This Week: Shape Livingston's Future - Zoning Code & Downtown Streets
Livingston Public Library curb extension, Livingston Montana
The City has taken implementing the Growth Policy and planning processes seriously, and they’re doing it with real commitment to public input. I want to commend them for such regard and respect; by extending comment periods and expanding public process for more opportunities to make room for every voice.
This week brings two key chances to keep that momentum going.
Wednesday, October 8th, 5:30pm - Attend the Consolidated Land Use Board Meeting: Zoning Code Update
Friday, October 10th, 5:00pm - Share Your Feedback on the Downtown Pedestrian Pilot Project
Downtown Pedestrian Pilot Project Survey Here!
Civic participation is part of who we are in Livingston and Park County. Every planning consultant we’ve worked with says the same thing: our community is the most engaged they’ve seen, whether through survey responses or public meetings. Let’s keep that spirit alive. Invite a friend, neighbor, or family member to join you in shaping what comes next.
Keep reading to learn more about the Zoning Code Update and Downtown Pedestrian Pilot Project - curb extensions! This includes educational videos about Livingston such as Dan Burden's short talk - Building Community Character in Livingston's Downtown Streets and photos of other curb extensions.
A dog and its owner walk on the sidewalk in Livingston Montana. Curb extensions provide more room for pedestrians, such as children or disabled people waiting to cross the street to access the Library.
The story map demonstrates building heights looking east along Park Street, currently without a limit
1. Attend the Consolidated Land Use Board Meeting: Zoning Code Update
This Wednesday, the Consolidated Land Use Board will hold its second public meeting to review the proposed update to the City's zoning code. This is a critical step before the code goes to the City Commission for final approval later this year.
A huge thank you to everyone who submitted comments before the October 1st deadline! The City will continue to accept public comment throughout this process. Following Land Board’s review, there will be two City Commission meetings, both with opportunities for public comment, before a final decision is made.
Meeting Details:
Wednesday, October 8th at 5:30 PM
Community Room, 414 East Callander Street & Online via Zoom - Meeting ID: 871 8520 6185 Passcode: 427844 Phone: 1-669-900-9128
More Info: Livingston-Montana.org and Agenda Packet
We encourage you to join the whole meeting, as Katherine Daly from the Park County Housing Coalition will be presenting on their work plan and it is bound to be informative and inspiring.
Why does the zoning code matter? Think of it as the rulebook that implements our community's vision from the Livingston Growth Policy. It determines how and where our community grows. As we outlined in our official comments, PCEC is focused on ensuring the new code protects our natural resources and community character by:
Protecting Riparian Areas & Wildlife: Implementing meaningful setbacks from our rivers and streams is essential for reducing flood risk, protecting water quality, and preserving the wildlife corridors that are vital to our ecosystem. It also protects personal property and infrastructure.
Ensuring a Walkable, Bikeable Community: The code must align with our Trails and Active Transportation Plan, promoting compact development that allows people of all ages and abilities to move safely and easily without a car.
Zoning code informs the kinds of housing that can be built, how tall buildings are downtown, what kinds of businesses are allowed, and how flood-prone areas and wildlife corridors are protected. It’s one of the biggest tools we have for making sure growth matches our values.
A truck and trailer turns by the Library in Livingston Montana
2. Share Your Feedback on the Downtown Pedestrian Pilot Project
The City of Livingston is asking for feedback on the recent downtown pilot project that included temporary curb extensions. The city has extended the deadline for the survey to ensure all voices are heard.
Deadline: This Friday, October 10th, by 5:00 PM
We know the curb extensions have sparked a lot of conversation. It’s important to remember that this was a very low-cost, temporary pilot designed to test ideas that came directly from years of public planning processes, including the Growth Policy, the Downtown Master Plan, and the Trails and Active Transportation Plan.
The goal is to make downtown safer and more inviting for people, which in turn supports our local businesses. While the temporary pilot may not have been a perfect representation of a final design (the permanent extension by the Library is a better example), it opened up a valuable conversation. How do we honor our historic downtown while adapting to modern needs and creating a thriving, people-first environment?
Curb extension lines remain following the pilot project. Curb extensions might make it harder for delivery trucks with trailers; without a curb extension, children, disabled and elderly have a much further distance to enter a safe zone.
Want to learn more? For a great overview of the principles behind these kinds of improvements, we encourage you to watch this short, inspiring presentation on Building Community Character in Livingston's Downtown Streets from Dan Burden at Blue Zones. Dan has worked with our community on several occasions and prepared this presentation to help us think through how we protect our community character while creating vibrant downtowns.
Dan has been a guest speaker for PCEC's Community Conversation Series twice. You can learn more about the value of curb extensions here and the elements and tools you need to create a vibrant downtown here.
The full presentations are interesting if you want to learn more about our Downtown - one of our greatest community assets!
Dan Burden from Blue Zones speak about the balance of preserving community character and building for change.
Yes, these changes may look unfamiliar and can be tricky for large trucks, but we think it’s worth asking: what do we gain in return?
Should we prioritize making streets safer and easier for trucks, or for people—especially kids, seniors, and those with disabilities?
Where in town would curb extensions make the most sense if our goal is to draw more people downtown and support local businesses? And how should they look?
Below are examples from Montana that use native grasses and plants, offering a more inviting vision than the temporary setup we tested.
This survey is your chance to weigh in. What kind of balance do you want to see?
Livingston, MT Ebert Apartments curb extension
Curb extension in Missoula Montana
Curb extension in Missoula Montana
Curb extension in Missoula Montana
Proposed Zoning Code map, 2025 - Story Map Online
Ready to comment on the Zoning Code? Share feedback online or by emailing planning@livingstonmontana.org.
If you are just starting to dig in, you can find the draft zoning code proposed text, annotated version and proposed story map online.
If you have already commented, thank you! We hope you will keep engaging as the proposed code changes.
Zoning Map and Comment
To learn more in the meantime, you can find a detailed presentation during the first Consolidated Land Use Board, LISTEN HERE. Comments will continue to be accepted leading up to the next City Commission meeting anticipated in early November. Continue to submit your comments!
You can review the zoning code update proposed text, annotated version, and story map, then share feedback here. If you have trouble submitting comments, please feel free to email them at planning@livingstonmontana.org.
Here are some dates to take note of:
TOMORROW, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 5:30: City Commission Meeting
THIS Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:00pm: LUB Zoning Code Update
THIS Friday, Oct. 10, 5:00pm: Survey Due for curb extensions
~ Tuesday, Nov. 4, 5:30pm: City Commission Public Hearing for Zoning Code
All meetings are hosted in the County Community Room, 414 East Callender Street.
Take Action:
Review the Story Map and provide Zoning Code Update Feedback
Downtown Pilot Project: Take the Survey Here
Resources:
Building Community Character in Livingston's Downtown Streets