[ROLL CALL]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING A ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE ROLL CALL.
MR. HOLCOMB, CHAIRMAN WASHINGTON.
COMMISSIONER BANKS COMMISSIONER ALL.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 14TH MEETING? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STERLING.
SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES HAVE NOW BEEN
[COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE]
APPROVED.WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE AND MR. LOBERG WILL PROVIDE THAT UPDATE.
UM, I AM JEFFREY LUENBERGER, THE LONG RANGE PLANNING MANAGER.
SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION, I WANNA INTRODUCE MYSELF.
UM, LAYING IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND IN IT BOTH IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND THE PROGRESS REPORT FOR FUTURE BR.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS THAT'S THE DRAFT VERSION AND IF YOU COULD, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, REVIEW REVIEWER, GET SOME COMMENTS BACK TO IT, UM, EMAIL RYAN SOME COMMENTS BY JANUARY 3RD, UM, END OF THE DAY AND IT'LL COME BACK FOR THE JANUARY MEETING FOR APPROVAL.
UM, AT THE JANUARY MEETING, LIKE I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, IT INCLUDES BOTH THE ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH IT KIND OF GIVES A SUMMARY OF WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES A PROGRESS REPORT, WHICH IS THE UPDATES TO FUTURE BR.
AND I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT, UM, IN THE BACK OF YOUR, IN THE BACK OF THE PROGRESS REPORT OR IN, IN, AT THE FRONT OF THE PROGRESS REPORT IS THE UPDATE TO THE ACTION ITEMS FOR FUTURE BR.
WE HAVE 34 LEAD AGENCIES THAT ARE, ARE IMPLEMENTING 436 ACTION ITEMS. UM, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, 44% OF THOSE ARE EITHER COMPLETE OR THEY'RE INSTITUTIONALIZED WITHIN THE UH, CITY PARISH SYSTEM.
NEXT YEAR WE'RE ENTERING INTO OUR FIVE YEAR UPDATE AND THE LAST TIME WE DID A FIVE YEAR UPDATE WAS IN 2018 AND IT WAS APPROVED IN 2019.
UM, NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE DOING THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE OKAY.
FOR FUTURE BR AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OUTREACH, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC OUTREACH PORTION OF THAT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A SHORT VIDEO.
THEY'RE GONNA ORGANIZE NINE WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH FOR HELP WITH OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH, FOR THE, FOR THE UPDATE.
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING SOME SURVEYS, A SHORT VIDEO INTRODUCTION FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRESS, UM, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT CONTRACT GOING BY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND YOU'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE FROM THE ADVANCED FROM THE LONG RANGE, UM, DIVISION NEXT YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
SO WE CAN START THAT AND WE'LL BE UPDATING THE GOALS.
OBJECTIVE ACTION ITEMS, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF FUTURE BR.
SO THAT IS ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT UPDATE.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK VICE CHAIRMAN GRL TO READ IN THE RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS, RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS.ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA MAY COMMENT IN PERSON AT CITY HALL, EXCUSE ME.
LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 0 2 THIRD FLOOR ROOM 3 48.
DURING THE MEETING, ALL COMMENTS WILL BE BROUGHT TO BROADCAST ON WWW.BR RLA.GOV ON METRO 21 COX, CHANNEL 21 AND AT AND T CHANNEL 99.
AND ON THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE FACEBOOK PAGE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE.
COMMENTS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO 3:00 PM OF THE MEETING.
DATE WILL BE COMPILED BY POSITION FOR OR AGAINST AND THE TOTAL NUMBER WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE ITEMS PUBLIC HEARING, ANY INTERESTED PERSON WHO DOES NOT WISH TO COMMENT IN PERSON MAY USE THE FORM FOUND@HTTPSWWW.RLA.GOV FORWARD SLASH PC.
APPLICANT AND APPLICANTS REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PROPOSAL WILL SPEAK FIRST FOR A PERIOD OF NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DESIRING TO SPEAK ON A PARTICULAR ITEM SHOULD REFER TO A MEETING AGENDA AND FILL OUT A MEETING.
REQUEST A REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM ONCE THE ITEM IS ANNOUNCED, EACH PERSON'S NAME WHO IS FILLED OUT A FORM WILL BE CALLED HOME TO SPEAK.
PROPONENTS WILL SPEAK AND THEN THE OPPONENTS, EACH SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ALLOWED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.
