlkfJU-XVTeKxetmJgSP2Pky1IEYoDU2ejNHlMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Livingston City Commission approved a set of fiscal and land‑use measures during the meeting, taking votes on state‑mandated tax conversions, the city tax levy, district assessments for street maintenance and lighting, and a zoning‑map amendment.

Key actions and outcomes (roll calls recorded):
- Resolution 5167 (conversion of voted meals fixed mills to a floating mill method under recent Montana legislation): Approved. Staff and the finance director explained state law changes require the city to convert certain fixed mill levies established by voters to a floating mill system; the conversion uses prior‑year revenue and follows Montana Code Annotated methodology. Commissioners asked for and received an extended explanation of how floating mills differ from fixed mills and how the change affects new construction recognition and inflation adjustments.
- Resolution 5168 (fixing the tax levy for fiscal year 2025–26): Approved. Staff said the total number of mills to be levied reported in the packet reflects updated assessed valuations provided by the Department of Revenue and aligns with the budget the commission adopted earlier this summer.
- Resolution 5169 (Street Maintenance and Improvements District No. 1 assessment; estimated $1,390,903): Approved. Staff noted the recommended assessment is unchanged from the previous year and additional state infrastructure funds and fund balance are reducing pressure on assessments.
- Resolution 5170 (Lighting Maintenance District No. 20 assessment; estimated $61,993): Approved. The assessment amount for maintaining street lights was presented as unchanged for FY2025–26.
- Resolution 5171 (modify Lighting District No. 20 to replace street lights and call for a public hearing; estimated $38,000): Approved. Staff corrected a typographical error in the posted agenda — the advertised figure differed from the packet — and confirmed the actual assessment is $38,000.
- Resolution 5172 (assign Gateway Overlay zoning district to 38 Loaves Lane, a parcel recently annexed to the city): Approved. The commission applied the Gateway Overlay immediately by resolution consistent with new state law that moved map amendments from ordinance to resolution process; staff noted this change shortens the timeline for map amendments compared with prior ordinance-based practice.

Commissioners and staff spent substantial time on the fiscal items explaining the state law changes to property taxation. City staff explained that under the new state framework the city can recognize inflationary increases up to a higher limit but the state reduced the amount of new construction value the city can immediately recognize for tax revenue; that tradeoff means a fast‑growing jurisdiction might realize less immediate revenue from new construction while existing property revenue is adjusted by the new formula. Staff also reminded residents that property owners must file for a state property tax rebate (opening earlier in August) to secure a lower taxable rate for qualifying owner‑occupied properties.

Motions on the resolutions were made by sitting commissioners and passed by roll call; recorded votes were in the affirmative for the resolutions as presented. Consent agenda items a–j were approved en bloc earlier in the meeting.","The commission approved a package of fiscal and land‑use measures: conversions required by new Montana tax law, the FY2025–26 tax levy, assessments for street and lighting districts, and a zoning‑map assignment of the Gateway Overlay to an annexed parcel.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6494983,"Facade contractors seek lower daily lift fee; city: fee set by earlier resolution and staff cannot reduce it",248,942000,1190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9&start=942&end=1190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5609053-b0ff76238d8e6083f7235512cff337a9/thumbnail_942000.jpg","/articles/6494983/Livingston-City/Park-County/Montana/Facade-contractors-seek-lower-daily-lift-fee-city-fee-set-by-earlier-resolution-and-staff-cannot-reduce-it","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494983-d95b75d9125dc6d4b4aecefb721efa3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170103&Signature=Q5u9e1F1AWwt1c-xjGnbs~slqg37kNg~Z14pGD4zyrSTKhG29c4QUDX8dgGGNdy8PLVG8RNmqT3m7CxowQ2DIr7Ol9UPgr8IWpx9EMCYLyZGU-uiqA5-m3Dp3P0wG4g9ugw5tHtcm9e4KthMcFSPDPzfpvwP2T9b0eBMYWG-6gzpN~FJ-erieDgvZaHhUB6oVaAXeyuIxsMACqHTPnOORSQyLQqC5fTtJeh0hdOPkDiRdOdhyxKnPhY6e43KIuNlGsvCxH9j02WP4k0DBI9h04K8f0FAATwdrRx7jGWoArCnQzFCFusehuxoXFEuXObk2GMEPkhzafSu3-R5TqSqKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tracy and Dave Raich, owners of the Thompson Block building, told the commission they are moving forward with a façade restoration and asked whether the city would negotiate a lower daily fee to rent the municipal lift required for the work. The Raiches said their contractor cannot work nights and the $100‑per‑day lift fee substantially increases construction carrying costs; they compared that to daily parking citations at $25 per day and asked whether a different arrangement was possible.

City Manager James Gager told the Raiches the lift fee is established by a fee resolution adopted about two years earlier at the request of the commission and that the fee resolution does not delegate authority to the city manager or staff to reduce or waive the charge. Gager suggested the finance director is another department contact for questions about fee calculations and noted staff would reach out to the property owners the next morning to provide contact information and next steps.

No formal change to the fee was made at the meeting. The Raiches were advised to follow up with city staff and the finance director to explore options. The commission did not vote on the matter during the meeting.","Owners of the Thompson Block building asked the Livingston City Commission for help negotiating a lower daily rate on a $100 lift rental required for façade work; city staff said the fee is set in a prior fee resolution and staff has no authority to reduce it.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press commission over parks master plan proposals for McGee Drive, Miles Park Road and a proposed parking layout

Commission approves Brookstone PUD rezoning for 48 deed‑restricted apartments with conditions on fire access, drainage and trees

Commission adopts tax levy conversions, assesses street and lighting districts and assigns gateway overlay to annexed parcel; roll calls recorded

Facade contractors seek lower daily lift fee; city: fee set by earlier resolution and staff cannot reduce it