Livingston council advances preferred 2040 land‑use map with targeted amendments; selection moved for further action
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Summary
Council reviewed a planning consultant’s build‑out analysis for the proposed 2040 general plan, heard multiple public comments urging protection of farmland and water rights, and a motion was made to select a preferred land‑use alternative with amendments for further refinement.
Consultants and city planning staff presented the proposed 2040 general‑plan alternatives at the Livingston City Council study session on Nov. 18, showing the modeled ‘‘maximum holding capacity’’ if the study area were fully built out. Staff emphasized these figures were scenario modeling, not projections: “These aren't projections. This is looking at if we were to build every single parcel … this is the maximum holding capacity,” a staff presenter said.
The model results staff showed included a modeled population over 52,000, job capacity of roughly 86,000 positions, about 25,000 dwelling units and nearly 2,000 acres of land consumed under the full build‑out scenario. Staff said the selected map will guide subsequent technical work, including updates to general‑plan elements and environmental review, with a possible adoption timeline targeted around 2027.
During public comment, agricultural stakeholders urged caution about outward expansion and impacts on water rights. Lauren O'Driscoll of the Farm Bureau told the council, “Once a parcel is annexed into the city, it removes the tier 1 water rights from that parcel,” and urged the city to retain the Hunter Road alignment for the sphere of influence where possible. Other residents and farming representatives asked the council to prioritize infill and protect irrigated acreage.
Councilors discussed several map refinements on the record: a request to designate the old Mason building parcel at 16517 7th Street for mixed use (to support veterans’ housing adjacent to the VFW), squaring a business‑park parcel that currently contains an agricultural strip, and converting several estate‑residential parcels on Robin Avenue to low‑density single‑family to increase “rooftops” and home ownership opportunities while balancing agricultural buffers.
Council member Wallace moved to approve the council’s preferred alternative map (November 2025) with amendments that include the 7th Street veterans‑housing designation and conversion of certain estate parcels to low‑density residential; council member Paul seconded the motion. The motion was described on the record as a “resolution selecting a preferred land use alternative” for the City of Livingston 2040 general plan update. The transcript records the motion and second and discussion; a final recorded council vote on that specific resolution was not shown in the transcript excerpt provided.
What happens next: staff said selecting a preferred alternative would allow consultants and city staff to begin drafting general‑plan elements and technical analyses and then proceed to environmental review and public hearings. Staff projected a path to adoption around 2027 but noted further council action and public engagement will be required.