[00:05:01]
SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO AVOID DUPLICATION IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS.APPLICANT WILL BE ALLOWED A TOTAL OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VICE CHAIRMAN.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
YOU VICE CHAIRMAN GR WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.MR. BALDWIN CONSENT AGENDA, CONSENT ITEMS FOR DEFERRAL.
ITEM TWO, PA 24 22 58 25 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FROM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO INDUSTRIAL ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH FOSTER DRIVE NORTH OF GREENWALL STREET.
ITEM THREE, CASE 65 22 58 25 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE TO REZONE FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A TWO TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL M ONE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH FOSTER DRIVE NORTH OF GREENVILLE STREET.
2100 TO 2200 MILLVILLE ROAD TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FROM COMMERCIAL TO COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD ON PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF MILLERVILLE ROAD SOUTH OF HUNTERS RIDGE DRIVE.
THE GATES AT MILLERVILLE TO REZONE FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL C2 TO SMALL PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
SPUD FOR A MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF MILLERVILLE ROAD SOUTH OF HUNTERS RIDGE DRIVE.
ITEM EIGHT, CASE SEVENTY EIGHT TWENTY TWO TEN NINE TWENTY FIVE TAMS DRIVE TO REZONE FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL A ONE TO TWO FAMILY, A 2.9 ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TAMS DRIVE EAST OF GREEN OAK DRIVE.
ITEM 12, PUT 1406 MICKENS ROAD CONCEPT PLAN REVISION THREE.
PROPOSED REVISION TO REALLOCATE PHASE FOUR COMMERCIAL AREA AND TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MICKENS ROAD, WEST OF JAW ROAD.
ITEM SIX, CASE 70 22 94 94 GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD TO REZONE FROM LAKE COMMERCIAL C ONE TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT C A B ONE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD, WEST OF OAK FOREST AVENUE.
ITEM SEVEN, CASE 77 22 97 0 2 GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD TO REZONE FROM LAKE COMMERCIAL THREE.
LC THREE TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL ONE HC ONE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD, WEST OF PLATTE DRIVE.
ITEM NINE, CASE 79 22 28 0 1 NICHOLSON DRIVE TO REZONE FROM INFILL SMALL PLANNING UNIT DEVELOPMENT ICE BUD TO LIGHT COMMERCIAL ONE LC ONE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON EAST SIDE OF NICHOLSON.
DRIVE SOUTH OF WEST GARFIELD STREET.
ITEM 10, CASE 80 22 67 67 PLANK ROAD TO REZONE FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL M ONE TO LIGHT COMMERCIAL AT THREE LC THREE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF PLANK ROAD NORTH OF MONTESANTO AVENUE.
ITEM 11 CASE 81 22 46 30 BLUE BONNET BOULEVARD TO REZONE FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL A ONE TO BLUE BOND DESIGN DISTRICT B D D ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BLUE BONNET BOULEVARD NORTH OF OLIPHANT ROAD.
ITEM 14 IS SPOT 1119 LA REVISION THREE.
PROPOSED REVISION TO MODIFY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITE LOCATIONS ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIGHLAND ROAD WEST OF KENNELWORTH PARKWAY.
ITEM 15 SS 7 22 GRIFFIN PLEASE PROPOSED MINOR SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRIFFIN COURT WEST OF OMEGA.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE U D C, WE'VE RECEIVED ONE MESSAGE OF OPPOSITION ON ITEM NINE AND TWO MESSAGES OF OPPOSITION ON ITEM 15, WE'VE ALSO HAD A REQUEST TO REMOVE ITEM 14, ISPU 1119 LA REVISION THREE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU COMMISSION MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT'LL BE TAKEN WITH ONE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO HAVE AN ITEM ON CONSENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED AND HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE IS THEIR MOTION.
MOTION BY VICE CHAIRMAN GR SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA
[13. PUD-3-22 Northridge (formerly Templeton Ridge) Proposed submittal of an expired Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a low density residential development on property located on the west side of Old Scenic Highway, west of Groom Road, on property now or formerly known as a portion of Tract TR-1, Tract TR-2 and TR-3 of the V.E. Montan Property. Section 85, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 1 - Noel) PLANNING STAFF FINDINGS: Staff certifies that the proposed request meets the minimum criteria for a Planned Unit Development, being consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, compatible with surrounding uses, and conforming to Unified Development Code requirements]
AND I BELIEVE THAT FIRST ITEM'S GONNA BE NUMBER 13.ITEM NUMBER 13, PUT 3 22 NORTHRIDGE FORMALLY, FORMALLY TEMPLETON RIDGE PUT DASH THREE DASH 22 NORTHRIDGE FORMALLY TEMPLETON RIDGE, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WEST SIDE OF CENIC HIGHWAY WEST OF GROOM ROAD COUNCIL.
