[00:00:04]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL.
[ROLL CALL]
DIRECTOR HOLCOMB.[SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS]
ON TO SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND I WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST RECOGNITION.IT IS FOR OUR FELLOW PLANNING COMMISSIONER, TODD STERLING.
TODD, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN HIS LAST MEETING.
HE UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT WE DO HAVE A PLAQUE HERE FOR HIM, AND I'LL READ THAT AT THIS TIME.
IT READS TODD L STERLING AND APPRECIATION FOR SERVICE, DEDICATION AND UNDERSTANDING, PROVIDING A CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PLANNING WITH A SENSITIVITY TO THE NATURAL AND MANMADE ENVIRONMENTS.
CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PLANNING COMMISSION 2023.
TODD HAS BEEN ON THIS PLANNING COMMISSION, I BELIEVE FOR EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, MR. HOLCOMB? THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, TODD INITIALLY, UH, JOINED THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, FINISHING OUT, UH, THE TAIL END OF A PREVIOUS APPOINTEE'S TERM.
HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPOINTED TO TWO FULL TERMS HIMSELF AND, UH, AND SERVED THOSE EIGHT YEARS, UH, THOSE ADDITIONAL EIGHT YEARS, VERY DUTIFULLY.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN, UH, CONGRATULATING AND RECOGNIZING TODD STERLING.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE? VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT, I, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, UH, TODD WAS, WAS HERE WHEN I GOT HERE.
UM, HE HELPED ME WITH A NUMBER OF THE, UH, I MEAN SMALL AND MUNDANE ISSUES LIKE HOW DO YOU GET IN THE COMPUTER AND THINGS, BUT, UH, HE, UM, HE WAS ALWAYS A VERY QUIET, RESERVED AND SERIOUS, UM, MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION.
WHEN HE DID SPEAK, YOU LISTENED.
AND, UM, PART OF THE REASON I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS HERE TONIGHT, UH, WAS TO CON TO CONGRATULATE TODD AND, AND TO WISH HIM WELL.
UM, AND HE'S, HE'S, HE'S BEEN A, HE'S BEEN A, A, A PERSON I'VE, I'VE LOOKED UP TO SINCE I GOT HERE, AND WHO I RESPECTED.
WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT, UM, UH, I WISH HIM WELL, OR SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
UH, BUT, UM, UH, HE, HE HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THIS COMMISSION.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO DIRECTOR HOLCOMB FOR, UH, ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WASHINGTON.
EVERY YEAR, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR SELECTS ONE MEMBER OF, OF THE STAFF WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S WORK.
IN 2023, GILLIS MORIN, A ICP ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTOR WAS SELECT SELECTED AS THE RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD AWARD.
WORKING IN THE ADMINISTRATION DIVISION, GIL OVERSEES MANY PLANNING PROJECTS AND STUDIES.
MR. MORIN HAS ALSO BEEN RESPONSIBLE TO COUNTLESS REVISIONS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, INCLUDING UPDATES TO PARKING, SIGNS, ZONING DISTRICTS, AND USES.
IN ADDITION TO THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, HE COORDINATES WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMENTS ARE ADDRESSED AND PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
GILLIS'S DEDICATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO OUR COMMUNITY CERTAINLY MERITS THIS RECOGNITION.
CONGRATULATIONS, GILLIS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR 21 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY PARISH.
THIS IS LAST PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
HE'S RETIRING, UH, IN EARLY JANUARY.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE, UH, DR.
JIM LORENZ FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHO'S GONNA RECOGNIZE GIL.
GIL, I'M GONNA ASK IF YOU CAN GO DOWN.
LORENZEN, IF YOU COULD, UH, HIT THE BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MIC.
UH, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH EAST, BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, CERTIFICATE OF C COMMENDATION, PRESENTED TO GILLIS MORIN, ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTOR.
