[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
[ROLL CALL]
THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE ROLL CALL DIRECTOR, HOLCOMB.AND COMMISSIONER STERLING HERE.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 18TH MEETING? SO MOVED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER LATINO.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED.
[COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE]
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BY MR. LUENBERGER.UM, I AM JEFFREY BERGER WITH THE LONG RANGE PLANNING DIVISION, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING WITH OUR FIVE YEAR UPDATE THAT IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE.
UM, AT THIS POINT, AT OUR NEXT, AT, AT YOUR GUYS' NEXT MEETING AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING, WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE, UM, FINAL DRAFT VERSION OF THE FUTURE, UM, THE FUTURE BR FIVE YEAR UPDATE, AND YOU'LL, AT THAT NOVEMBER MEETING, WE'LL BE MAKING RECOMMENDATION TO THE METRO COUNCIL, UM, FOR APPROVAL OR NOT.
UM, SO DURING THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE PRESS RELEASES, HAD VERY, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PUBLICITY ON SEVERAL OF THE LOCAL TV STATIONS, RADIO STATIONS DISTRIBUTED A LOT OF FLYERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, UM, THAT ASSISTED WITH OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH, UM, TO THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS.
AND WE ALSO CREATED AN INTRODUCTORY VIDEO AND COLLECTED 410 SURVEYS.
UM, DURING THIS PROCESS, WE ALSO HAD NINE WORKSHOPS WITH A TOTAL OF 127 TOTAL PUBLIC WORKSHOP ATTENDEES.
UM, SO DURING THAT ENTIRE PROCESS, WE'VE COME UP WITH THIS DRAFT FOR FUTURE, UM, FOR FUTURE B.
THE FINAL DRAFT IS LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE.
YOU CAN FIND THAT AT B RLA.GOV/BR-FIVE-YEAR-UPDATE.
IF YOU GO THERE, THE DRAFT COPIES OF THE ELEMENTS WILL BE THERE, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAPS, UM, THE MAJOR STREET PLAN, UM, AND ALONG WITH ALL THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED AND RESPONSES TO THOSE COMMENTS.
SO YOU CAN GO TO THE, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT THOSE COMMENTS AND, AND AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING, WE WILL BE, UM, HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THOSE.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TAKE THOSE AT THIS TIME.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
TIME, I'LL ASK VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT TO READ IN THE FULL, I'M SORRY, THE RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS.RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON AN ITEM FROM THIS AGENDA AND COMMENT IN PERSON AT CITY HALL 2 2 2 ST.
LOUIS STREET, THIRD FLOOR ROOM 3 48.
DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DESIRING TO SPEAK ON A PARTICULAR ITEM SHOULD REFER TO A MEETING AGENDA AND COMPLETE NECESSARY INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY FILLING OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD INDICATING THAT YOU WISH TO SPEAK AND PLACE IT IN THE DESIGNATED LOCATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
APPLICANT AND APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PROPOSAL WILL SPEAK FIRST FOR A TOTAL OR COMBINED PERIOD OF NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
PROPONENTS WILL SPEAK THEN THE OPPONENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ALLOWED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.
SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS BY AVOIDING DUPLICATION OF THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
APPLICANT WILL BE ALLOWED A TOTAL OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
OPPONENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REBUT ITEMS PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF WILL NOT HAVE TIME ALLOCATED FOR SPEAKING UNLESS THERE IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AT THE MEETING WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM.
IN SUCH CASES, THE PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURES.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.MR. MORAN CONSENT AGENDA, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR WITHDRAWAL.
ITEM NUMBER 17, SSS SEVEN DASH 23 SUBURB NORTH BATON ROUGE, PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CENTRAL ROAD, EAST OF SCENIC HIGHWAY.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR A DEFERRAL.
GOODWOOD VILLA TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A ONE TO INFILL SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ICE PUD FOR THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GOODWOOD BOULEVARD, WEST OF COLONIAL DRIVE.
[00:05:01]
AND ITEM 13 PUD FOUR DASH ZERO EIGHT.THE HEIGHTS AT MATERA WOMAN'S HOSPITAL.
FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR APPROVAL.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CASE 58 23 T 1, 15 0 1 T 1 15 0 3 AND T 1 15 4.
ONE TERRACE STREET TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL C TWO AND LIMITED RESIDENTIAL, A 3.1 TO GENERAL RESIDENTIAL, A FOUR LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TERRACE STREET, EAST OF SOUTH 15TH STREET.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, CASE 59 23 49 75 CHOCTAW DRIVE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL M ONE TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL ONE HC ONE LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHOCTAW DRIVE WEST OF NORTH FOSTER DRIVE.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, CASE 60 DASH 2374.
74 CORPORATE BOULEVARD SUITES 1 0 6 AND 1 0 7.
THERE REZONED PROPERTY FROM LIGHT COMMERCIAL C ONE TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT C B ONE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CORPORATE BOULEVARD, WEST OF JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, CASE 61 23 T 5 66 OH WINCHESTER AVENUE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM GENERAL RESIDENTIAL, A FOUR TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A 2.7 LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF WINCHESTER AVENUE, SOUTH OF GREENWELL STREET.
ITEM NUMBER NINE, CASE 62 DASH 23 84 0 8 84.
16 84 18 AND 84 28 SCOTLAND AVENUE, 1363 AND 1379 SWAN AVENUE 1344 AND 1350 SORA STREET TO REZONE.
PROPERTY FROM C TWO HEAVY COMMERCIAL LIMITED RESIDENTIAL, A 3.1 AND COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT CA B ONE TWO.
GENERAL RESIDENTIAL, A FOUR AND COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT C ONE LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SCOTLAND AVENUE BETWEEN SWAN AVENUE AND SORA STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 14, CSS 15 DASH 23, LAWRENCE AND MARY SQUARE.
ESTATE PROPERTY PROPOSED FLAG LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HUNT ROAD, SOUTH OF JACKSON ROAD.
ITEM NUMBER 15 SS FOUR DASH 23 NORTH PARK SUBDIVISION.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION WITH PUBLIC STREETS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY NORTH OF GREENWELL STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 16, SP NINE DASH 23 NORTH PARK, PHASE ONE.
PROPOSED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF MULTI-FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES.
LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY NORTH OF GREENWELL STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 18, SSSS NINE DASH 23.
PROPERTY PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHENEY ROAD NORTH OF DALE ROAD.
AND ITEM NUMBER 19 SSSS SEVEN DASH 23.
CAPITAL CITY PRODUCE EXPANSION.
PROPOSED WAREHOUSE EDITION TO EXISTING FACILITY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF COMMERCIAL AVENUE EAST OF O'NEILL.
CORRECTION, THAT WAS SP DASH SEVEN DASH 23 PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE U D C.
WE'VE HAD A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO PULL ITEM 15 S 4 23 NORTH PARK SUBDIVISION AND COMPANION CASE ITEM 16 SP 9 23 NORTH PARK, PHASE ONE SITE PLAN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU COMMISSION MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT'LL BE TAKEN WITH ONE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THIS 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 ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING
[00:10:01]
NONE OF THESE ITEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED, THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.MR. CHAIRMAN, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS CAN BE TAKEN TOGETHER THAT THAT'S ITEM TWO AND ITEM
[Items 2 & 3]
THREE, PA 14 23 3 4 7 0.WAYNE DRIVE, RELATED CASE 57 23.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF WAYNE DRIVE NORTH OF WINDBERG AVENUE COUNCIL.
THE APPLICANT IS CHERYL L CROPPER.
THE CURRENT FUTURE VR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REQUESTED FUTURE VR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A TWO WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF LIMITED RESIDENTIAL, A 3.1 PA 14 23 3 4 7 0 WAYNE DRIVE RELATED TO CASE 57 23.
STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT BASED UPON THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD APPEARING APPROPRIATE.
STAFF ALL CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REZONING REQUEST DOES MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING IF THE COMPANION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, BEING COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CORDS ON THIS ITEM? DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARDS OTHER THAN THE APPLICANT.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK THE APPLICANT TO, UH, COME TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
MY NAME IS CHERYL CROPPER AND THE PICTURE THEY SHOWED IS INVALID.
I HAD TO DEMOLISH THE OLD HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS DETERIORATING.
I CAN'T GET THE PROPER USE OF MY LAND IF IT'S NOT APPROVED AND WHAT I PLACED INTO MY APPLICATION DETAILED INFORMATION IS APPROPRIATE FOR ME GETTING THAT DONE.
UH, YOU HAVE, WE HAVE A CHURCH RIGHT DOWN THE STREET THAT'S BEEN OPERATING SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE IN 1988.
YOU HAVE 37 79 EATON STREET, WHICH IS 32 DUPLEX APARTMENTS IN THAT DIVISION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A HOUSE DOWN FROM MY, UM, RESIDENCE AT 34 71 HOUSE DOWN.
SO IT WOULD BE UNFAIR AND DISCRIMINATORY IF IF MINE IS NOT APPROVED AND THEY'RE ALLOWED TO OPERATE UNDER THE SAME TERMS. AND WHAT I PROPOSED, IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, UM, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS I SAID IN MY LETTER, IT WILL BE AS A SINGLE FAMILY STRUCTURE.
IT WON'T BE AS A COMPACT APARTMENT STRUCTURE.
SO THE HOUSES THAT ADJACENT TO ME ON EITHER SIDE FRONT AND BACK WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THE APPEARANCE.
OTHER WORDS, IT WON'T SET THEM OFF AS LOOKING AWKWARD.
IT MAY IMBUE THEM TO DO UPGRADES ON THEIR PROPERTY.
AND, UM, FLOURISH NEIGHBORHOOD ON WAYNE DRIVE STREET, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 10 VACANT LOTS AND IT, IT JUST NEEDS PRODUCTIVITY THERE.
I AM A NATIVE FROM LOUISIANA, BORN AND REARED.
I'VE BEEN THERE FIVE YEARS AND I'M TRYING TO TRANSFER BACK WITH MY JOB HERE.
BUT, UM, I NEED TO USE MY LAND FOR PRODUCTIVITY.
I CAN'T DO IT NO OTHER WAY WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL.
SO IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE AWAY FROM NO ONE ELSE'S PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE 'EM LOOK AWKWARD.
IT, IT, IT MAY MAKE THEM LOOK, YOU JUST HAVE A FRESHLY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT'S BEING DONE, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE NO EXTRAVAGANT APARTMENT DUPLEX BUILDING IF IT'S, IF THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REFERENCE TO, IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE A FAMILY STRUCTURED HOME THERE.
SO I, I CAN'T FIND THE, UH, BENEFICIAL USE OF MY PROPERTY WITHOUT IT BEING APPROVED, SO, OKAY.
SINCE WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS, I WILL CLOSE THE DID DID, DID YOU HAVE A SPEAKER CARD, SIR? CONCERNING DID YOU FILL OUT A SPEAKER CORD? OH, OKAY.
SO WE'LL INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK AND YOU'LL JUST NEED TO FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AFTERWARDS.
YOU CAN COME, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
[00:15:03]
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.WAYNE, I'M RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPERTY.
IF SHE'S JUST TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A DUPLEX, THERE ARE OTHER DUPLEXES ON THE STREET.
IT AIN'T NO HARM IN WHAT SHE'S DOING.
I'M, I'M RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL INVITE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR MOTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
MR. DIRECTOR, UH, THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT THIS IS A DUPLEX.
IS THAT ALLOWED UNDER THREE ONE? YES.
THE ZONING CATEGORY SHE'S REQUESTING WOULD ALLOW A DUPLEX AND ALSO MULTIFAMILY AND, BUT A TWO DOES NOT.
COMMISSIONER ADDISON, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BANKS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE'LL MOVE ON AT THIS TIME TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
[4. Case 56-23 662 South Foster Drive]
CASE 56 23 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE RELATED TO CASE 56 23 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE.PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE NORTH OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.
THE APPLICANT IS DAVID TIMMEL.
FUTURE B LAND USE DESIGNATION IS MIXED USE.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS LIGHT COMMERCIAL LC ONE WITH THE REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT CA B ONE CASE 56 23 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED FIVE MESSAGES IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF MID-CITY 66 32, UH, SEVEN OAKS.
UM, MY CURRENT RESIDENCE IS ABOUT, HMM, FIVE MINUTES FROM THIS CURRENT, UH, PROPERTY THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED.
UH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK NOTES.
UM, AS I UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOME OPPOSITION, WHICH I'M NOT, I'M PRIVY TO OR I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I'LL JUST KIND OF STATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF AND THEN, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT I PLAN TO DO.
SO I'VE BEEN IN BATON ROUGE ABOUT 27 YEARS.
UM, BEEN MARRIED, I'M SORRY, I'VE BEEN MARRIED 27 YEARS.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK CITY.
I AM THE SON OF IMMIGRANTS, UH, TO THIS COUNTRY, UH, FROM THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA.
UM, THIS PROPERTY I PURCHASED, UM, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND MY PLAN FOR IT IS TO MAKE A CARIBBEAN, UH, EATING SPOT IN MID-CITY.
UM, OVER THE PAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, UH, MY WIFE AND I, ALONG WITH OUR TWO DAUGHTERS, HAVE, UH, RELOCATED TO MID-CITY FROM SHERWOOD.
UH, WE LOVE THE MID-CITY CULTURE.
WE LOVE MID-CITY, WHAT IT REPRESENTS, AND WE LOVE BATON ROUGE.
UM, WE PLAN ON MAKING THIS, UH, A SPOT TO WHERE, UH, INDIVIDUALS CAN COME AND EAT, UH, ENJOY CARIBBEAN CUISINE AND GO ABOUT THEIR WAY.
UH, THIS SPOT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THAT OF, UH, BARRACUDA TACO, UH, CURBSIDE AND OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA, WHICH WE ALL FREQUENT.
UM, IN MY OPINION, WHAT I PLAN TO DO GOES, UH, HAND IN HAND WITH THE AMERICAN DREAM, UM, OF ENTREPRENEURISM, UM, A YOUNG MAN BUYING A A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND TURNING IT INTO, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY.
UM, ALSO IN MID-CITY, UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, GO TO THE MID-CITY MERCHANTS MEETING, UM, WHICH I'M A, A MEMBER OF, UH, ALSO THE Y M C A I, UH, TALK TO THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, WE HAVE, UH, SOME BUSINESS OWNERS THAT, UM, ARE MY NEIGHBORS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, MET WITH THE Y M C A, WHICH I FREQUENT AND A MEMBER OF THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH IT.
