Livingston City Commission Denies Mountain View Commercial Subdivision Application for Second Time

Livingston City Commission Denies Mountain View Commercial Subdivision Application for Second Time

Commissioners split on vote to stop commercial sprawl at western gateway to Livingston

 On September 19, the Livingston City Commission considered the re-application for the Mountain View subdivision of land around the western I-90 entrance to Livingston.  Under the zoning, which was changed in 2018 to “Highway Commercial”, the 24 new lots could be developed for almost anything at all – from truck stops, convenience stores and casinos to professional offices and funeral homes.In its testimony to the Commission, Friends of Park County continued its support for use of the land for light industrial, warehouse and transportation uses, like those already on the site, and to oppose the subdivision that would allow many small lots of commercial development that was inconsistent with many provisions of the Growth Policy. (See FPC testimony to the Planning Board here.)After more than five hours of staff reports, testimony and deliberations, the Commission voted 3-2 to deny the application, with Commissioners Lyons, Kahle and Friedman voting to deny and Commissioners Nootz and Schwarz supporting approval of the subdivision.As reported in the September Supporter Update, the staff and a 5 to 3 majority of the Planning Board, voted in September to recommend approval of the application.A nearly identical, prior application had been denied by the City Commission in September of 2021, on a split 3 to 2 vote, with Commissioners Nootz, Lyons and Kahle voting to deny the application on various grounds, including inconsistency with the 2021 Growth Policy.  This month’s decision was surprising because both Commissioners Friedman and Nootz switched their votes.