DISTRICT ONE? NO, THE APPLICANT IS TEMPLETON RIDGE DEVELOPMENT.
[00:10:01]
PROPOSED PLAN DEVELOPMENT WITH FOUR PHASES CONSISTING OF 735 LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.THE FUTURE BUREAU LANE'S DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD PUT DASH THREE DASH 22 NORTHRIDGE FORMERLY TEMPLETON RIDGE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS A MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR PLAN UNIT, DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
WE'VE RECEIVED TWO MESSAGES OF OPPOSITION IN THE ZACHARY PLANNING COMMISSION.
ALSO OBJECTED TO THE PROPOSED PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS TIME I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME IS JEFF VALLEY, UH, WITH TEMPLETON RIDGE LLC OR SOUTHERN LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT AS AN ENTITY.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE 1100 CAMILIA BOULEVARD, UH, LAFAYETTE.
SO, UH, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT SEEKING, UH, YOU KNOW, FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR POD CONCEPT PLAN THAT HAS COME THROUGH THIS BODY, UH, TWICE BEFORE IN THE PAST, ONCE IN 2017 AND THEN ONCE, UH, A YEAR AGO IN 2021.
IT'S, UH, MORE OR LESS, UH, THE SAME PROJECT.
IT'S, UH, THE SAME NUMBER OF LOTS PROPOSED, SAME LOT SIZES PROPOSED.
UM, THERE WERE JUST A, A FEW DETAILS ON THE BOUNDARY THAT ARE DIFFERENT.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK HERE TONIGHT, UH, SEEKING APPROVAL.
SO, UM, I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF AIR TIME.
I'VE GOT THE ENGINEERING SURVEY HERE WITH ME AS WELL AND WE'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN FAVOR FOR RANDALL THIGPEN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
UH, MY NAME IS RANDALL THIGPEN AND I AM, UH, A LANDOWNER TO MY PROPERTY, UH, UH, IS LOCATED TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I WAS WONDERING, I WAS HERE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OPPOSITION.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHY THEY MIGHT BE OPPOSED TO IT.
UH, AND I DID WANT TO JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THE, THE DEVELOPER AS THE NEIGHBOR.
UH, I'M INTERESTED IN SECURITY DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC ISSUES AND HOPE THEY TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE, UH, AVAILABLE TO, UH, EX PERHAPS EXCHANGE CONTACT INFORMATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU, THAT YOU HAVE PERTAINING TO THE PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS ON HIS YEAH, IT WAS IN, IT WAS MARKED IN FAVOR.
UH, SO, UH, I'LL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR, UH, MOTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER ADDISON, UH, I BELIEVE HAS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I BELIEVE THAT MOTIONS, UH, YOU HAVE A COMMENT FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
UM, YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME DETAILS ON THE PROPERTY LINE THAT CHANGED.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, CAN, CAN YOU GIVE SOME CLARIFICATION? YOU CAN COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM, SIR.
BACK UP THE PODIUM OR, OR, YEAH.
MICHAEL THOMASK WITH THE PLAN'S DESIGN GROUP 90 15 BLUE BONNET BOULEVARD.
SO THE PROPERTY CONFIGURATION IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, UH, TEMPLETON RIDGE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WESTERNMOST END.
SO THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES THAT WERE A PART OF TEMPLETON RIDGE THAT ARE NOT A PART OF THIS ONE.
SO EVERYTHING'S EXACT SAME EXCEPT THE WESTERNMOST 15 ACRES.
I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THERE'S A SECOND TO, UH, THE MOTION, UH, PROPOSED TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
THAT SECONDS FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION SCENE ON THAT ITEM IS APPROVED.
[14. CONSENT FOR APPROVAL ISPUD-11-19 La Rosa Revision 3 Proposed revision to modify medium density residential and commercial site locations on property located on the north side of Highland Road, west of Kenilworth Parkway, on property now or formerly known as Lots 1-A-1 and 2-A-1 of the Rosario Martina Tract. Section 63, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12 - Racca) PLANNING STAFF FINDINGS: Staff certifies that the proposed request meets the minimum criteria of the Infill Small Planned Unit Development, being consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, compatible with surrounding uses, and conforming to Unified Development Code requirements]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 14.I SPELL 1119 LA REVISION THREE.
