Livingston commission discusses CLG pass-through funding, commercial building surveys and downtown sign issues

At its March 11 meeting the Livingston Historic Preservation Commission reviewed anticipated Certified Local Government (CLG) pass-through funding from the Montana State Historic Preservation Office and discussed using the funds for commercial building surveys, boundary reviews for the downtown historic district and guidance on historic signage.

Jennifer, the commission’s designated historic preservation officer, said the commission again received CLG pass-through funding that typically ranges between $6,000 and $8,000. She said the grant contract is expected to go into effect April 1 and that the award is a matching grant; staff time and volunteer meeting time have historically served as the local match. Jennifer also said the commission is allowed to roll funds over into the following year to combine awards, though she noted federal funding uncertainty makes that option less certain this cycle.

Commissioners discussed options for using the funds. Last year a separate, noncompetitive allocation of about $18,000 funded commercial building surveys covering a continuous set of blocks in the downtown commercial district — roughly from the former Engine Room Pizza site at Second and Calendar, down Calendar to Park Street, east along Park to Maine (including the Fain and Goat and Livingston Bar & Grill buildings), and along Main Street on the north side of Calendar. The surveys created a near-contiguous block of surveyed commercial buildings in the district, which staff said helps when developers ask whether a building is “contributing.”

Commissioners asked whether older mapping and surveys (notably a 1973/1979-era survey that established district boundaries) can be challenged or adjusted. Jennifer said boundaries can be revisited and that some buildings at the periphery may now be eligible for inclusion while some previously included buildings might have been altered so much they no longer contribute. She suggested the commission could use CLG funds to map edges and produce a roadmap and narrative that would guide future decisions.

The commission also discussed historic and orphaned business signs. Members noted the old “lock” sign was reused by the Engine Room; staff said the city has allowed certain historic signs to remain (for example the Sport Building sign) provided changes are limited to interior lighting or similar non‑substantive alterations. Jennifer said the city will enforce sign code when a complaint is filed, but staff will not proactively inspect all downtown signs for compliance without a reported issue.

Commissioners said they would consider dedicating this year’s pass-through funds to mapping and outreach so the commission has a clearer plan for future surveys. Staff pledged to notify the commission when the award amount and grant contract are confirmed.