[00:20:01]
FRANKLIN, WHO RUNS THE EXECUTIVE CENTER ON FOSTER, UM, IS, UH, IS ALSO, UM, A PROPONENT OF THIS AND, AND DOESN'T SEE ANY ISSUE THERE.IN FACT, THE Y MCA A IS GETTING READY TO KNOCK DOWN THAT WHOLE, UH, AC LEWIS CORRIDOR AND POTENTIALLY PUT UP APARTMENTS AND CREATE MORE, UM, MORE VIBE, MORE OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY IN MID-CITY.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS FITS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN MID-CITY.
UH, AGAIN, A RESIDENT, UH, ENJOY BEING AT MID-CITY AND LOVE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING, UH, WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING IN THIS LOCATION.
WE HAVE ONE OTHER CARD THAT IS IN FAVOR, BUT DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK FOR DARLENE KIPPS.
OUR FIRST CARD IS FOR DEBBIE WACK.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE WACK AND I'VE OWNED MY HOME ON SIX 40 BIENVILLE STREET FOR 11 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I OPPOSE THE REZONING.
UH, 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER FROM C ONE TO CA B ONE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
CURRENTLY, THERE'S A PET SHOP, A DENTIST OFFICE, AND A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OFFICE BUILDING THAT BACKS UP TO OUR HOMES.
THERE'S ZONED C ONE, THEY'RE INDOOR BUSINESSES.
THEY HAVE STANDARD BUSINESS HOURS.
IT'S QUIET AND IT CREATES A BUFFER FROM THE VERY CHAOTIC SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE TO BEVILLE STREET.
I THINK THAT IT, IF WE REZONE THE 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER, IT WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS LIVING ON BIENVILLE STREET AND IN GENERAL, CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
NEIGHBORS A RESTAURANT WITH EVENING HOURS SERVING ALCOHOL, OUTDOOR DINING AND GRILLING, OUTDOOR LIGHTING.
OUTDOOR MUSIC WILL CERTAINLY HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PEACEFULNESS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL FEEL LESS LIKE A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND MORE LIKE A COMMERCIAL HUB IN 2 2 5.
AND IN THE BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT, MR. TIMMEL SAID HE WANTED HIS RESTAURANT TO BE THAT SIMILAR OF CURBSIDE BURGERS AND BARRACUDA TACOS.
AND BOTH OF THESE RESTAURANTS ARE ON GOVERNMENT STREET.
THIS TYPE OF A RESTAURANT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BACK UP TO THE BACKYARD OF HOMEOWNERS WHEN IT'S GONNA BE AN OUTDOOR MAINLY RESTAURANT.
I ARGUE THAT IT WILL CERTAINLY NOT ADD VALUE TO MY HOME, AND ONE COULD ARGUE THAT IT WOULD DECREASE THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOMES, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE BACKING UP TO C ONE PROFESSIONAL BUSINESSES.
NOPE, NOBODY WAS TRYING TO REZONE IT FOR ALCOHOL PURPOSES.
THIS IS ALSO GONNA CREATE AN INCREASE OF TRAFFIC ON SOUTH FOSTER, CAUSING EVEN MORE DRIVERS TO CUT THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO AVOID THE JAM ON FOSTER AND GOVERNMENT WITH ALL THE SPEEDING AND CUTTING THROUGH IT PUTS FAMILIES, THE WALKERS, THE BIKERS, AND ALL THE CHILDREN THAT WALK DOWN CAPITOL HEIGHTS IN DANGER.
WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF NOISE LAUTERING AND ISSUES WITH CUSTOMERS FIGHTING IN PARKING.
LOTS OF JACK IN THE BOX, DEJA VU VAPE SHOP, AND PHIL BRADY'S.
AND WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ZONED CA B ONE ON OUR BLOCK.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DENY THIS REZONING REQUEST.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR LESLIE BRATTON BRATTON, UH, 56 47 CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
FOR THE LAST MAYBE FIVE YEARS, I'VE WATCHED, UH, GOVERNMENT STREET GROW.
THEY'VE, UH, EXPANDED IT AND MADE IT INTO A CORRIDOR.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD RESTAURANTS THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, NEW BUSINESSES AND OLD BUSINESSES.
HOWEVER, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UH, EMPTY BUILDINGS THAT COULD BE REVITALIZED AND KEPT THAT CORRIDOR EVEN MORE VIBRANT.
SOUTH FOSTER BEING A FOUR AND A FIVE LANE ROAD IS ALREADY CONGESTED.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PULLING OFF FOR, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU JUST ADD MORE TO THE TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING
[00:25:01]
ELSE.PLUS, JUST LIKE DEBBIE SAID, THEY GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S WALKING PATHS AND BIKE PATHS, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE THAT USE THAT FOR JUST OUTSIDE, UH, WHATEVER THEY MENTIONED.
HE MENTIONED THESE OTHER RESTAURANTS.
GREAT BIG PARKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I GO BACK TO SOUTH FOSTER FOR A MOMENT, AND THE DENTAL OFFICE REALLY AND TRULY DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH LAND AROUND IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIGURES OUT WHERE ALL THIS LAND IS, BECAUSE THERE IS A SERVITUDE BACK THERE THAT IS FOR DRAINAGE IS FOR THE UTILITY PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO USE THAT SERVITUDE, BUT THEY HAVE TO KEEP IT OPEN.
BUT I MEAN, UM, DOES THE, DOES THE OWNER OF THE NEW BUSINESS THINK THAT THAT SERVITUDE IS JUST CARTE BLANCHE LAND THAT CAN JUST BE USED FOR WHATEVER? THE OTHER THING IS, WHERE DID THE CARS PARK? THERE IS PARKING IN THESE OTHER TWO BUSINESSES, BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT, UM, THEY DON'T WANT ANY OVERFLOW PARKING.
HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAPPEN WHERE LOUD MUSIC COMING FROM, CARS THAT ARE PARKED CLOSE TO THE RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE BEFORE ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE SAY THAT WE MADE A MISTAKE IN REZONING THIS.
I MEAN, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE TO REALIZE THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, PEOPLE HAVE BUSINESSES, AND THESE BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF SYNERGY.
AND IF THERE'S A LOT OF, IF THIS CORRIDOR WAS PRESENTED FOR THAT ONE MAIN REASON TO HAVE IT A VIBRANT PLACE, AND HE'S ALREADY MENTIONED THESE OTHER PLACES, WHY WOULDN'T HE WANT TO GET ON THAT THOROUGHFARE AND KNOW THAT HE'S GOT CARTE BLANCHE PEOPLE TO COME TO HIS THING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, RATHER THAN, UH, TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE PULLING IN AND HAVING TO GO OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A FIVE LANE ROAD.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR CATHERINE FRY.
UM, I GRADUATED FROM MCKINLEY HIGH AND HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF BATON ROUGE FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I TOO AM A BUSINESS OWNER JUST LIKE THE MAN WHO IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO START HIS BUSINESS HERE.
UM, BUT SADLY, I DO HAVE TO OPPOSE THIS.
UM, I BOUGHT MY HOUSE ON VILLE STREET TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 24 YEARS OLD.
I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO PURCHASE MY FIRST HOME, AND THE CRIME THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED THERE HAS BEEN TERRIFYING AND DISCOURAGING.
UM, I MEAN, EVEN LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, WE HAD SOMEONE OVER OPEN FIRING A WEAPON ON OUR STREET.
UM, I HAVE HAD MY CAR BROKEN INTO IN MY DRIVEWAY TWO TIMES.
UM, I HAVE SEEN A MAN ARRESTED ON HIS STOMACH IN MY FRONT YARD OUT OF MY FRONT WINDOW.
I MEAN, TWO YEARS OF LIVING HERE.
AND AS A YOUNG FEMALE, UM, IT HAS BEEN TERRIFYING.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT ADDING ALCOHOL AND MY LOT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND THIS BUSINESS, BY THE WAY, DIRECTLY BEHIND.
SO I WOULD BE, I MEAN, MY PRIVACY IS A BIG CONCERN AS WELL, BUT ADDING ALCOHOL INTO AN AREA WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE, UM, A PRETTY BIG CRIME ISSUE, I'M, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT THAT COULD HAVE.
UM, WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOME, THE LOT WAS LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT IN MY BACKYARD, I HAVE A GARDEN WHERE I GROW MY OWN VEGETABLES AND MY OWN FOOD.
I ALSO HAVE A BACKYARD BLOCK OF CHICKENS THAT PROVIDE, UM, A SOURCE OF PROTEIN FOR ME.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLLUTION AS WELL.
THAT WOULD COME FROM A BUSINESS LIKE THIS.
BEING DIRECTLY BEHIND MY BACK FENCE, MY BEDROOM IS LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM THIS BUSINESS.
SO TRYING TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT THAT WOULD HAVE FOR ME BEING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, HAVING MUSIC AT NIGHT.
UM, REALLY, REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, YEAH, I CAN, I CAN GO ON AND ON.
UM, I, I AM ALSO WONDERING, LIKE SOME OF THEM HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT THE INTENDED PARKING SPACE WOULD BE.
UM, I HAVE SEEN MORE PEOPLE THAN I CAN COUNT, DRIVE DOWN THE RUN ONE WAY OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
UM, SO I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT WHERE THIS PARKING WOULD BE, UM, AS WELL AS, WOULD THERE BE ANY ATTEMPT AT PRIVACY BETWEEN THESE HOMES THAT ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND HIS, UH, RESTAURANT? BECAUSE FROM MY KITCHEN WINDOW IN MY BATHROOM WINDOW, I CAN SEE HIS ENTIRE LOT AND THEY CAN SEE ME, UM, FROM MY BACK PORCH AS WELL.
I WOULD HAVE TO FUND A 10 FOOT PRIVACY FENCE IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY SORT OF PRIVACY.
UM, I HAVE A POOL IN MY BACKYARD.
[00:30:01]
FEMALE.OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PRIVACY.
UM, YOU HAVE ABOUT 10 SECONDS.
AND THEN I THINK ALSO WHAT THEY SAID, JUST THE OTHER BUSINESSES ON HIS SIDE OF FOSTER ARE NOT RESTAURANTS AND THEY DEFINITELY DON'T SERVE ALCOHOL.
SO IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE, UM, OUT OF PLACE FOR ME.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR PHILIP MARKS.
UH, I HAVE LIVED AT, UH, I'M A, AT 6 4 2 BIENVILLE STREET FOR, UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.
AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SAY, UH, THAT I OPPOSE, UH, THIS REZONING.
THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF REPETITION WITH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE.
SO I GENERALLY, I, I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS KIND OF CONCEPT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, BUT I JUST THINK THAT, UH, OUR LITTLE STREET, UH, OF BIENVILLE ULTIMATELY WILL BE, UH, THE LOSERS, UH, IN THIS REZONING.
UM, AND THE REASON I THINK THAT IS ALSO RELATED TO, UH, THE RECENT BUSINESS OPENINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, ON THE STREET, WHICH AGAIN, HAVE EXACERBATED THE USE OF VIEN, UH, AS A UNINTENDED, UH, THROUGHWAY, UH, IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE FREQUENTLY SPEEDING.
UM, AND I THINK WE BEAR THAT BURDEN IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS UPSTREAM RESIDENTS OR UPSTREAM ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE THE Y M C A, UM, DO NOT.
SO I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE PARKING CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BEFORE, UH, MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FOSTER IS A, IT'S A FOUR-LANE ROAD, AND SO IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR, FOR NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC, UM, TO TAKE A LEFT INTO, UH, SAID, PARKING FOR THIS NEW ESTABLISHMENT.
AND SO WHAT I FORESEE HAPPENING, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH, UH, THESE OTHER BUSINESSES IS THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE A LEFT ON CAPITOL HEIGHTS AND THEN TAKE A RIGHT ONTO BIENVILLE STREET.
AND, AND AGAIN, I I THINK THAT'S, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE, UH, ON OUR STREET WILL, WILL BEAR THE, UH, BURDENS OF.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR JANINE SMITH.
I LIVE AT 5 5 5 BIENVILLE STREET.
I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE JANUARY, 2018.
AND, UM, SADLY I'M OPPOSED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, NOT BECAUSE I'M ANTI-BUSINESS.
UM, AND NOT THAT I DON'T THINK MR. TIMMEL IS DELIGHTFUL AND SEEMS LIKE A WONDERFUL PERSON.
UM, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF A BUSINESS BEING OPEN IN THE EVENING HOURS AND SERVING ALCOHOL AND HAVING OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT AND PEOPLE DINING AND LOITERING OUTSIDE, WE, UM, HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE GOVERNMENT STREET SIDE OF BIENVILLE WITH PEOPLE LOITERING, HANGING OUT IN THE PARKING LOTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT OPEN NEIGHBORHOOD ON B.GOV, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE HOTBED OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT BLOCKS EITHER WAY ON GOVERNMENT STREET IS ALL LOCATED RIGHT AROUND PHIL BRADY'S, UM, THE JACK IN THE BOX IN THE VAPE SHOP.
AND THERE IS NO OTHER, UH, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT COMES NEAR WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
SO WE HAVE CONCERNS, AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THESE BUSINESSES ARE OPEN AFTER HOURS, UM, IN PHIL BRADY'S, UH, CASE, THEY'RE ALSO SERVING ALCOHOL AND, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING OUTSIDE TO SMOKE.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE LEVEL, ABOUT FOOT TRAFFIC, ABOUT PEOPLE HANGING OUT, LOITERING AND DRINKING AND, UM, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO THAT WAS REALLY, I DIDN'T WANNA REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID, ALTHOUGH I DO AGREE WITH THEM.
BUT I DID WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SINCE THE VAPE SHOP LOCATED, AND THERE ARE AFTER HOURS.
SO NOW IT'S KIND OF BECOME THREE AFTER HOURS BUSINESSES THAT ARE ATTRACTING PEOPLE LATE IN THE EVENINGS JUST TO HANG OUT.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR BODO KLAUS.
[00:35:02]
I'M A REAL ESTATE WORKER, AND I'M A GENERAL CONTRACTOR HAVING DONE A LOT OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN BAT AVENUE THROUGH THE YEARS BEGINNING IN CAPITAL HEIGHTS IN 1970.WE BOUGHT UP A LOT OF OLD HOUSES AND FIXED THEM UP.
