The Livingston City Commission voted unanimously to approve the first reading of Ordinance 3066, a comprehensive update to Chapter 28 of the municipal code governing subdivision review, design standards and related processes.

City Manager Brett Gager said the update implements state legislative changes, aligns subdivision rules with the growth policy and public‑works design standards, and adds requirements such as boulevard tree plantings, sidewalks in new subdivisions, revised block and alley standards and stronger variance criteria. "The purpose of subdivision regulations in the state of Montana is to provide for the enforcement, administration and orderly development of the jurisdiction," Gager told the commission.

Commissioners asked for and directed several targeted edits before second reading: remove a sentence in one section that had been interpreted as limiting the commission’s discretion on growth‑policy use; change covenant language so covenants "do not contradict the Livingston Municipal Code" (rather than saying covenants cannot be "more restrictive"); add a variance hardship clarification to exclude conditions created by an applicant; and reinsert omitted mitigation language addressing noise/wind impacts for subdivisions near highways or rail corridors.

A member of the public, Edlita Shands of 428 South Yellowstone, asked whether the ordinance requires one boulevard tree per lot in new subdivisions; staff confirmed a boulevard‑tree minimum is included for future subdivisions.

The commission also asked staff to research whether a time limit (for example, a 20‑year cap) should be added on subdivision approval extensions and to clean up formatting and page references in the draft code. Staff said it would return with final, formatted language and the requested follow‑ups prior to the second reading.

Commissioner Lyons, who moved approval, praised the revisions as a significant improvement. "It's a huge improvement," Lyons said, adding the block and alley standards will preserve Livingston's historic urban pattern while requiring sidewalks and tree plantings in new developments.

The ordinance passed first reading and will return for second reading after staff prepares the revised ordinance text and materials for the commission to review.