I SPELL 11 DASH 19 LA REVISION THREE.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED NORTH SIDE OF HIGHLAND ROAD, WEST OF KENWORTH PARKWAY COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCA.
THE APPLICANT IS KAREN KENNEDY.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSED TO MODIFY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITE LOCATIONS.
THE FUTURE BUREAU LANE'S DESIGNATION IS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
I SPELL 11 DASH 19 LA REVISION.
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS A MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR THE INFILL
[00:15:01]
SMALL PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
MATT OPAL WITH SJB GROUP 83 77 PICARDI.
UH, LA HAS BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES.
UM, I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT.
THE CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
THE FORMER OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS DECIDED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AMONGST THEMSELVES.
THE NEW OWNER NOW IS REDUCING THE COMMERCIAL AREA AND LIGHTNING, THE RESIDENTIAL IN THE BACK, MOVING TWO OF THE UNITS FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING 22 UNITS ACCESSED OFF A MENLO, THEY'RE NOW 20 AND THEN THE OTHER TWO ARE ACCESSED OFF OF HIGHLAND.
AND THEN THE COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE HAS BEEN REDUCED.
UH, TO LINE UP WITH WHAT THE CURRENT OWNER WANTS TO DO.
HE WANTS TO BUILD HIS OWN PERSONAL OFFICE THERE.
UM, SO HE HAD A LOWER REQUIREMENT FOR COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE, SO REDUCED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, SHUFFLED SOME HOUSES AROUND.
WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARD IN FAVOR.
I THINK THAT'S FROM THE OWNER.
DEVIN, IT'S HARD TO READ THE, I THINK IT SAYS TRISH, BUT IT SAYS IF NEEDED.
DID, DID YOU, DID YOU NEED TO SPEAK? OKAY.
WE HAVE ONE OTHER SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN OPPOSITION THAT DOES WISH TO SPEAK FROM TOM BARTON.
HELLO, COMMISSIONERS AND PLANNING STAFF.
UH, I DO WALK BY THE SITE OF THE LA ROSA ICE, BUT EVERY DAY I DO LIVE NEAR THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF HIGHLAND ROAD, WHICH SEEMS TO BE UNDER A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE.
I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THESE MONTHLY MEETINGS REGULARLY NOW FOR YEARS.
I HOPE SOME OF YOU HAVE NOTICED.
I HOPE I'M HANDSOME ENOUGH OR UGLY ENOUGH TO GET SOME ATTENTION.
UM, I'D LIKE TO USE MY TIME TO GIVE YOU ONE CITIZEN'S VIEW OF WHAT THESE MEETINGS FEEL LIKE TO THE PUBLIC TO START THREE MAJOR OBSERVATIONS.
ONE, THE HIGHLY FOCUSED THANK YOU.
THE HIGHLY FOCUSED PROFESSIONALS, DEVELOPERS, LAWYERS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE VARIANCES BEING GRANTED USUALLY GET THEIR WAY.
SECOND OBSERVATION, THE COMMISSIONERS.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO WHATEVER.
UM, ALL VOLUNTEERS DO WORK AND STRUGGLE TO MAKE REASONABLY INFORMED DECISIONS.
I SEE THAT AS MOSTLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THE COMMISSIONERS ALL VOLUNTEERS.
YOU COMMISSIONERS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET BENEATH THE SURFACE LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS DO.
VOLUNTEERS VERSUS PROFESSIONALS.
THE PUBLIC'S ROLE IS TO SQUAWK ABOUT THESE VARIANCES AND THEN UNLESS, UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE MOB OR LARGE WEALTH, THE PUBLIC SURRENDERS TO THEIR FATE.
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN ORDINARY CITIZENS THAT ARE HURT IN THIS PROCESS.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE PLANNING ITSELF HAS BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN A RUBBER STAMP FOR VIOLATIONS OF ITS OWN HARD ONE PLANNING STANDARDS AND DESIGNS.
FRANK DUKE WAS THE PREVIOUS PLANNING DIRECTOR YEARS AGO.
HE ENGINEERED THE MOUNT HOPE SPUD TOBACCO.
IT'S STILL GOING ON AND IT'S STILL HURTING PEOPLE.
FRANK DID HAVE A PLANNING APHORISM THAT THIS ROOM HEARD.
MANY TIMES THE STAFF REPORTS IF THE VARIANCES ARE ILLEGAL, ARE LEGAL.