WE OWN APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS, AND IT'S ALL FIRST CLASS AND AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING THIS MORNING, AND I DIDN'T, DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE THREE MINUTE LIMITATION, SO I WAS PREPARED TO MAKE MY CASE, BUT I CAN'T DO IT IN THREE MINUTES.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY IT TO CONDENSE IT FOR YOU.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A QUOTE UNQUOTE ASRA ON A LOT THAT'S 40 FEET WIDE AND 120 FOOT DEEP.
I MEAN, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THERE'S NO, NO WAY TO WORK OUT ON ANY REASONABLE PARKING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE EXISTING BUILDING THE STAIRWAY TO IT, IT'S 10 FOOT FROM SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE, SO THE ONLY PARKING THEY CAN HAVE IN A REAR AND ONE OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS BESIDES PARKING, IT'S GOING TO BE ACCESS FOR DELIVERY TRUCKS.
IT, IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM, FOOL.
SO I'M OPPOSING THIS APPLICATION ON THE GROUNDS, THE NUMBER ONE OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN HER YEAR TODAY.
I THINK THE APPLICATION IS ERRONEOUS IN MANY RESPECTS, IN, I'M CERTAINLY PLANNING ON PURSUING THAT IF WE HAD TO APPROVE IT.
AND SO THAT'D BE MY FIRST COMPLAINT.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, SIR.
BUT IN 30 SECONDS, I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE, WE JUST SPEND A LOT OF MONEY IMPROVING GOVERNMENT STREET ON CAPITOL HEIGHTS FOR PEDESTRIAN YOUTH, THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO WALK THEIR DOGS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND ALL THAT.
AND WHAT YOU GOING TO PUT THIS ON A 40, 120 FOOT LOT IN WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO IMPROVE FOR 30 YEARS AND SPEND THOUSANDS UP THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF THEIR OWN MONEY TO IMPROVE.
THIS THING IS NOT GOING TO FIT.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR CHARLES SCH.
MY NAME IS CHARLES SHAW, 6 6 1 BIENVILLE STREET.
I'VE OWNED MY HOME HERE FOR NINE YEARS.
I REALLY LIKE THE QUIET CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S QUIET THAT IS PROTECTED BY THE CURRENT LIGHT COMMERCIAL C ONE BUFFER ON SOUTH FOSTER REZONING 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER TO C A B ONE WOULD BLOW A GAP TOOTH ZONING HOLE IN ITS BUFFER.
RATHER THAN BEING A BUFFER TO NOISE AND RESIDENCE, IT WOULD CREATE A SOURCE OF NOISE.
GOING FROM A QUIET DENTIST OFFICE TO ANNOY OUTDOOR RESTAURANT.
SERVING ALCOHOL WILL BE A HUGE CHANGE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DYNAMICS.
THIS PROPERTY BORDERS MY BACKYARD DIRECTLY AND ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF BIENVILLE STREET SEPARATED ONLY BY A LOW FENCE.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTANT AND LATE NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION COOKING AND GRILLING SMELLS AND ALCOHOL BEING SERVED IN OUR OPEN AIR IN AN OPEN AIR SETTING IN OUR BACKYARDS.
THE APPLICATION STAFF REPORT NOTES THAT THIS LOT AT 4,800 SQUARE FEET DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM SIZE REQUIREMENT OF 7,500 SQUARE FEET FOR A LOT WITHIN C A B ONE ZONE, AS REQUIRED BY THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES 33 1 0 1 AND FOLLOWING, AND PARTICULARLY 33 1 1 2.
THIS REZONING IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THAT REQUIREMENT.
STAFF REPORT ALSO SAYS THIS REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN'S FIRST RECOMMENDATION FOR MID-CITY IS TO FOCUS REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ON GOVERNMENT STREET AND FLORIDA BOULEVARD.
IN A RECENT BUSINESS REPORT, A STORY, THE APPLICANT CITED EXAMPLES OF THE TYPE OF RESTAURANT HE'S PLANNING.
[00:40:01]
AGAIN, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, ALL OF THEM ARE ON GOVERNMENT STREET.NEW RESTAURANTS FAIL AT AN ALARMING 70 PLUS PERCENT RATE.
REZO REZONING WILL PERMANENTLY CHANGE THE PROSPECT OR INTRODUCE THE PROSPECT OF TURNOVER AND INSTABILITY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF CITY PLANNING AND THE VISION AND STABILITY IT PROVIDES.
I MADE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT OF MY LIFE, MY HOME, BASED ON THE C ONE ZONING.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO AN OPEN AIR RESTAURANT SERVING ALCOHOL.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECOMMENDS PLANNING AND ZONING FOCUS REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ON GOVERNMENT STREET AND FLORIDA BOULEVARD.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR COLEMAN BROWN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF 8 3 6 BUTAN STREET, ABOUT THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE SITE.
I'VE LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE, 76 YEARS.
I'VE SERVED AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CAPITAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE FORMED IT 30 YEARS AGO, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THIS AREA, FLORIDA BOULEVARD DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
I WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THAT AS WELL.
UH, AND THE CAPITAL, UH, MID-CITY MERCHANTS.
WE HAD A, UH, COMMITTEE FOR THIS, UH, REDO OF GOVERNMENT STREET, AND I SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE.
AND I WANT THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION.
UM, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES I'VE SEEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
UM, FOR THIS CONFLICT TO OCCUR, MY WIFE AND I PICK UP LITTER DAILY IN FRONT OF THIS PARTICULAR SITE AND ALONG GOVERNMENT STREET DOWN TO CA ANDROSS AND BEYOND.
AND, UH, THE, UH, CRAWFISH OPERATION RESTAURANT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.
WE PICK UP TONS OF LITTER FROM, FROM THAT ORGANIZATION THERE AS WELL.
BODO KLAUS DIDN'T MENTION IT, BUT HIS OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH WON NUMEROUS ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS.
I BELIEVE BODO WAS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
IT IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
UM, GOVERNMENT STREET'S COME A LONG WAY, SO HAS CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
WE HAVE ASKED THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN MY CAPACITY ON THOSE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'VE CHAIRED FOR A LIGHT AT CAPITOL HEIGHTS, WHICH IS ABOUT MAYBE A HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS THERE AT CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
I GUESS Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT.
CAPITOL HEIGHTS AND SOUTH FOSTER, LOTS OF LOUD CARS AND MUFFLERS, UH, SPEEDERS GO DOWN THAT STREET ALL THE TIME.
SO WE REALLY HAVE A CONFLICT HERE WITH THIS LAND USE BEFORE YOU AND, UH, RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THEIR, UH, RELOCATION.
THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY ON GOVERNMENT STREET OR FLORIDA FOR THEM TO COME AND, AND START A NICE NEW RESTAURANT, WHICH WE ALL AGREE IS WOULD BE NICE.
WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARDS THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION, BUT DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
THOSE ARE FOR HEIDI, KLAUS AND BEVERLY MAY.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
UH, JUST A COUPLE POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.
SOUTH FOSTER IS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY.
UH, ONE THING THAT I DID FAIL TO MENTION, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, IS ON THE CORNER OF, UM, CLAY CUT AND SOUTH FOSTER.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A CONDOMINIUM THERE, UM, WHICH I HAVE MY MOTHER AGING IN PLACE, SO I'M EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRIDOR AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTS.
UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEY AND CRIME AND WHAT HAVE YOU, I'M NOT SURE, UM, UH, TO WHAT EXTENT THAT FOLKS ARE, UM, ALLEGING.
I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH, THAT AS A, UH, RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR AND ONE THAT DOES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE CURRENT ZONE, THE CURRENT ZONING OF C ONE DOES ALLOW FOR, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING, WHICH I'VE ALSO CONSIDERED IN THAT AREA.
SO WHEN I HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, UM, CRIME AND WHAT HAVE YOU, UM, I WOULD JUST CAUTION RESIDENTS THAT IT IS OWNED AND IT'S GONNA BE REDEVELOPED.
THE CURRENT SITE, AGAIN, IS NOT ONE THAT IS, UM, GEARED TOWARDS A YOUNGER CROWD, A ROBUST CROWD, UM, AT BEING 52 YEARS OLD, MY WIFE BEING 51, OFTENTIMES WE LOOK FOR PLACES THAT WE CAN GO EAT, UM, UH, DRINK, UH, AND THEN GO AHEAD AND GO HOME.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE, UM, ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WE MENTIONED ON GOVERNMENT STREET, IT IS JUST THAT THEY'RE NOT ROWDY, THEY'RE NOT, UH, RAMBUNCTIOUS.
FOLKS CAN GO THERE, EAT AND UH, LEAVE.
UM, AND LASTLY, I'LL SAY THAT, UM, IN THAT AREA, WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BIENVILLE, WHICH I DO RESPECT
[00:45:01]
THE NEIGHBORS BEING ON THAT STREET, UM, THE WAY THAT THE, THE LOT WAS DESIGNED, UH, AND CORRECTING MR. KLAUS, IT'S NOT A 40 BY ONE 20, IT'S THREE LOTS THAT IT SITS ON.SO IT'S ACTUALLY ONE 20 BY ONE 20.
I AM AWARE THAT MR. KLAUSER HAS HAD, UM, SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THE CURRENT, UH, DOCTOR, THE DENTIST THAT OWNS THE RED, THE PLACE THAT I BOUGHT, WHICH I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
AND SO, UM, BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT ATMOSPHERE, A GREAT LOCATION.
UM, I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH MID, MID-CITY MERCHANTS AND FEEL THAT WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING THERE WOULD JUST ADD TREMENDOUS VALUE TO, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT MID-CITY IS BEING REDEVELOPED TO BE IN THIS CURRENT STATE.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT, MR. DIRECTOR, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY C ONE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW A RESTAURANT BY, RIGHT? AM I CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THE, THE CONCERN HERE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS WHETHER THAT RESTAURANT HAS ALCOHOL OR DOESN'T HAVE ALCOHOL, BUT NOT WHETHER IT CAN BE A RESTAURANT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE OTHER THING WAS, SPEAKING OF THE ALCOHOL, UH, SOMEONE BROUGHT UP THE 7,500 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM LOT SIZE, THAT DOES CREATE AN ISSUE.
NOW, IF ALL THREE OF THOSE LOTS TAKEN TOGETHER, WOULD THAT NOT CONSTITUTE THE 7,500 SQUARE FEET? SO THESE ARE EXISTING LOTS OF RECORD.
UH, THEY'RE CLASSIFIED AS LEGAL NON-CONFORMING LOTS.
THE CHANGE OR THE POTENTIAL CHANGE IN ZONING TO BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT DOES NOT INCREASE THE EXTENT OF THE NON-CONFORMITY OF THESE LOTS.
AND, UH, PHIL BRADY'S WAS BROUGHT UP, THAT'S A CAV TWO, IS THAT CORRECT? NOT A CAV ONE.
THEY OPERATE AS A BAR AND LOUNGE.
UM, CAN THE, UH, CAN THE, UH, APPLICANT COME FORWARD, PLEASE FOR A MOMENT? UH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS? UM, NOT ON BIENVILLE.
BUT I DID GO TO, UM, MID-CITY MERCHANTS, RIGHT.
AND I TALKED TO OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS.
I DIDN'T MAKE MY WAY AROUND TO, UM, THE RESIDENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY, UH, MR. GROUT.
AND SO, UM, I DID, WHEN I ATTENDED MID-CITY MERCHANTS, UM, ONE OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES DID, DID, UM, TELL ME THAT THERE WAS SOME CONCERN FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
AND, UM, AND THAT WAS THIS PAST THURSDAY.
AND SO BETWEEN THURSDAY AND TODAY, I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO SPEAK TO THOSE RESIDENTS, BUT I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS AND, UM, AND HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH, UM, THE MID-CITY MERCHANTS GROUP.
WELL, THE, THE REASON I ASK IS, IS THAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD HAD BROUGHT UP PROXIMITY TO THIS SITE.
AND IF YOU ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MS. FRY, IS THAT THE YES.
THERE'S A HOUSE THAT LITERALLY, AND IT MAY BE YOURS THAT IS ALMOST ON THE PROPERTY LINE IN THE BACK.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S OF CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH PLANNING AND NOT SPECIFICS OR WHERE TRAFFIC'S GONNA BE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT YOU HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS WHO ARE QUITE CLOSE TO YOU.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BEHOOVE YOU TO TALK WITH THEM, SEE WHAT THEIR, UH, CONCERNS ARE AND HOW YOU CAN HELP ADDRESS 'EM.
A RESTAURANT CAN GO THERE NO MATTER WHAT.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THEY DON'T WANT A RESTAURANT HERE, AND THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT US TO TRY TO MOVE IT TO GOVERNMENT STREET.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR PROPERTY, MR. GRO.
UM, AND I, I DO BELIEVE THAT IN RESPECT OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME MM-HMM.
SO I DO AGREE THAT BECAUSE RESIDENTS DO BUTT UP AGAINST IT, THERE IS A NEED.
BUT, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN, IN HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT I'VE HEARD THESE CONCERNS TONIGHT.
WELL, I THINK, I THINK THOSE CONCERNS ARE IN MANY WAYS LEGITIMATE MM-HMM.
AND I THINK THEY'RE CONCERNS THAT I THINK YOU CAN ANSWER.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT FOR US TO DECIDE HOW YOU DO THAT.
WE ARE DEALING IN A PLANNING EXERCISE AS TO WHETHER THIS, WHETHER YOU CAN HAVE ALCOHOL AT YOUR RESTAURANT OR NOT.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UM, I MEAN, IF, AND I DON'T, I I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO NEGOTIATION HERE, BUT I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR, YOUR NEW, YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AND MAYBE YOU, YOU KNOW, COME SOME AGREEMENT.
THAT'S, I'M GOING THROUGH MY, I'M GOING THROUGH MY LIST HERE.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL I'VE GOT.
SO I'LL, UH, I'LL, I'LL BE QUIET.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
[00:50:04]
UM, COUNCILMAN COLE'S DISTRICT.HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH HIM? I HAVE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, BANKS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY, UM, FIRST, UH, CALLS.
UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, AS A HOUSING DEVELOPER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT DOING WAS, UM, I, I KIND OF NEED YOU TO STICK TO OH, YEAH.
