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Livingston planning and building departments outline major housing projects, including 310 new rental units and a 240‑unit PUD
Summary
Planning Director Jennifer Severson and Building Director Brad Hayes reported on recent code updates, consultant partnerships, and an active development pipeline that includes two PUDs with about 310 rental units (48 affordable) and a Northtown PUD that could add roughly 240 units plus commercial space.
City planning and building officials told the commission May 5 that a series of regulatory updates and active projects are beginning to produce housing on the ground.
Planning Director Jennifer Severson said the planning office is a single full‑time staff planner supported by contracted consultants. In the past year the city completed comprehensive updates to the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations and floodplain rules; staff also completed extra commercial building surveys in the downtown historic district. "I am the solo staff member, one full‑time staff planner," Severson said, noting the city supplements capacity with experienced consulting firms.
Severson reported two approved planned unit developments (PUDs) that together will create roughly 310 new rental housing units; 48 of those units will be at or below 60% of area median income. She also outlined upcoming work including a growth policy update, URA plan update and outreach tied to downtown design guidelines.
Building Director Brad Hayes said permit activity includes triplexes, several single‑family homes, and accessory dwelling units nearing completion. Larger planned projects on the horizon: Sheet Mountain Apartments on Brookstone (two buildings, 48 units), a USDA building of about 22,000 sq. ft., a Love's truck stop with a convenience store and tire repair, and the Northtown PUD, which staff estimate could produce approximately 240 apartment units and commercial space. "That'll be 48 apartment units and two buildings," Hayes said of Sheet Mountain.
Commission response and timing: Commissioners asked about a start date for Sheet Mountain; staff said boundary‑line adjustments, drainage and easement issues remain but hoped to bring documents to the May 19 commission meeting to allow a ground‑breaking later in May. Staff clarified the city attorney is reviewing easement language and that the developer is actively coordinating with city planning and public works to resolve outstanding items.
Why it matters: The combination of regulatory updates and active projects is intended to increase housing variety and capacity in Livingston, including affordable units tied to recent PUD approvals. Staff described efforts to streamline review processes and to work closely with urban renewal and state design partners to support downtown preservation while enabling new housing.
What happens next: Staff will return with required documents (boundary adjustments, easements) for commission review and will notify the commission and public when a ground‑breaking date is confirmed.
