Livingston staff previews broad zoning text amendment, board pauses for public workshop and more review

Planning staff presented a sweeping update to Livingston City's zoning text on a proposal meant to align local rules with the city’s 2021 growth policy and several state mandates, but members of the Land Use Board and multiple residents asked for clearer language and more public review before the board issues a recommendation.

Jennifer, the planning staff presenter, told the board the draft is the "zoning text amendment that is before you tonight, and it is related to the comprehensive citywide update to the city's zoning ordinance, the text amendment." She said the package includes a tracked‑changes draft and a clean version on the City of Livingston website and a story map that compares current zoning to the proposed map.

Why it matters: staff said the update will give the city regulatory tools to implement its growth policy and to comply with recent state legislative changes that affect how cities may regulate building height, parking and nonconforming uses. The proposal would also reorganize and consolidate scattered code chapters into a single chapter 30 to make the code easier to use.

Key proposals explained by staff

- Building heights: the draft sets the state‑required floor at 60 feet as the minimum allowable building height for the central business district (CBD), industrial and heavy commercial districts where state law preempts lower local limits. To protect neighborhood character, the staff proposed a new "light mixed use" (LMU) district for areas closer to downtown with a 36‑foot maximum. Staff also recommended…