SO I DID TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.
AND WHAT DID HE SAY? UM, HE WAS FINE WITH IT.
UM, I'VE BEEN TO COUNCIL MEETINGS AND, AND TALKED TO HIM AT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND HE WAS OKAY WITH THAT.
UM, SO, BUT, AND I, I DON'T NEED TO ASK, THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU KNEW IN ADVANCE OF THE OPPOSITION, USUALLY MY SECOND QUESTION IS DID THE COUNCILMAN ARRANGED, UH, A COMMUNITY MEETING? BUT I GUESS THAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU SAY YOU WEREN'T, YOU DID NOT KNOW I THAT WAS OPPOSITION.
BUT I DID GO TO MID-CITY MERCHANTS MEETING LAST WEEK, WHICH I HOPE TO MEET SOME OF THE, UH, NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, WHICH I DID.
AND I'VE ALSO GONE TO, UM, THE FLORIDA BOULEVARD CORRIDOR, WHICH I, SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
DID, DID YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE TO THE LEFT, RIGHT, NORTH, SOUTH, THE, THE PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT YES.
THE PERSON TO THE LEFT, UM, ONE OF THE OWNERS KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE CONFLICT ALREADY EXISTING, SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MITIGATE THAT.
SO THAT WAS A, UH, UM, SPEAKER WHO SAID IT BUTTS AGAINST HER HOUSE.
SO WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION LIKE? I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON THE BACKSIDE.
ANY REASON YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THAT NEIGHBOR? UM, NO, I DIDN'T KNOW OF THE OPPOSITION.
I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THURSDAY.
NO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST AS DUE PROCESS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.
NO, UM, I DIDN'T, UM, I JUST DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
SO IN JUST HEARING, UM, YOUR PROJECT, IT SOUNDS GREAT.
WE SHOULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
UM, I WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS JUST ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OTHER, UM, ACQUIRED C A B ONE RE AND IT'S CLOSE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO, UM, TO HOUSING MM-HMM.
IF THERE'S MUSIC, IF THERE'S CHATTER, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT IT WOULD EITHER, EITHER THE PERSON, YOU'RE EITHER, UM, STIFLING THE ENJOYMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE AT YOUR RESTAURANT OR THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE, OF THE RESIDENT BEHIND YOU.
SO THAT'S WHAT, FOR ME, JUST INITIALLY DOES NOT MAKE THIS THE PROJECT, THE RIGHT PROJECT.
UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO UNLESS YOU AND THAT NEIGHBOR CAN WORK OUT FOR SOMETHING, I CANNOT EVEN JUST BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY, BE IN SUPPORT.
THE OTHER THING IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS ALREADY ZONED AS, UH, ALREADY ZONED AS C ONE AND YOU INDICATED YOU COULD DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
SO TELL ME WHAT, WHAT THAT INFER INFERENCE WAS ABOUT.
WELL, I KEEP HEARING INFERENCES ABOUT, UM, UH, COMMUNITY TRAFFIC TURNING OFF A FOSTER.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA GO THERE, MY POINT SIMPLY BEING IS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME TYPE OF TRAFFIC AND SOME TYPE OF, UM, UH, FOLKS TURNING IN AND OUT OF A FOSTER, WHICH IS A FOUR LANE, UH, HIGH OR FOUR LANE ROAD.
SO WHATEVER'S GONNA BE DONE THERE, WHICH I DON'T NEED THAT TO DO THERE.
THERE'S GONNA BE TRAFFIC EITHER WAY.
BUT THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT.
YOU ALSO INDICATED ABOUT THEY'RE MENTIONING CRIME.
SO I'VE HEARD THE CONNOTATION, UH, NUMEROUS TIMES.
NOT ONLY TONIGHT, BUT ALSO IN OTHER MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TO.
I HAVE SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WAS PASSED.
AND I'VE HEARD, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING MENTIONED CRIME, AND SOMETIMES THEY ASSOCIATE THAT WITH THAT AS WELL.
I NEVER, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT TODAY.
OH, YOU DIDN'T HEAR CRIME TODAY? I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE MAKE ANY REFERENCE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CRIME OTHER THAN YOU YEAH, THAT, WELL, THAT WAS MY, THAT WAS MY OPINION.
SO THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT I, RIGHT OFF THE BAT WILL NEVER APPROVE MM-HMM.
UM, THERE'S NO INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE, I THINK YOU'RE PING A GROUP OF PIECE OF PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR INCOME LEVEL MM-HMM.
AND SO FOR YOU TO SAY THAT ALONE, I DON'T LIKE, I WOULD NOT APPROVE IT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHERE WE GO WITH THIS.
I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DELETE THE ITEM.
I THINK YOU NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH.
UM, I THINK YOU NEED TO MEET WITH YOUR COUNCILMAN AND YOU NEED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH
[00:55:01]
HIM.AND I THINK YOU NEED TO REASSESS YOUR VALUES AND HOW YOU, UH, VIEW PEOPLE THAT AFFORDABLE LIVING.
TO ME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, AND THAT IS WHETHER YOU MAKE A THOUSAND A MONTH OR A HUNDRED THOUSAND A MONTH.
AND SO, UM, FOR ME, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DELETE THIS ITEM.
YOU REALLY NEED TO GO BACK AND I DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR BECAUSE YOU'RE IGNORING THEIR CONCERNS.
WHETHER WE AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, ALL OF THAT MATTERS TO ME.
TO, TO CLARIFY, UH, COMMISSIONER BANKS, ARE YOU, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO DENY THE ITEM TO DENY? I WISH WE COULD DELETE, BUT YEAH.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT OFF YOUR STATEMENT.
I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THAT.
SO, UM, ALL OF, I'M SENSITIVE TO ALL OF THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I REPRESENT A PEOPLE WHO, UM, HAVE BEEN, UH, CONSTANTLY THEIR, THE DIRECTION BY WHICH THEIR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN OR NOT ARE STIFLED BASED ON WHAT OTHER PEOPLE PUSHED ON US.
SO I'M EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
UM, AND IF, UM, SO FOR ME, I'D LIKE TO DENY THE ITEM TONIGHT, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
COUNCILMAN, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER BANKS TO DENY THIS ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION SAYING NONE THAT THAT MOTION FAILS? I BELIEVE WE HAVE A COMMENT BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS I'M TRYING TO FIND IN THE STAFF REPORT, YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE STAFF WAS WHAT? MR. UM, THE STEP RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CERTIFY THE, UH, PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING.
I'LL FIND IT WHEN YOU START READING IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S ONE PART I DID UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUFFER THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S A SERVITUDE IN THE BACK THEN THE APPLICANT INDICATED A SECOND OATH.
HE'S WILLING TO PUT A FENCE UP THAT FURTHER BUFFERS THE BACK PART OF THAT PROPERTY.
HOW MUCH OF THE RIGHT OF WAY IS THAT SERVITUDE? I DON'T THINK I SEE THAT ANYWHERE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT ANSWERED THAT OR SOMEONE ON THE STAFF.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN IDEA WHAT THAT BUFFER IS.
WE CAN GIVE AN A PRETTY GOOD ESTIMATE OF THE CAN YOU PLEASE MOMENT? I NEED THAT AND I'LL CONTINUE MY COMMENT WHILE YOU LOOK THAT PART UP.
THE, UM, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET, ABOUT A 15 FEET BUFFER BETWEEN THAT BACK STREET, 15 FOOT SERVITUDE ERV.
THE, UM, THE FINAL PART IS THAT ON NOT BEVILLE, LET ME SEE WHAT STREET THIS IS.
I NOTICED THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY BEHIND THIS APPLICANT.
AND GIVE ME SOME CLARITY OF WHAT B ONE ITEMS CAN GO IN B ONE.
B ONE IS AN OLD INACTIVE ZONING DISTRICT.
AND HIS PROPERTY IS LOANED AS A COMMERCIAL.
AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, AS I HEARD TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTION THAT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HE'S ACTUALLY APPLYING TO A LOT FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE IN THE RESTAURANT THAT HE'S GONNA SERVE.
SO WITH THAT, THAT MODIFIED CHANGE, IT ONLY ALLOW THAT.
BUT WITHIN THE CURRENT Z ONE, HE CAN PLACE THE RESTAURANT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SERVE ALCOHOL.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE ON A LOT OF THESE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF PERSONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO MAY MADE COMMENTS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS ARE JERMAINE TO, TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON, NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS RESTAURANT WHATSOEVER.
I MEAN, THE IDEA, IF WE CAN GO BACK, IF I HAD RESIDENTS COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE INCREASE IN CRIME IN THE AREA, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER SUBJECT MATTER REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S IT'S CREATED BY THIS INSTRUMENT, ANYTHING ELSE.
AND IF YOU DON'T GET IT APPROVED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THAT WOULD STILL EXIST AND, AND THAT WOULD MAKE A WHOLE NOTHER, UM, IMPETUS BE PLACED ON ANY APPLICANT TO SAY, WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN, AN INCREASE IN CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SHOULD NOT DO THAT.
BECAUSE THERE AGAIN, YOU YOU'RE SAYING TO HIM, AND IT'S SAYING TO US THAT WE WOULD NOT BE APPROVING ANYTHING IN THIS COURT.
ANY OTHER, I LOOK AT A LOT OF THE, UH, LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ZONING IN THAT QUARTER.
I MEAN, YOU LOOK ON CATO ON THE BACKSIDE, IT HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT ZONING CATEGORIES.
YOU ALMOST CAN'T COUNT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT'S ONE STREET OVER AND IT'S IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
YOU ON THE INFIELD SIDE FROM FOSTER CATO IS ON THE BACKSIDE OF OFF OF FOSTER AND YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT KIND OF CATEGORIES OF ZONING.
B ONE, AB ONE B TWO, BBC C ONE
[01:00:01]
A TWO B ONE A B.IT GOT SO MANY ZONES ON THE SAME STREET.
SO YOU HAVE TO DRAFT DOWN WITH HOW DO YOU GRAPH WITH TELLING THE ONE DEVELOPER BUSINESS, WHATEVER, THAT WE WON'T DO THAT.
I DID HEAR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON BEING BILL INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ARISE BY THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY.
I MEAN, COMMISSIONER ADDISON, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU MIND IF I BROUGHT SOMETHING TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR JUST A MOMENT, SIR? APPRECIATE, UH, SOMETHING I WAS INFORMED OF, UM, BY THE DIRECTOR WHEN CHATTING HIM WITH HIM.
OBVIOUSLY WE ALWAYS PROMOTE THAT, UH, EACH APPLICANT SPEAKS WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHETHER THAT'S, UH, FACILITATED THROUGH THE COUNCILMAN OR OTHER MEANS.
WE, WE ALWAYS ADVOCATE THAT SO THAT A LOT OF THE CONCERNS HAVE THE, UH, BEST OPPORTUNITY OF BEING MITIGATED, OBVIOUSLY, THAT, UH, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
APPLICANT STATED THAT THINGS WERE BROUGHT THIS ATTENTION VERY RECENTLY THAT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR MUCH TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
HOWEVER, IF WE WERE TO DEFER THIS ITEM, I BELIEVE OUR NEXT MEETING, OBVIOUSLY THIS ITEM WOULD ALSO NEED TO GET COUNCIL APPROVAL.
I BELIEVE THE MEETING THAT THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT, THAT WOULD NEED TO OCCUR AT WILL HAPPEN AFTER OUR NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING.
MEETING THAT IF WE WERE TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO ALLOW THAT, UH, THOSE COMMUNICATIONS TO TAKE PLACE, IT WOULD NOT, UH, HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE TIMELINE FOR COUNCIL DEFERRAL.
SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AS I FELT IT WAS GERMANE TO, UH, THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE RESIDENT AND SOME OF THE MISCOMMUNICATIONS OR LACK OF COMMUNI, LACK OF COMMUNICATION THAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM THUS FAR.
I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU'RE STATING THAT THE APPLICANT BETWEEN NOW AND THE COUNCIL MEETING WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEETING VOTE AND THE APPLICANT OF TONIGHT.
THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS NOVEMBER 13TH, AND THIS ITEM GOES BEFORE THE COUNCIL WAS INITIALLY SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD BY THE COUNCIL NOVEMBER 15TH.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO OVERALL DELAY IF, IF THIS BODY CHOSE TO DEFER THE ITEM.
SO WE WANT TO LABOR THIS TONIGHT.
WE CAN MAKE THE MOTION TO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS AND, AND IT'LL STILL STAY ON HIS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IF WE DECIDE TO APPROVE IT.
AND THAT WOULD AGAIN, GIVE THE APPLICANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER TALK TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND I COULD SAY TO BOTH PARTIES TO KIND OF BE OPEN TO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE USE OF HIS PROPERTY AND ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT MAY NOT BE SUBJECT OR GERMANE TO HIS APPLICANT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DEFER 30 DAYS.
I GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH RESIDENTS AND ITS COUNCIL MEMBER.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO DEFER THIS ITEM.
I BELIEVE THAT MOTION RECEIVED A SECOND, UH, FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR ANY NEED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER BOYD, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION MIGHT BE? YES.
UM, DURING, UH, THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE WEEK WITH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY STAYING OPEN, POTENTIALLY TILL EIGHT OR NINE WHERE FOLKS LIKE TO GO OUT TO EAT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AGAIN? MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO DEFERRED 30 DAYS SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEN ON THE ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.
[Items 10 & 11]
MOVE ON TO ITEMS 10 AND 11.THESE TWO ITEMS CAN BE, MUST BE TAKEN TOGETHER.
ITEMS 10 CASE 63 23 2 0 5 KIMBRO AVENUE.
AND ITEM 11, POD 1 23 BENTON, FORMERLY THE VILLAGE AT MAGNOLIA WOODS.
2 0 5 KIMBRO AVENUE RELATED TO PUD 1 23 BENTON, FORMERLY THE VILLAGE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS CONCEPT PLAN.
REVISION PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF KIMBRO DRIVE, SOUTH OF MENLO DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCCO.
FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT P WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A ONE FOR REMOVAL FROM THE VILLAGE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PUD 1 23 BENTON.
FORMERLY THE VILLAGE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS CONCEPT PLANNER.
