Commission declines rezoning near Livingston Hospital amid floodplain, industrial‑land concerns

The Livingston City Commission on Thursday voted to reject a proposed rezoning of two parcels near Livingston Healthcare from light industrial (LI) to mixed use (MU), after extended public testimony and questions from commissioners about flood risk, industrial land inventory and timing of updated flood maps.

The request (ordinance 3058) would have rezoned two parcels described in the ordinance as Tract 5B (about 331.29 acres in the application text) and Tract 1D (about 80.71 acres) along Applenglow/Helping Lane adjacent to the hospital. Planning Director Jennifer Severson told the commission that the consolidated land use board had recommended approval (6–0) and that mixed use zoning would allow residential development—multifamily, assisted living and workforce housing—that LI zoning does not permit. She also noted the parcels are outside the current 100‑year regulatory floodplain but do intersect mapped 500‑year (non‑regulatory) flood areas on current FEMA…