THE COMMISSIONERS DECIDE ABOUT 15 SECONDS.
SIR, IF THE VARIANCES ARE APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE IS A BIG, WIDE OPEN WORD.
IT LEAVES YOU COMMISSIONERS A LOT OF ROOM TO MAKE YOUR JUDGMENTS AND TO FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION.
I WOULD, UH, I WOULD OFFER TIME FOR A REBUTTAL IF THE APPLICANT FEELS COMPELLED TO DO SO.
UM, WHY WILL YOU APPRECIATE HIS COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO LAROZA? THANK YOU.
[00:20:01]
THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.UH, VICE CHAIRMAN GRO, UM, MR. DIRECTOR, WHAT WE SEE HERE AT KENNELWORTH IS, IT'S NOT A VARIANCE, IS IT? NO.
THE, THERE'S NO VARIANCES OR WAIVERS AS PART OF THIS APPLICATION.
IT'S A REVISION TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED OSPA DEVELOPMENT THAT STANDS ON ITS OWN AND MEETS ALL THE MERITS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AND, AND, AND WITH RESPECT TO THAT, UH, AS FAR AS WHAT IS APPROPRIATE, WHAT IS APPROPRIATE IS DOES THIS COMPLY WITH THE LAW? DOES THIS FALL WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF, OF THE CODE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M AN ARCHITECT.
VICE CHAIRMAN GRATH, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND? I BELIEVE THERE'S A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
NOW MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS.DO YOU, THANKS TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 26TH AND MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS.
AND ALSO ON MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH IN OBSERVANT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
ALSO, YOUR JANUARY MEETING IS THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR THIS BODY.
YOU WILL ELECT OFFICERS APPROVE THE 2023 CALENDAR ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM AND ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT.
AT THIS MEETING, YOU HAVE DRAFT COPIES OF ALL THESE DOCUMENTS AT YOUR SEATS IN ADVANCE OF THE JANUARY MEETING CONSISTENT WITH PAST PRACTICE.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ELECTION TO AN OFFICE OR REQUIRED OR REQUESTED TO INDICATE THEIR INTERESTS UNDER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
WANNA WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER SHAUNA BANKS, WHO UNFORTUNATELY ISN'T HERE TONIGHT.
SHE CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY EARLIER THIS MONTH.
YOUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, MEETING IS ON TUESDAY, ON STRESS TUESDAY.
NOT A TYPICAL MONDAY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2023.
ALSO AT YOUR SEATS OR DRAFT COPIES OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER NINE, SPECIFICALLY SECTION 9.28.
TABLE NINE G PRINCIPLE USES AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
THIS WAS INITIATED EARLY ON AT YOUR SEPTEMBER MEETING.
THIS WILL, UH, BE ON THE JANUARY AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION.
ALSO, THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE HAS BEEN UPDATED ONLINE TO REFLECT CHANGES TO CHAPTER NINE 19 IN APPENDIX I ALL RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AT THE COUNCIL APPROVED.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE TO MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
YEAR.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WISH YOU, UH, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO WISH THE SAME TO THE STAFF, UH, THE PUBLIC THAT'S PRESENT.
AND, UH, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT IS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH EACH OF YOU, UH, ON THIS BODY AS A WHOLE AND, UH, MORE, MORE PARTICULARLY, MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, IN THE ROLE OF CHAIRMAN, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR BODY.
AND, UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION IN ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT PARTICULAR CAPACITY.
AND I'LL OPEN UP FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
UM, I WANT TO JUST MIRROR WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, UH, UH, ABOUT A, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF WHO I THINK DO A SPECTACULAR JOB AND, UM, SOMETIMES DON'T GET THE RECOGNITION THEY DO.
UH, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THIS, UH, THIS COMMISSION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
UM, AND I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF, UH, SERVING WITH, UH, CHAIRMAN WASHINGTON, WHO I HAVE AN EXCELLENT RAPPORT WITH AND HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN THIS POSITION.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION, UH, TO REMAIN AS YOUR VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
UH, I WANNA WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AS WELL, AND BOTH BATON ROUGE REPUBLIC AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION AND STAFF.
UH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT JUST A LITTLE BIT, IT'S HARD NOT TO BECAUSE, UH, WE DON'T WANNA HAVE THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE DO RUBBER SNAP EVERYTHING UP HERE.