VISION PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIGHLAND ROAD EAST OF MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE COUNCIL, DISTRICT 12 ROCKA.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A REVISION OF THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE PUD CONCEPT PLAN AND RELOCATION OF A, A VEHICULAR CONNECTION FROM KIMBRO DRIVE TO MAGNOLIA WOODS AVENUE.
FUTURE VR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER CASE 63 23 2 0 5 KIMBRO AVENUE RELATED TO POD OF 1 23.
BENTON, FORMERLY THE VILLAGE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS CONCEPT PLAN REVISION STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REZONING REQUEST MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR OUR CHANGE OF ZONING, BEING CONSISTENT
[01:05:01]
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.STAFF ALSO CERTIFIES THE PROPOSED, UH, PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT REVISION MEETS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT BEING COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED 13 MESSAGES IN OPPOSITION TO THESE TWO ITEMS AND TWO IN SUPPORT.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
I'M THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROJECT AND, UH, WE'VE, UH, PRESENTED THIS TWICE BEFORE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNSEL IS, UM, FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROJECT.
THE TWO CHANGES THAT WE ARE, UH, ASKING FOR TONIGHT ARE, UH, FIRST THE NAME CHANGE FROM VILLAGE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS TO BENTON AT MAGNOLIA WOODS, AND, UH, THE CONNECTION, UH, FROM KIMBRO, MOVING THAT OVER TO MAGNOLIA WOODS.
UM, I'LL BE HERE, UH, LATER TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, IF ANYONE HAS ANY.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR MATT ESTO.
I'M ASSUMING YOU DON'T NEED TO GO, UH, THEODORE CASH.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
I'M IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I LIVE ON 3 4 5 BAIRD DRIVE.
UH, MY HOME IS ONE STREET OVER FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, UH, AT THE, UH, MENLO AND BAIRD INTERSECTION.
I, UH, YEAH, I AGREE WITH, UH, SOME OF MY NEIGHBOR'S CONCERNS INSOFAR AS LIKE THE, UH, I HOPE THE FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT IS PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED.
UM, WHERE I DO DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THEM IS MUCH OF THE OTHER, UH, CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE.
UH, THERE ARE TWO BUS STOPS DIRECTLY, UH, ADJOINING IN OFFICE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
I'D APPRECIATE IF THE DEVELOPER COULD, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR TWO NICE COVERED BUS STOPS.
THE, UH, PROTRAN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION RIDE.
NEW ORLEANS HAS PRODUCED A GREAT DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE ABOUT THIS.
UM, ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUMS. NEAR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS HAS NOW BEEN LEGALIZED IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA, UM, AS WELL AS RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA AND MINNEAPOLIS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE BATON ROUGE TO FOLLOW SUIT.
UH, GROWTH IS INEVITABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS INFILL DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS THE PROPOSED, UH, WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR BEAUTI, SORRY.
BEAUTIFUL NATURAL AREAS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, UH, PROTECTED.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, I APPRECIATE THE MIXED USE, UH, CHARACTER OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, SAMMY'S AND GEORGE'S ARE FINE RESTAURANTS, BUT AN ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD PUB OPEN LATE AND IN WALKING DISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ME AND A FEW OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO.
JUST TWO, UH, ADDITIONALLY, MAYBE SOME RED PAINT STRIPING ON, UH, NEARBY BLOCKS TO IDENTIFY WHERE PARKING IS AND ISN'T LEGAL WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO AVOID CONFLICTS.
UH, WORKING PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE ARE GETTING HIT HARD BY INFLATION AND INCREASING RENTS AND ADDITIONAL HOUSING SUPPLY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PATH FORWARD TO, UH, REDUCING THAT IMPACT.
I FEEL THIS MOSTLY SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND ALL NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN BATON ROUGE COULD GO EVEN FURTHER IN THE DIRECTION OF MIXING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT, GREATER DENSITY AND, UH, MORE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY.
UH, SO I SAY, UH, YES IN MY BACKYARD AND, UH, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE, UH, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER COURTS THAT ARE IN FAVOR BUT DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
I'LL READ THOSE NAMES IN FOR THE RECORD.
EDDIE CARTER, ELLA DIGBY, DOROTHY MAJOR, MIKE ALLEN, SALLY ALLEN, RYAN BETTEN COURT, AND TYLER HALLMAN.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER CORD IS FOR JENNIFER DIETZ.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I HAVE LIVED IN MAGWOOD SINCE 2016.
I'M ALSO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MAGNOLIA WOODS CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN A FAMILY CENTRIC OASIS IN BATON ROUGE SINCE ITS ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE 1950S.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BAT WOODS HAS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE AN EXCITING REVIVAL WITH THE INFLUX OF YOUNG GROWING FAMILIES.
I WISH YOU COULD SEE A SUMMER DAY IN MAG WOODS BIKE AND SCOOTER GANGS OF KIDS ROLL FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE TO THE POOL TO THE CREEK, AND BACK AGAIN.
THEY COME HOME TAN AND TIRED AND HUNGRY.
MAG WOODS IS WHAT A NEIGHBORHOOD AND A CHILDHOOD SHOULD BE, AND IT'S WHAT WE WANT TO PROTECT.
IN AUGUST, THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION ADOPTED A BOARD RESOLUTION OPPOSING ANY
[01:10:01]
VEHICULAR OUTLETS INTO MAG WOODS BESIDES HIGHLAND ROAD.BUT AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THAT BATTLE, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT REALITY BECAUSE THE REALITY IS I CAN STAND UP HERE UNTIL I'M BLUE IN THE FACE, ALONG WITH THE OTHER 700 RESIDENTS OF MAD WOODS AND TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T WANT ANY OUTLETS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE CITY WILL VOTE AGAINST US.
I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I CAN SWALLOW THAT REALITY, BUT DO Y'ALL NEED TO STRONGLY CONSIDER AND FACE THE OTHER REALITIES? THE REALITY IS THAT MAG WOODS IS NOT BUILT TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS JUST WIDE ENOUGH FOR CARS TO SQUEEZE PAST EACH OTHER WITHOUT FALLING INTO DITCHES.
ALL OF OUR STREETS ARE LIKE THAT.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE EXIT ONTO MAGWOOD, BARELY A HUNDRED FEET FROM HIGHLAND, IS REALLY JUST A THIRD EXIT ONTO HIGHLAND.
GO TURN ONTO HIGHLAND FROM MAG WOODS AND TELL ME THAT'S A SAFE INTERSECTION.
IT'S NARROW AND VISIBILITY IS SHALLOW.
I KEEP HEARING THE RESULTS OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY ARE THAT IT'S JUST 300 CARS A DAY, WHICH IS ONLY 10, 12 CARS AN HOUR.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THAT TRAFFIC WILL COME IN AND OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
OUR KIDS ARE WAITING FOR THE BUS, ARE GOING TO SWIM AND PRACTICE, AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GOING FOR WALKS.
MED WOODS IS A TERRIBLE PLACE TO PUT AN EXIT.
IF YOU ASKED ME WHAT I WANT, MY ANSWER WOULD BE NO OUTLETS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IF YOU TELL ME I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, WHICH I KNOW TO BE THE INEVITABLE WRITING ON THE WALL, I WOULD LIKE THIS PLUG DENIED.
AND I WANT THE CITY TO WORK WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND MR. GHOST TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION.
NOW, PROBLEMS WITHOUT SOLUTIONS JUST STAY PROBLEMS. ONE SIMPLE WAY TO FIX ALL OF THIS IS TO PUT A DEAD END ON KIMBRO AND EXIT THE BENTON DEVELOPMENT TO STARRING LANE.
THE CITY GETS THE THIRD EXIT IT WANTS.
IT'S NOT A THIRD EXIT ON THE HIGHLAND.
AND OUR FOLKS THAT LIVE ON KIMBRO GET A SOLUTION TO THEIR CURRENT TRAFFIC AND SPEEDING PROBLEM WITH A DEAD END STREET.
IT'S WHAT GENERA ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
THAT IS ONE OF MANY VIABLE SOLUTIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY APPEASE ALL OF THE PARTIES.
I AND JEN ROCKER ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US.
PLEASE VOTE THIS PUT DOWN AND LET'S FIND A BETTER SOLUTION.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR ANNETTE ABER.
MY HUSBAND AND I, HIS NAME IS D**E.
WE LIVE AT THREE 30 MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE.
WE ARE, UM, SADLY HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL THE GREAT WOODS THAT WERE BEHIND OUR HOUSE, WHICH WAS THE REASON WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE IN 1995.
YOU WANT TO BRING, THEY WANT TO BRING AN INORDINATE AND INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ONTO MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE, JUST A COUPLE OF DOORS DOWN FROM WHERE WE LIVE, AND WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
AND ONE IS THAT THERE'S A BUSINESS THAT'S LOCATED ON MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE AT 3 21, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM THAT LOCATION ON A DAILY BASIS, SIX DAYS A WEEK.
THAT IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE AREA ALREADY.
AND THAT'S WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET OF THE PROPOSED OUTLET THAT YOU WANT TO PUT.
WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR RIGHT THERE THAT ACTUALLY CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY AT TIMES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AT THAT LOCATION COME AND PARK CARS IN THEIR DRIVEWAY OR BLOCK THE STREET TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN BECAUSE THE STREET IS ALREADY SO NARROW.
SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE IT JUST IS ALREADY A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SPEED BUMPS TO NO AVAIL ON THAT, ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD FOR YEARS, BECAUSE PEOPLE, BUSES, TRUCKS, DELIVERY, EVERYBODY IGNORES THE 25 PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT SIGNS UP AND DOWN.
MAGNOLIA WOULD AND JUST ZOOM ON THROUGH AT 40, 45 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD.
AND AS STATE PREVIOUSLY STATED, THERE ARE CHILDREN, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH PETS, THERE ARE ELDERLY.
I'M AN ELDERLY AND IT, I HAVE TO ASK A QUESTION.
WE'VE BEEN PAYING TAXES ON OUR HOME SINCE 1995, AND I THOUGHT THE PURPOSE OF PROPERTY TAXES WERE TO FUND THE CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE WORKING FOR US.
DO YOU WORK FOR US? WHO DO YOU WORK FOR? DO YOU WORK FOR US? WE'RE PAYING THE TAXES THAT I THINK PAY YOU.
PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THIS TO GO OUT ONTO MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THERE.
AND AS I'VE PREVIOUSLY NOTED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I WATCHED MY 90 YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR JUMP IN A DITCH IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE AROUND 1998.
[01:15:01]
AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT TO HAVE THESE CARS THROUGH HERE.AND YOU'RE GONNA PUT MORE AT, LIKE SHE SAID, DURING REALLY PEAK BUSINESS TIMES.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 15 SECONDS, MA'AM.
I ALSO HAD SUGGESTED TO MR. GOS THAT IF WE COULD POSSIBLY TURN THIS INTO THREE QUARTER, HALF ACRE LOTS IN THERE AND KEEP THE DEVELOPMENT DOWN TO 15 TO 20 HOMES INSTEAD OF THE PROPOSED 70 ON MICRO UNITS OR JUST BILL LIKE THEY DID RIGHT THERE ON HIGHLAND ROAD.
WITH TWO AND $3 MILLION HOMES.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR LINDA FOWLER.
I HAVE A BIT OF ALLERGY PROBLEM TODAY.
AND I'M LINDA FOWLER AND MY HUSBAND AND I, AND HE'S PAUL KEMP, AND I THINK HE'S BEEN WORKING ON SOMETHING WITH THE DRAINAGE, SO, BUT THAT'S, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT PART.
BUT WE HAVE LIVED IN OUR HOME AT 6 33 MAGNOLIA WOOD AVENUE SINCE 1990.
IN FACT, I THINK TODAY IS THE, UM, 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN WE EITHER CLOSED OR MOVED IN.
SO, AND BEFORE THAT, I HAD LIVED ON MENLO FOR 10 YEARS, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
SO I HAVE OWNED BOTH OF THOSE HOMES IN MAGNOLIA WOOD.
AND I'M, I'M AN ATTORNEY, RETIRED, BUT I MAY HAVE RUN INTO SOME OF YOU WHO MAY BE ATTORNEYS.
I TAUGHT AT BOTH L S U AND I HELPED START THE EVENING PROGRAM AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WITH THEN CHANCELLOR JUDGE PICTURE.
SO I HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONNECTED TO BATON ROUGE, HAVING GROWN UP, HAD MY WHOLE CAREER HERE.
AND I WAS SO GLAD WHEN WE HAD OUR TWO BOYS THAT WE COULD RAISE THEM IN MAGNOLIA WOODS, LIKE THE OTHER LADIES HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
WE WERE ABLE TO WALK THEM WITH STROLLERS AND TEACH 'EM TO RIDE BIKES AND ALL.
THE THE STREETS ARE SO NARROW.
I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THEY'RE COMING OVER.
'CAUSE YOU REALLY CANNOT PARK ON THE STREET MUCH LESS GET AROUND A CAR.
SO WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND A LOT OF DITCHES THERE.
AND I, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT WITH THIS MANY 77 UNITS OR 70 UNITS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC ON MAGNOLIA WOOD BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL CUT THROUGH MAGNOLIA WOOD TO GO THROUGH WALDEN AND GET TO PERKINS.
OR MAYBE THEY WON'T WANT TO WAIT AT THE TWO HIGHLAND OUTLETS.
THEY WILL WANT TO GO ON TO MAGNOLIA WOOD AND GO ON THEIR WAY TO WORK TO SCHOOL, MAYBE BRINGING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE ANOTHER TRIP HOME.
THEN AGAIN, IF YOU'RE PICKING UP YOUR KIDS, YOU GO BACK OUT.
SO I KNOW WHAT IS INVOLVED, HAVING BEEN BOTH A TEACHER AND A MOTHER GOING AND PICKING UP KIDS AND ALSO DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ALSO PEOPLE, THIS IS A NICE SHORTCUT TO KENNELWORTH.
AND THEN ON TO EITHER HIGHLAND OR AGAIN TO PERKINS OR TO MENLOW ON HIGH, I MEAN ON MAGNOLIA WOOD TO STARRING I I'M SORRY MA'AM.
CAN I JUST HAVE 15 SECONDS? I GIVE YOU 10 SECONDS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET A LAWYER UP HERE? YES, I, OKAY.
I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY HELP IT, HELP US KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A SAFE PLACE.
I HAVE ANOTHER SON WHO LIVES BEHIND ME.
