Livingston planners pitch broad zoning overhaul; consultants propose short-term rental permits and heritage overlay

Mike Banning, the SCJ Alliance consultant leading Livingston's zoning update, told the City Commission on June 17 that the team's draft recommendations respond to more than 1,000 public comments gathered by online surveys, mapping and focus groups.

The package the consultant presented would: create a consolidated Livingston Heritage Overlay to replace several separate design overlays; add a formal short-term-rental (STR) permitting program with an annual fee and a two-type classification (owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied, the latter requiring a local contact within 45 minutes); reduce minimum parking in the Central Business District to 50% of current standards and possibly to 25% in parts of the CBD; and set downtown height guidelines tuned to new state law that the consultant said will require a 60-foot minimum allowance in many commercial zones.

"There is no short term rental regulations right now in Livingston's zoning code," Banning said, adding the proposal would require an STR permit, a basic safety inspection and a fee. The consultants recommended allowing STRs "in all zones, other than light industrial, industrial, capital facilities and PUDs," while noting the commission could create further limits by policy or conditions tied to project approvals.

The presentation prompted immediate questions from commissioners. Commissioner Michelle…