UM, BECAUSE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE DO, UH, ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT BE FULL-TIME QUOTE EMPLOYEES OF THIS PARISH SYSTEM, WE TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ON THESE AGENDAS.
AND WE TAKE TIME TO MEET WITH BOTH STAFF.
WE TAKE TIME TO MEET WITH BOTH PARISH ATTORNEYS, OFFICER LEGAL ISSUES, AND AS WELL AS UM, PUBLIC WORK STAFF AND OTHER THOSE WHO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT.
UH, SO WE DON'T JUST TAKE VERY LIGHTLY THE IDEA
[00:25:01]
THAT AN ITEM IS PUT ON THIS AGENDA AND WE JUST FEEL LIKE WE RUBBER STAMPERS.CAUSE IF THAT WAS THE CASE, CERTAINLY I WOULD, I WOULD GO BE HOME MY, WITH MY FAMILY IF I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS MY JOB JUST TO RUBBER SNAP EVERYBODY CAME UP HERE.
IT, IT MAY APPEAR THAT WAY SOMETIME WHEN A, UM, COMPANY OR CORPORATION HAS A, A PAID EMPLOYER OR PAID, UH, ENGINEER TO COME AND PRESENT THEIR SIDE.
BUT WE ALSO RELY UP UPON THE PARISH, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERS TO GIVE US THE DETAILS OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT ITEM IS LEGITIMATE OR NOT.
SO WHILE IT MIGHT APPEAR THAT WE TAKE IT LIGHTLY, WE REALLY DON'T.
AND, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO SAY FOR THE RECORDS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THAT.
WHILE YOU MAY, YOUR CASE MAY NOT COME OUT THE WAY YOU DESIRE, I'M QUITE SURE THEY ARE PERSONS COME UP HERE, THINK THEY ITEM DESERVE THE MORE FAVORABLE APPROVAL.
YOU KNOW, CUZ SOMETIME THEY DON'T WIN EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ENGINEERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANNA WISH TO, UH, PUBLIC HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND, UM, I REMEMBER JESUS'S REASON FOR THIS SEASON.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
I'LL QUICKLY COMMENT, UH, AND VICE CHAIRMAN MCGRAW MADE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL, BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
UH, THINGS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
UH, THESE AGENDAS ARE REVIEWED PRIOR TO THESE, UH, PRIOR TO THESE MEETINGS AND QUESTIONS ARE ASKED, UH, BY THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE STAFF OR ANY, AT ANY POINT OR FOR ANY ASPECTS THAT WE FEEL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL, UH, CLARIFICATION OF THAT, THAT WE, UH, QUESTION.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN, UH, MULTIPLE AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE AS WELL.
UH, I KNOW YOU HAVE COMMISSIONER ADDISON, UH, UH, PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE OUR ATTENTION WHERE THERE WASN'T AN UPROAR, BUT WE HAD SPECIFIC REASONS THAT WE SIMPLY COULD NOT SUPPORT IT.
AND SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO THAT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? OH, I APOLOGIZE.
THERE IS A, UH, WE DO HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND, AND THAT'S THE REASON I NEED THE VICE CHAIRMAN.
AND SO JEREMY, PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, PLEASE PARDON ME.
BUT OUR, OUR CON OUR CURRENT OR OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH IS JEREMY IS A GRAIL GRIM, GRIM, GRIMMY, JEREMY GRIMAN AND WE IN LOUISIANA.
I KNEW, I KNEW I WAS ABOUT TO BE WRONG WITH IT, BUT, UH, PLANNER, HE'S A PLANNER IN THE SITE PLAN AND PLAT DIVISION.
JEREMY'S DONE A GREAT JOB LEARNING THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS, COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND USING HIS BACKGROUND AND ARCHITECTURE TO EFFICIENTLY REVIEW SITE PLANS.
JEREMY HAS READILY ACCEPTED ANY TASK THAT HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED AND HAS HELPED TO KEEP THE REVIEW PROCESS RUNNING SMOOTHLY IN ALL OF HIS ASSIGNMENTS.
JEREMY WORKS TO ENSURE A TASK ARE COMPLETED ON TIME WITH AN EYEBALL FOR DETAILS.
BECAUSE OF HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHERS, HE HAS BECOME A VERY VALUABLE EMPLOYEE FOR THESE REASONS.
HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TEAM.
PLEASE JOIN IN CONGRATULATING JEREMY.
NOW IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT, SECOND BY VICE, UH, BY, UH, COMMISSIONER STERLING.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, UH, MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.