HE RUNS TWO OR THREE HOURS A DAY.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT HE'S AN ENGINEER AND, AND MY OTHER SON AND I OWN ANOTHER HOUSE IN MAGNO.
SO HELP US KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE LISTENING ATTENTIVELY.
[01:20:01]
NAME'S ELLA.I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF BATON ROUGE.
GREW UP IN THE GARDEN DISTRICT.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED ON THE CORNER OF CASTLE CORK AND CHANDLER A FEW BLOCKS DOWN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
OUR KIDS ARE ON THEIR BIKES EVERY DAY.
I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE TOPIC OF CONNECTIVITY IS THAT IS A NICE BUZZWORD WE HEAR ALL THE TIME.
UM, AS A 37 YEAR OLD, I AM THE FACE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS.
ON MY BLOCK ALONE, THERE ARE 23 CHILDREN AND COUNTING ON MY SINGLE STRETCH OF THE BLOCK ALONE.
UM, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT CONNECTIVITY.
UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT DOUBLE STANDARDS IN BATON ROUGE REGARDING THE CITY APPROVING CONNECTIVITY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS OFF OF HIGHLAND.
UH, NOT LIMITED TO, BUT INCLUDING UNIVERSITY HILLS PLANTATION TRACE, KNOX HILL, WOODSTONE WOOD GAS, THE NEW, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD OF SLE, CHASE, VALHALLA, UH, UNI, UH, UNIVERSITY HIGHLANDS, THE MYRTLES, THE HIGHLANDS, DUTCH MANOR.
ANOTHER, UM, ONE THAT'S UNDER DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY.
HIGHLAND LAKES AND HIGHLAND BLUFF.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
NONE OF THESE HAVE A, A SECOND IN INTER EXIT OFF OF HIGHLAND ROAD.
SO ARE WE SAYING THAT THEIR LIVES ARE, ARE, ARE LESS IMPORTANT? OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THESE PEOPLE WITH THE EMERGENT, I KEEP HEARING THIS EMERGENCY ACCESS.
UM, WHERE'S THE, WHERE'S THE DOUBLE STANDARD HERE? I'M NOT, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY ALL OF THESE HAVE ONE ENTRY AND EXIT AND THEN, AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO.
MY PROBLEM WITH TWO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EGRESS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, LIKE THE OTHER SAID, IS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE AND A TRAFFIC ISSUE.
I HAVE BEEN IN A BATTLE WITH THE CITY FOR THE 10 YEARS I'VE LIVED HERE.
THIS IS MY THIRD SPEED STUDY PERFORMED ON CASTLE KIRK AND CHANDLER THE LAST TIME THEY DENIED ME IN MAY BECAUSE I ONLY HAD 95 VEHICLES AVERAGE PER EIGHT HOURS GOING ALONG CHANDLER DRIVE BY MY HOUSE.
APPARENTLY THAT WASN'T ENOUGH.
THEY SAID I NEEDED 300 VEHICLES PER HOUR.
PLEASE TELL ME IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE 300 VEHICLES ACROSS YOUR RESIDENCE IN AN EIGHT HOUR TIME SPAN AND SAY THAT THAT'S OKAY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A FOUR-WAY STOP ON MY CORNER.
SO THE THOUGHT OF HAVING MORE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH FROM MY HOUSE, WHICH IS UP TWO BLOCKS OFF OF STARRING, I CUT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD MYSELF BECAUSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER GO THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET TO HIGHLAND OR GET TO KENILWORTH OR GET TO WALDEN THAN GO ON STARRING.
AND I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS NEW, THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT ARE GONNA DO THE SAME.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE RESIDENTS.
IT'S GONNA BE THE COMMERCIAL VENDORS, THE, THE JANITORS, THE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GONNA MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT CLICK.
I'M NOT AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT.
I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MY KIDS AND GO HAVE COFFEE.
I LOVE TO USE THE RESIDENTIAL FOOTPATH, UM, AND, AND, AND GO HANG OUT.
UM, BUT THE VEHICULAR EGRESS IS, IS GONNA DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT 10 SECONDS, BUT MAKE MY LIFE AND MY CHILDREN'S LIVES MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT ALREADY IS.
BATON ROUGE IS BLEEDING YOUNG FAMILIES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
THE STATE IS BLEEDING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND IF YOU KEEP IGNORING THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND OUR SAFETY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM.
MY NEXT COURT IS FOR RYAN, RYAN BETTENCOURT.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
I LIVE ON, UH, 6 8 9 CASTLE KIRK.
UM, LIKE MANY OTHERS, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE ISSUES WITH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF HOW IT'S BEEN PLANNED AND PRESENTED.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE WORKED ALREADY ON DRAINAGE ISSUES.
I FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE.
SO THAT TAKES OFF A BIG, UH, PART OF IT.
UM, I HEAR A LOT ABOUT, UH, TRAFFIC AND THERE'S A, UH, FROM THE DEVELOPERS, UH, HOW THE TRAFFIC IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE NOMINAL, MINIMAL, HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, MINIMAL IMPACT.
I HEAR THAT THEY HAVE A, UH, RED, THAT THEY HAVE A TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY DID ANYWAY.
UM, AND SO I TOOK A LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY TO SORT OF GET AN IDEA ABOUT THE NUMBERS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF, UH, IF WE, IF IT SAYS IN THE BACK OUTLET, IT'S GONNA BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE PERSON EVERY, OR ONE VEHICLE EVERY 10 MINUTES OR WHATEVER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MANAGEABLE BACK THERE.
UM, TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE PAPERWORK FROM THE TRAFFIC STUDY, IT'S SHOWING THAT GENERATED TRIPS IN THE AM PEAK PERIOD IS 138 GENERATED TRIPS.
AND, UH, P M PEAK, UH, PERIOD IS 184.
AND THAT'S BASED OFF, UH, THE INFORMATION.
UM, SO WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS IS FOR THE WHOLE AREA, THE WHOLE NETWORK, THAT THIS IS THE TRIPS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE DISPERSING THROUGH THERE.
AND Y'ALL HAVE HOPEFULLY SEEN THAT FROM THE TRAFFIC STUDY.
THIS IS A MAP, A, A DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW THEY EXPECT THE DISBURSEMENT TO TAKE PLACE.
AND THIS IS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL MAP, UH, DONE IN APRIL, UH, 23, UM, AT A TIME WHEN THE, UH,
[01:25:01]
OUTLET WAS AT BERRA, WHERE IT'S BACK NOW AND YOU'RE TRYING TO BE MOVED AGAIN.UH, AND IT'S SHOWING THAT, UH, IT IS, IT IS NOMINAL.
IT'S SHOWING LIKE, YOU KNOW, UH, SIX VEHICLES.
AND THIS IS ALSO AT A TIME WHERE THERE WAS A GATE AT THAT OUTLET.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO ANSWER IS IF THIS DATA BASED ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE STUDY WAS BASED UPON EXPECTED TRAFFIC WITH A GATE, A PRIVATE GATE, WHICH IS WHAT IT SAYS IN HERE, I'LL READ STRAIGHT FROM APPENDIX EBU ANALYSIS.
THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE RESULTS OF A TRAFFIC IMPACTS, UH, ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, BEN IN LOCATED ON HIGHLAND ROAD, AS SHOWN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE IN THE SITE PLAN AS SHOWN IN, DEVELOPED BY S J V GROUP.
THE FOLLOWING ASSUMPTIONS WERE MADE AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS.
THE FIRST ONES ARE JUST ABOUT RESIDENCE LOTS, BUT THE BOTTOM TWO ARE A PRIVATE DRIVE WILL CONNECT TO KIMBRO DRIVE THAT WILL FORM A NEW T INTERSECTION AND A PRIVATE DRIVE.
THE PRIVATE DRIVE AT KIMBRO DRIVE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND CONTROLLED BY A GATE ABOUT 20 SECONDS.
SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.
I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNCIL CAN, THE COMMISSION CAN GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE YEAH, I DON'T WANT SOMEONE RIPPING DOWN CASTLE KIRK LATE TO GET TO COFFEE LATE TO WHATEVER, PUTTING MY FAMILY IN DANGER.
WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES AND THAT LIVED THERE AND LIKE WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, UH, TODAY WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR HOME, IT WAS FOR A SMALL, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THAT WHERE WE COULD WALK AND BE SAFE.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR KEY BALLARD.
KAY AND, UH, NICE TO TALK TO YOU.
UH, I LIVE AT 9 5 7 COUNCIL KERR.
I, WE MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 72.
I RAISED CHILDREN, UH, HAD GRANDCHILDREN, UH, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, WE WERE JUST A NICE QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.
I, UH, HAVE DIFFICULTY, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S OBVIOUS THEY HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING, NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR CONCERNS ALIGN WITH THE DEVELOPER AND A BAD INTERPRETATION OF THE 13.3 OF THE UN UNDER DEVELOPMENT CODE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OUTLET WILL CAUSE HARDSHIPS ON EXISTING PROPERTY ON, UH, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH, UH, IS AGAINST THIS CODE.
WHAT IS THE HARDSHIP, MAJOR TRAFFIC INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW TO DEVELOP IT AND PLANNING, UH, ZONE, UH, RECTIFY THEIR DECISION.
I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THIS AND CONSIDER IT CONSIDERATE.
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER COURTS THAT ARE ALSO IN OPPOSITION, BUT DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
I'LL READ THOSE NAMES IN AT THIS TIME.
UH, MICHAEL NEWMAR, EDDIE CARTER, SALLY ALLEN, MIKE ALLEN, DOROTHY BADGER, JUDY FOYLE, MARY ATKINSON, BERNARD ATKINSON, BYRON REX, KELSEY AMATO, JASON AMATO, CATHERINE DORAN, CANDACE JOHNSON, LINA JOHNSON.
AND BRANDON QUE WHO WOULD, WHO HAS CHANGED THEIR MIND? COME, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT ON MAGNOLIA WOOD UP, UM, 3 1 6 MAGNOLIA WOOD.
UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ACTUALLY RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE AND RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.
SO THIS OUTLET ONTO MAGNOLIA WOODS IS GOING TO COME OUT RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOME.
UM, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE AND, UM, WE USE THE ROAD ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
I ACTUALLY STAY HOME WITH THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I GO TO THE POOL AND BACK, WE WALK THE DOG RIDE BIKES, ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
UM, MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, COMING IN AND OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S LITERALLY GONNA BE RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE.
SO, UM, ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH ALL OF THE, THE TRAFFIC THAT THIS IS GONNA PRODUCE.
UM, WITH IT COMING OUT INTO MAGNOLIA.
IDEALLY WE WOULD REALLY LIKE THAT.
IT WOULD ONLY COME OUT ONTO HIGHLAND.
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FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, WE'RE VERY OPPOSED TO IT.AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
I'M SORRY, DID, DID WE HAVE ANOTHER CARD THAT CHANGED THEIR MIND? YOU CHOSE NOT TO SPEAK.
COME, COME ON FOR THREE MINUTES.
BYRON REX FIVE 90 CASTLE KIRK.
UM, WE MOVED HERE FROM SOUTH BEND, INDIANA TWO YEARS AGO, AND, UM, LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE DO SEE, UH, A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT BUILDS UP AT THE CORNER OF CASTLE KIRK AND BOONE, UM, FROM THE HOURS OF PROBABLY EIGHT O'CLOCK TO EIGHT 30 WHERE IT'S SO BAD WHERE I CAN'T ACTUALLY GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
SO THE INCREASED TRAFFIC DUE TO THE USE, THE THE DRIVES WOULD, I THINK BE A MORE OF A INCONVENIENCE ON US, UM, TO SIT AND WAIT FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO LEAVE FOR WORK BECAUSE OF THE BACKUP AT STARRING ALL THE WAY TO CASTLE KIRK.
I THINK THAT ADDITIONAL ACCESS WOULD BE A GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO US.
NOW, IF EVERYONE WHO INDICATED THEY DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK STILL DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK
AND IN DOING SO, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME CONCERN REGARDING, UH, TRAFFIC AND OUTLETS AND WHATNOT.
SO IF YOU COULD GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND AS TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AND WHY IT IS THAT YOU'RE PURSUING THIS AT THIS TIME.
SO THE, UH, ORIGINAL PLAN, UM, HAD A CONNECTION TO KIMBRO AND, UH, AFTER WE HAD GOTTEN THE APPROVALS, UM, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A DEEDED RESTRICTION ON THE LOT THAT WE HAD UNDER CONTRACT AND REZONED THAT JUST PRESENTED SOME POTENTIAL ISSUES, UH, WITH REGARDS TO US MOVING FORWARD AND INVESTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN IT.
SO THAT WAS REALLY THE TURNING POINT.
AND WE HAD PURCHASED THIS LOT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE ORIGINAL 20 ACRES WITH THE ORIGINAL AND PLAN OF CONNECTING TO MAG WOODS.
SO, UH, KIMBRO WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING DUE DILIGENCE AND, UM, DESPITE WHAT WE TRIED TO DO, IT, IT, IT, UH, DIDN'T WORK OUT.
SO WE'RE HERE TO, TO TRY AND CREATE AN ADDITIONAL ACCESS POINT PER U D C.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, ON AS FAR AS DRAINAGE GOES, DRAINAGE WAS OUR, YOU KNOW, PRIMARY, UH, CONCERN WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS.
AND WHEN WE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND WE MET WITH THE BOARD, UH, THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, UH, WE FOUND, AND WHEN WE RAN OUR DRAINAGE STUDIES, WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS, UM, WATER BACKING UP UNDER THAT HIGHLAND ROAD ACCESS THAT THERE'S A CULVERT UNDERNEATH HIGHLAND ROAD NEXT TO SAMMY'S THAT BACKS UP.
AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, PLEDGED $125,000 TO GO FIX THAT PROBLEM, WHICH, UM, IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF DRAINAGE ISSUES ON THAT SIDE OF, OF THAT SUBDIVISION.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND WE'RE GONNA NEED THE NEIGHBOR'S HELP TO TRY AND TO TRY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN, BUT, UH, THAT'S OUR COMMITMENT AS FAR AS DRAINAGE GOES.
WE ALSO, UH, SUBMITTED THIS APPLICATION WHEN THE, WE WERE REQUIRED BY THE 25 YEAR STORM DRAIN.
