Planning staff outlines zoning update process; draft expected for public comment after focus groups

City planning staff told the Livingston City Historic Preservation Commission that consultants are compiling public input on the zoning-code update and that focus groups will review recommended changes in May before a public-draft comment period.

Staff said the outreach generated more than 1,000 comments and about 220 individual responses to a second survey and that consultants will organize recommended code amendments by focus-group topic. “They are putting it into, sort of a spreadsheet type thing and saying, here's our recommended updates, and here's why we're recommending it,” a staff member said.

Staff said city planners will have a few days to review consultant recommendations before the focus groups meet. The planning staff does not expect the process to deliver massive map changes, though it will address issues flagged by the public — including concerns about the amount of Highway Commercial and similarities between neighborhood commercial and mixed-use designations.

The staff member told commissioners the zoning-code update must support the city’s adopted growth policy and that any items that conflict with the growth policy will be noted for future consideration during a growth-policy update. “This zoning update has to support the growth policy that has been adopted and is in place,” the staff member said.

Staff said a revised map may accompany the draft recommendations at some point but that the timing of map changes is uncertain; the earliest public hearing before the Land Use Board is likely in August or possibly September. The zoning update will then proceed to the city commission for two ordinance readings if the Land Use Board forwards it.

Staff encouraged commissioners and the public to submit additional written comments; consultants extended comment capability using Social Pinpoint to collect feedback.