AND, UM, WE VOLUNTARILY HAVE, UH, MET THE A HUNDRED YEAR.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHERE, WHERE WE COULD, UH, TO, TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND, AND, AND DO A GOOD JOB WITH THIS.
UM, WHEN WE RAN OUR TRAFFIC STUDIES, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THERE WASN'T A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SPEEDING.
AND SO WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SOME TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES, UM, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE, THE IMPACT BECAUSE THERE, THERE JUST, THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY CARS WHEN WE RAN OUR STUDIES.
UM, THE 300 CARS PER DAY, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF HIGHLAND ROAD.
AND I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT THE TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WE RAN THAT SHOWED THE SIX CARS PER DAY WAS A REVISED TRAFFIC NUMBER THAT INCLUDED, I'M SORRY, SIX CARS PER HOUR AT THE PEAK HOUR ON KIMBRO.
UM, EXCUSE ME, THAT IT WAS RUN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF NOT HAVING A GATE THERE.
I BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THERE BEING A GATE, I THINK, I DON'T THINK HE TOOK THAT OUT WHEN HE RERAN IT, BUT I'LL CONFIRM THAT.
UM, YEAH, EITHER WAY IT'S, UH, IT'S
[01:35:01]
NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN TALKING WITH HIM, UH, PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, HE DEDUCED THAT THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE LESS TRAFFIC COMING ONTO MAG WOODS THAN ONTO KIMBRO BECAUSE KIMBRO'S A DIRECT CONNECTION, I GUESS, OUT TO STARRING.AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO COME UP THROUGH OUR PROJECT, MAKE A RIGHT TURN, A LEFT TURN, AND ANOTHER LEFT TURN TO GET BACK ONTO MAG WOODS WHEN YOU CAN JUST TAKE MAG WOODS.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT A CUT THROUGH REALLY THAT PROVIDES ANY SHORTER DISTANCE OR QUICKER, QUICKER TRAVEL TIME SO WE CAN RUN ANOTHER TRAFFIC STUDY.
IT'S JUST, AGAIN, THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS THERE AT ALL, UH, TO START WITH.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, THE PEOPLE OF MAGNOLIA WOODS HAVE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS.
UM, WE'VE HAD THREE TOWN HALLS, UH, NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH, UH, THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE NEIGHBORS, UH, INCLUDING THIS CONNECTION.
AND, UH, THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE.
UH, THEY CARE A LOT ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.
UM, WE WANT TO MAKE THIS PLACE SPECIAL FOR THOSE NEIGHBORS, UH, YOU KNOW, AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR TIME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE AT THIS TIME? I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONER.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR FIRST FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
THANK YOU, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M, UH, MY INITIAL QUESTIONS ARE NOT GONNA BE FOR YOU BECAUSE I ASKED THE RESIDENT TO STAY, SHE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER COMMENTS ON, ON THE RECORD.
SO IF YOU CAN JUST STEP AWAY FOR A SECOND.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I, I WANT TO KIND OF SAY TO THE RESIDENTS, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY HAVE SEEN ME HAVING A LITTLE HUMOR UP HERE, UM, THAT IS NOT THAT I WAS IGNORING YOUR PLIGHT.
I, I FOUND IT VERY HUMOROUS FOR SOME OF YOU TO MAKE SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT YOU MADE.
AND IT WAS, UM, NOT SO HILARIOUS TO THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES JUST NOT LIGHTHEARTED.
I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE RESIDENTS SAY UP HERE, AND EVERY TIME THEY COME, UH, I TAKE NOTES AND I KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THAT THERE'S, UM, THEIR SIZE ARE HERD WITH ME.
UM, SO I WANNA MAKE THAT FOR THE RECORDS.
I KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT I WANTED TO SAY IT FOR THE RECORDS.
AND ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS TALKED ABOUT HOW A A 90 YEAR OLD PERSON HAD TO JUMP IN THE DITCH IF YOU DON'T PLAN TO FIND THAT HUMOROUS.
BUT IT'S VERY SERIOUS THAT IF YOU, IF YOU AROSE, ARE NOT WIDE ENOUGH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS, AS COMMISSIONERS SHOULD TAKE CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
BUT IF THEY'RE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE TO BE SAFE.
AND SO I WOULDN'T MAKE IN LIGHT OF IT, UM, UM, THE RESIDENT WHO'S LOOKING UP HERE NOW, I WANT TO SAY TO SAY THAT, UM, AND THE OTHER ASPECT, AGAIN, IT WOULD GO WITHOUT NOTE.
I KNOW WE SEND A TANK THAT, UH, WE ARE PAID A LOT OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.
WE ARE VOLUNTEERS, UH, UP HERE.
WE ACTUALLY GIVE OUR TIME FOR OUR SERVICE AS A CITIZEN, AS AS A SAFE RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, SO WE ARE, WE ARE NOT PAID WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND I WANT TO ALSO PUT THAT ON THE RECORDS, UH, FOR ANYONE.
BUT I DID ASK THIS RESIDENT TO STAY BECAUSE SHE MAKES SOME VERY VALID POINTS WHEN SHE WAS MAKING HER PRESENTATION.
AND I THOUGHT, UH, I WANTED CLARITY OF, AND WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE SMART STREET CONNECTIVITY OF THIS PARISH SYSTEM, AND SHE LAID OUT A LITANY OF AREAS IN THIS PARISH THAT DOES NOT HAVE THAT.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT DIVERSE STANDARDS AND, AND I MADE NOTE OF THAT.
AND WHAT I DID SAY TO HER IS THAT, UM, THAT SHE RATTLED OFF SO FAST, A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, AND WHILE SOME OF THOSE MAY BE OLDER AND SOME OF THOSE MIGHT BE NEW, THEY MIGHT FALL INTO THE U V C FOR CURRENT.
UH, BUT THAT WOULD BE CORRECT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SMART STREETS AND SMART CONNECTIVITY.
AND THEN I'LL ADDRESS THE SECOND PART BECAUSE IF SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY, THEN I DO APPRECIATE HER TAKING THE TIME WHEN I WENT OUT HERE TO, TO ACTUALLY ASK HER TO STAY, JUST TO TELL ME AGAIN AND TELL THIS BODY SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT CONNECTED UNDER THE SMART STREETS THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THAT THIS BODY OR THE COUNCIL.
SO WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARDS IN REGARDS TO OUR APPLICATION OF THE U D C OR THE LAW.
UM, BECAUSE THE SMART STREETS IS GONNA BE OUR WAY TO MAKE SURE CONNECTIVITY WORKING IS PERISHED, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.
AND THEN SOME OF THOSE THAT YOU RATTLE OFF AS AGAIN, MIGHT BE OLDER, MAY BE CURRENT, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SO THAT I CAN KIND OF GIVE SOME, SOME, UM, SOME INTEREST TO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
AND I'M GONNA USE MY INSIDE VOICE, I PROMISE.
I WAS IN MOM MODE THERE FOR A SECOND WHEN I GET PASSIONATE ABOUT STUFF.
UM, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I WAS LISTING WERE THOSE THAT WERE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND ARE NOT ALL INCLUSIVE.
UM, AND YES, THERE WERE SOME OLDER ONES, I'M ASSUMING THAT WERE UNDER DIFFERENT PLANNING, YOU KNOW, ZONING AND WHATEVER WHEN THEY WERE BUILT.
BUT SOME OF THE NEWER ONES THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW ARE JUST DEVELOPMENT.
ONE WOULD BE VALHALLA, WHICH IS ON THE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF PQ AND HIGHLAND.
ANOTHER ONE IS STEEPLECHASE, WHICH
[01:40:01]
IS THE ONE THAT IS GOING UP ACROSS FROM, UH, ACE HARDWARE ON HIGHLAND ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION NEAR KENILWORTH.UM, THERE'S HIGHLAND BLUFF, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE I BELIEVE.
UM, WE HAVE DUTCH HIGHLAND, DUTCH MANOR, EXCUSE ME, UH, WHICH IS ANOTHER NEW ONE THAT IS IN BETWEEN THE STRETCH OF HIGHLAND BETWEEN GUARD DEER AND BLUE BONNET.
THAT IS, THE LAND IS CLEARED, UH, IT'S READY FOR THAT.
I ACTUALLY KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE SIDE OF THAT.
THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ANY KIND OF SECOND EGRESS, UM, OFF OF HIGHLAND ROAD.
AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER OLDER ONES THAT I LISTED.
AND I CAN LIST THIS FOR YOU AS WELL, UM, AS WERE UNIVERSITY HILLS PLANTATION TRACE, KNOX HILL, WOODSTONE, WOODGATE, UNIVERSITY HIGHLANDS, THE MYRTLES, THE HIGHLANDS, HIGHLAND LAKES.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT A PLANNER, I'M NOT A DEVELOPER, I'M NOT A CITY OFFICIAL, BUT TO ME THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DOUBLE STANDARD THERE.
AND I, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CER CERTAIN THINGS ARE APPROVED AND OTHERS AREN'T.
AND IF YOU HAVE THIS MUCH OPPOSITION, UM, AND WE HAVE A, A DEVELOPER THAT'S WILLING AND WANTING TO ACCOMMODATE OUR REQUEST ON THIS, THEN IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING IN OUR WAY IS THE CITY.
AND I LOVE THIS CITY, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE, THAT COULD HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY WANT TO STAY.
BECAUSE I HAVE A HUSBAND WHO'S NOT FROM HERE, HE'S FROM MANDEVILLE, AND HE REMINDS ME OF IT EVERY DAY.
THIS IS MY HOME AND I WANT MY CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT Y'ALL GOTTA, Y'ALL GOTTA HELP US AND HELP THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE THE OTHER LADY HAD SAID EARLIER, LIKE, WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR? YOU KNOW, UM, THE, THE, THE TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND WITH THAT COMES OTHER SAFETY ISSUES.
IT BRINGS UP, I JUST HAD A SHOOTING TWO BLOCKS DOWN FROM MY HOUSE.
BUT TO A POINT, YOU KNOW, AND IF THE NEIGHBORS OF THIS, OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE NOT ASKING FOR MORE CONNECTIVITY, THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT BEING HEARD? OKAY.
WELL, I, I DO APPRECIATE IT AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK AND TAKING YES SIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO THE DEVELOPER TO COME BACK FOR A SECOND.
'CAUSE I, THERE'S A, AND AND I HEAR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CONNECTIVITY ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
YOU SAID INITIALLY YOUR, YOUR INITIAL CONNECTIVITY WITH KIMBRO AND YOU CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THAT BASED ON, UH, SOME OF THE ISSUE.
AND THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE COME BACK TO MODIFY IS TO GO TO MAGWOOD.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? YES, SIR.
AND OF COURSE SHE JUST STATED THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS ARE ATTEMPTING TO WORK WITH RESIDENTS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT.
UH, THIS IS THE ONLY CONNECTIVITY THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY MEET THE SMART STREETS OBLIGATION IS BY CONNECTING THIS PARTICULAR STREET? OR IS THERE OTHER POTENTIAL OPTION, I'M SURE YOU'VE LOOKED AT, I JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR THE RECORD.
THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS TO CORRECT CONNECT, UH, THROUGH MENLO TO, IS IT CASTLE? CORRECT, YES.
WHICH WAS AT THE FIRST TOWN HALL THAT WE HAD WAS, WAS VERY MUCH NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THIS WAS, WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET ON BOTH SIDES.
YOU TRIED TO CONNECT TO MENLO.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT SIDE.
IF YOU, YOU, IF YOU CONNECT TO MAGWOOD, YOU GOTTA GO NEXT SIDE.
SO YOU, YOU JUST GONNA CHANGE WITH RESIDENTS COME DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, SO.
SO TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, TRY THAT ON MENLO.
YOU'LL HAVE, IT WON'T BE MAGWOOD, IT'LL BE MENLO THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, SO YOU, YOU'RE GETTING THAT, THAT CATCH.
THAT'S WHY WHEN THE CITIZENS SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY HERE THAT WOULD SAY, NOT MY STREET.
BUT I DO WANNA UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY THAT, UH, THERE ARE OPTIONS.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE, THE, THE TRAFFIC COUNT AND YOUR TRAFFIC COUNT ON THIS PARTICULAR CONNECTIVITY WOULD BE A LESS OF AN IMPACT BASED ON THE WAY IT IS VERSUS SOME OTHER OTHER STREET.
AGAIN, GIVE ME THAT AGAIN, HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THAT.
UH, YOUR ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH THAT PART.
SO THE INITIAL CONNECTION, UH, SHOT OUT TO STARRING.
AND SO THERE WAS ADDITIONAL COUNTS, ADDITIONAL CARS ALLOCATED BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO STARRING THIS CONNECTION THAT GOES TO MAGNOLIA WOODS COMING THROUGH OUR PROJECT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE TURNS TO GET TO MAGNOLIA WOODS.
AND SO IT'S REALLY QUITE A DETERRENT FOR ANYONE TRYING TO CUT THROUGH TO ADD THAT THEY WOULD JUST GO TO MAGNOLIA WOODS ANYWAY WITH, IF THEY COME THROUGH US, THEY'VE GOTTA MAKE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT TURNS AS OPPOSED TO JUST TURNING ONTO MAGNOLIA WOODS.
AND FINALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU IMPACT STUDY A TRAFFIC STUDY IDENTIFIED, UM, THE WIDTH OR THE SIZE OF THE STREETS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE MAGNOLIA WOODS VERSUS KIMBRO VERSUS UM, UM, THE OTHER STREETS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
UM, BECAUSE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, BECAUSE OF MAGNOLIA
[01:45:01]
WOODS HAVING SMALLER, UH, STREETS AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE AN AVERAGE SIZE STREET.IT'S JUST PROBABLY NOT AS SMALLER STREET.
SOME STREETS HAVE DITCHES ON THE SIDES OF 'EM, SOME STREETS HAVE SIDEWALKS AND IT LOOKS BIGGER BASED ON THAT.
BUT THERE'S PROBABLY UNDER THE, UM, STREET PLAN PROBABLY HAS A NORMAL 35, 30 FOOT WIDTH OF MOST STREETS.
YOU PROBABLY CAN ADDRESS SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.
THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT OF WAYS ARE ARE WIDE ENOUGH, BUT THE STREET ITSELF PAVE ABOUT THAT'S PAVE TO A CERTAIN ABOUT 20 FOOT.
AND THERE'S DITCHES ON BOTH SIDES.
SO I'M NOT THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER, I'M THE CIVIL ENGINEER.
SO THE TRAFFIC GUY, THEY DO CONSIDER WIDTH THE ROAD WHEN THEY RUN THESE STUDIES MM-HMM.
AND THE NARROW, THE AS HARD FOR A SHALLAL MASON TO SAY THE NARROW WORD THE ROAD IS THE LESS LIKELY SOMEONE IS TO DRIVE IT.
SO YOU, YOU WIND UP STAYING ON THE HIGHLAND GOING TO STARRING.
SO THE NARROW WERE ROADS DO HELP WITH TRAFFIC CALMING, BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS.
SO I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE A PROJECT TO PUT SIDEWALKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DITCHES SO YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO WALK OUTSIDE OF MAGWOOD.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE SOMETHING FOR MS. RIGBY.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THOSE SUBDIVISIONS THAT ONLY HAVE ONE CONNECTION.
SOME OF THEM ARE SMALL IN SIZE, A LOW LOCK COUNT, SO IT DOESN'T WARRANT MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS BACK IN THE DAY THERE WERE, YOU GET TO A CERTAIN SIZE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY HAVE SO MUCH WHIFF ON HIGHLAND ROAD, LIKE HIGHLAND MANOR, IT'S VERY NARROW.
THERE'S NO PLACE TO PUT TWO ROADS AND IT DEAD ENDS AT BAYOU PHONE.
SO YOU'D HAVE TO BUILD A BRIDGE AND A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO MAKE A PHYSICAL CONNECTION.
WELL, AGAIN, I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO ADDRESS HER ISSUES, BUT I, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THAT EITHER.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU CAN PICK OUT SOME OF THOSE AND TRY TO GET AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL WARRANT ME HAVING A DISCUSSION ON YOUR PROJECT AND HOW I GOTCHA.
HOW I CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THAT.
SO IN ALL, ALL DUE RESPECTS, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CLARITY OF TO THE SIZE OF YOUR STREETS, AND THAT HELPS TO DEAL WITH THE SAFETY FACTOR.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU OUT TO CONSIDER PUTTING SIDEWALKS ON ANY ONE OF THOSE STREETS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THAT PART, BUT IF THE STREET SIZE IS, IS IS A FACTOR, THEN THAT'S WHAT I SEE.
AND SINCE YOU'RE NOT A TRAFFIC ENGINEER, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE.
THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT WAS JUST PROBABLY MY CONCERNS THAT I I'VE HAD, BUT HEARING FROM THE RESIDENTS BRING THOSE CONCERNS TO THIS BODY MM-HMM.
UH, AND OF COURSE FINALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A COUPLE OF OTHER, UH, CONCERNS THAT WAS RAISED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS HAS BEEN STRICT STREET CONNECTIVITY.
I MEAN, LET'S, LET'S GET BACK TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF WHAT RESIDENTS RAISED.
AND ALL THE NOTES I HAVE HERE IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONNECTIVITY TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHY THEY DO THAT.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF YOUR EXPLORING WHAT THOSE OTHER ONES WERE.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S NO ENGINEER HERE TONIGHT, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.
THERE'S NO WAIVER THAT YOU CAN GET TO NOT CONNECT.
WE OFTEN HEAR THAT AS WELL IN SOME OF THESE PLANNING APPARATUS FOR US, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO, THE RESIDENTS DON'T WANT IT.
AND THE DEVELOPER THEN IS FORCED TO PROVIDE US WITH ALTERNATIVE CONNECTIVITY.
IS THAT A POSSIBILITY OR THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN RAISED? AND THAT'S SOMETHING THE ACCOUNTS PERSON HAS LOOKED INTO.
SO COMMISSIONER ADDISON, I CAN, I CAN ADDRESS THAT.
PLEASE NOT HE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND NOT YOU GUYS.
THAT'S, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT PRIVATE GATES AND PRIVATE STREETS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THIS PROJECT.
IN THE, IN THE, THE FIRST REITERATION OF IT THAT ULTIMATELY GOT APPROVED.
UM, WHAT WAS APPROVED WAS PUBLIC STREETS.
AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GATE PUBLIC STREETS.
THE ONLY WAY TO GATE FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS OR PRIVATE ACCESS WOULD BE TO HAVE A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRIVATE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THOSE PRIVATE STREETS IN THE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH THIS IS NOT, THIS IS SHOWN AS PUBLIC STREET.
SO, SO THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
YOUR, YOUR PROJECT IS DEEMED IN A PUBLIC CATEGORY WITH THE PUBLIC STREET, WHICH MEAN THAT POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE OF PLACING A PUBLIC LOCKED EXIT AX THE GATE, THAT ONE PROBABLY WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T BE APPLICABLE HERE.
I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING, MR. HARRIS.
UM, IN THE, THE COMMENTS WE GOT BACK FROM THE FIRE CHIEF, HE POINTED OUT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TWO CONNECTIONS AS SEPARATELY AS, AS FEASIBLE ON THE PROJECT.
SO THE FIRE CHIEF IS REQUESTING THAT SECOND EXIT, BUT I THAT'S THE PUBLIC ACCESS ONE I'M TALKING ABOUT ON PUBLIC.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC ROADWAY.
[01:50:01]
BUT THAT'S RIGHT.WHAT YOU MEAN, THAT'S EMERGE TO ACCESS.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY IS GONNA ASK FOR AND REQUIRE THAT YOU'RE GONNA MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC ASSETS, STREET CONNECTIVITY, THAT'S SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
AND YOUR PLAN WAS APPROVED WITH THAT AS A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, PUBLIC STREET ASSETS.
SO I, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SECOND ONE, BUT THAT'S WHAT SOMEONE OTHER, OTHER IN THE, IN THE PLAN AND IN THE PERMANENT STAGE FOR OPERATIONS.
AND I'M DONE, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU MUCH.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION, SIR? NO, SIR.
THIS IS, UH, THE COMMISSIONER'S, UH, COMMENTS SECTION.
COULD I, COULD I ASK ONE QUESTION TO MR. SSON? SIR? SIR, THE, THE PUBLIC, UH, HEARING PORTION IS CONCLUDED.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
SO, SO I THINK THIS IS FOR MR. HOLCOMB.
UH, IS THERE NO WAY FOR THIS PROJECT TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THAT SECONDARY ACCESS TO MAG WOODS? IF THIS WERE TO BE DENIED, THE, THE PREVIOUS PROJECT IS STILL VALID AND THAT SECONDARY ACCESS THAT THAT IS REQUIRED BY CODE WAS SHOWN ON, ON KIMBRO.
SO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, FOR THIS PROJECT TO EITHER BE APPROVED OR TO CON CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ONE, THERE HAS TO BE A SECONDARY ACCESS PER THE CODE REQUIREMENT.
THE QUESTION FOR THE, UH, THE APPLICANT, YOU SAID THAT THE, THE ISSUE ON KIMBRO WAS A DEEDED RESTRICTION ISSUE.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY WAS THE RESTRICTION, OR WHAT WAS THE ISSUE? THE RESTRICTION WAS, UH, NO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THAT LOT.
AND THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE CHANCE THAT IT BECOMES A LARGER ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMERCIAL WITHIN OUR DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SPENDING A INORDINATE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO BUILD THAT AND THEN RUN INTO A LAWSUIT DOWN THE ROAD IS, IS TOO RISKY.
I'M, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT IF IT'S BEING USED AS A ROAD, IS THAT COMMERCIAL? I MEAN, AND, AND I, AND I, I KNOW I'M GETTING YES, SIR.
WAY OUT OF MY WAY OUT OF MY CORNER.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I, AND I'LL, I'LL JUST GET ON MY SOAPBOX HERE FOR A SECOND.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GO FROM POINT A TO POINT B IS, I THINK, NECESSARY FOR A HEALTHY CITY AND NECESSARY FOR HEALTHY GROWTH.
SO I KNOW I, I MAY, UM, I THINK THERE ARE OTHERS HERE WHO HAVE A, A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
AND YES, THERE ARE PLACES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT CONNECTION AND THOSE BECOME SOMETIMES PROBLEMS. NOW THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD RATHER SEE THE CONNECTION ON KIMBRO, BECAUSE YOU CAN GET TO STARRING AS OPPOSED TO MAGNOLIA WOODS, WHICH PUTS IT RIGHT OUT BACK ON HIGHLAND.
YOU ALREADY HAVE TWO EXITS, ENTRANCES ON HIGHLAND.
IT'S ON, IT'S ON THEIR STREET.
SO FOR ME, I REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS, WITH, WITH THIS, UM, UH, WITH THIS CHANGE.
AND AS OF NOW, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
AS OF NOW, I CANNOT SEE, UH, SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THIS GOING FORWARD.
SO WHEN A MOTION COMES, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THAT.
BUT WHAT'S ON KIMBRO, I THINK TO MY MIND IS A, IS A BETTER CHOICE.
IF IT WAS ME AS A DESIGNER, I WOULD GO STRAIGHT THROUGH TO CASTLE KIRK, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.
SO NEXT BEST THING WOULD BE KIMBRO.
YOU MAY HAVE TO HAVE SOME HURDLES WITH SOME ATTORNEYS, BUT I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ADDING LEGITIMATE TO MY MIND.
AND I KNOW MATT'S A VERY FINE ENGINEER.
I'VE WORKED WITH HIM BEFORE, SO I DON'T THINK THAT SOMEBODY MISSED THE BOAT.
I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION.
VICE CHAIRMAN CROP, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, COMMISSIONER BANKS, DID YOU WANT? OKAY, COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU'ALL.
I JUST HAVE A, I HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ALLOW HIM TO DO SO.
COMING TO IDENTIFY SOMETHING YOU NEED.
SO APPRECIATE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL NEWMAN.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR CLOSE ABOUT 50 YEARS.
AND YOU AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD AN REACTION ABOUT THE DRAINAGE, AND WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
[01:55:01]
SO IN THE PROCESS OF THIS, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MR. HOLCOMB, BECAUSE WHAT I GOT THROUGH SOME DISCUSSION WITH, UH, UH, MS. GRON WAS THAT YOU'RE USING THE U D C AND USING 13.3, BUT YOU SU UH, SPECIFICALLY PULLED OUT SOMETHING, NOT READING THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH.
AND IN THERE, IN THAT U D C, IT SAYS IT SHOULDN'T CAUSE THE, UM, EXISTING, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS HARDSHIP.
I THINK AN OUTLET ON MEGA WOODS DRIVE WOULD CAUSED THE EXISTING NEIGHBORS A HARDSHIP OF ALL THAT TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF THERE.
SO THAT'S THE THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT NOBODY'S BROUGHT UP THE U D C 13.3 AND NO HARDSHIP.
THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT IT'S USED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFTER BECAUSE THAT IS A HARDSHIP FOR MAGNA WOODS DRIVE AND, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS ON MAGNA WOODS DRIVE.
YOU GOT YOUR QUESTION IN? THAT'S IT.
ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER ADDISON? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
UM, NOTHING ELSE, MR. CHAIRMAN, BUT I DO LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
UM, I, I TOO CONCUR THAT I THINK THE BETTER USE OF THIS IS TO LEAVE IT ON KIMBRO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT DEVELOPER HAD AN ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY.
HE INTENDED IN THE PROJECT TO BRING IT TO KIMBRO.
UH, AND, AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DENY AND IT WOULD THEN REMAIN IN THE SAME POSTURE THAT IT IS ON KIMBROUGH FOR THAT SECOND CONNECTIVITY UNDER THE U D C.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO DENY, UH, THESE TWO ITEMS. UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND THAT A SECOND FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I'M OPPOSED.
JUST WANT A NOTED OBJECTION FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL OBJECTIONS OR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION SAYING NONE THOSE ITEMS ARE DENIED.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS, ITEMS NUMBER 15 AND 16.
I BELIEVE THIS CAN BE TAKEN TOGETHER, CORRECT.
UH, DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, THIS REQUEST, WE, UH, HAD A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO PULL ITEMS 15 AND 16, WHICH CAN BE TAKEN TOGETHER FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I BELIEVE, UM, THE APPLICANT IS GONNA REQUEST A DEFERRAL.
IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT AND MR. HOLCOMB, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CORDS ON THIS ITEM, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO IS IT, IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR 30 DAYS? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO ADD AT THIS TIME? NO, SIR.
WELL, AT THIS TIME I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER ADDISON, MOVE FORWARD.
DEFERRAL, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR COMMISSIONER ADDISON THAT DEFER THIS ITEM FOR 30 DAYS.
TWO ITEMS. THESE TWO ITEMS, EXCUSE ME, FOR 30 DAYS.
UH, THAT MOTION RECEIVED A SECOND FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE.
THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS, BEGINNING WITH DIRECTOR'S.
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
REAL QUICK AT YOUR SEATS IS A DRAFT COPY OF THE U D C TEXT AMENDMENT THAT WILL COME BEFORE YOU AT YOUR UH, NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IN NOVEMBER.THIS, UH, TEXT AMENDMENT WAS INITIATED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON AUGUST 23RD, 2023.
THE REVISION WOULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION IN RURAL ZONING FROM A PERMITTED USE TO A CONDITIONAL USE WITH REQUIREMENTS.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GIVING IT TO YOU A MONTH EARLY FOR REVIEW.
AND THIS WILL BE ON THE, UH, AGENDA IN NOVEMBER WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
JUST A REMINDER, YOUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS NOVEMBER 13TH.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER'S
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
COMMENTS AND I'LL TAKE THIS TIME TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, OSA MARIE HOPKINS, ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST OF THE LONG RANGE PLANNING DIVISION.MARIA'S BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTIPLE FUTURE B PUBLIC WORKSHOPS.
THE WORKSHOPS WERE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE COM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK FOR THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE TO FUTURE BUREAU.
SHE HELPED WITH THE SIGN IN PROCESS AND WAS THE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
IN ADDITION, SHE WORKS WITH REACHING OUT TO FUTURE BUREAU'S, LEAD AGENCIES FOR ACTION ITEMS, STATUS UPDATES.
SHE'S ALSO RELIABLE BACKUP AT THE OFFICE FOR OTHER CLERICAL WHEN NEEDED.
SHE'S AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE EMPLOYEE WHO IS DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MARIE, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STERLING? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ELE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SAYING NONE? THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND GOOD NIGHT.