21 YEARS OF SERVICE BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
[00:05:01]
BUT GILLIS IS A NATIVE OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA IS EARNED A MASTER'S OF SCIENCE WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT FROM LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.HE IS AN A ICP CERTIFIED PLANNER AND A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION.
ALSO IS A CERTIFIED FLOOD PLANE MANAGER AND A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS AND THE LOUISIANA FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
THAT'S A HARD THING TO GET OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
DURING HIS TIME AT THE PLANNING OFFICE, HE HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN MANY CODE REVISIONS, INCLUDING PARKING SIGNS, ZONING DISTRICTS, AND USES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, GIVEN THIS DAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2023 WITH SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS IN TESTIMONY.
WHEREOF, I HAVE HERE ON TO SET MY HAND AS MY OFFICIAL SIGNATURE AND CAUSED TO BE AFFIXED THE SEAL OF THE CITY, CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
SIGNED SHARON WESTERN BROOME MAYOR, PRESIDENT CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN AND I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU GUYS AND, UH, AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO SERVE YOU GUYS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AND, UM, YEAH, UM, THIS, THIS WON'T BE GOODBYE.
SO, UH, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN, BUT, BUT THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU, GIL.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.
ANY CHANCE THAT WE CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND,
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 13TH MEETING MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LATINA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
I'LL ASK THE VICE CHAIRMAN TO READ IN THE RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS.RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON AN ITEM IN THIS AGENDA MAY 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 THE MEETING AGENDA AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION PRIOR TO, UH, TO THE MEETING BY FILLING OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD INDICATING ON WHICH ITEM 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 OF COMBINED NOT TO PROCE, NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
PROPONENTS WILL SPEAK AND 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.
PROPONENTS WILL, 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 PROPO PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PRE, EXCUSE ME, THE PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE ON FOR THE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE LAST TIME.I'LL ASK MR. MR. MORRAN TO READ IN THOSE ITEMS. THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR WITHDRAWAL, UH, ITEMS FOR DEFERRAL.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, PA 17 DASH 23 6800 THROUGH 6,900 BURBANK DRIVE TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FROM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO COMMERCIAL LOC ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BURBANK DRIVE WEST OF SOUTH KENWORTH PARK, KENWORTH PARKWAY.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT M CUP THREE DASH 23 3 9 5 0 0
[00:10:04]
GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD, PROPOSED SAND AND GRAVEL MINING OPERATION LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD, SOUTH OF LEE PRICE ROAD.THE NEUTRON GROUP PROPOSED OFFICE BUILDING LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY WEST OF BARRINGER FOREMAN ROAD.
THESE ITEMS ARE TO BE DEFERRED TO JANUARY 22ND.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR APPROVAL.
1 5 3 5 6 OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY, SUITE B TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM RURAL TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT CB ONE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY WEST OF SHADY GLEN DRIVE.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CASE 68 23 5 5 5 5 BURBANK DRIVE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM LIGHT COMMERCIAL C ONE TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT CB ONE LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BURBANK.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PUD THREE DASH TWO THREE SUBURB SOUTH BATON ROUGE CONCEPT PLAN TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF MEDIUM DENSITY, SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LIGHT AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL USES LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF NICHOLSON.
DRIVE NORTH OF MAGNOLIA MOUND.
ITEM NUMBER NINE PUD FIVE DASH OH SEVEN OCHSNER HEALTH CENTER PARKING EXPANSION.
THE GROVE FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
PROPOSED SURFACE PARKING FACILITY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GROVE BOULEVARD, SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10.
ITEM NUMBER 10 CS 18 DASH 23 BATON ROUGE INDUSTRIAL PLEX.
PROPOSED FLAG LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF INDUSTRIAL PLEX BOULEVARD, WEST OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY.
ITEM NUMBER 11 SS 10 DASH TWO THREE.
CHARLES HUGHES PROPERTY PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF REAMS ROAD NORTH OF JACKSON ROAD.
ITEM NUMBER 12 S DASH FOUR DASH TWO THREE NORTH PARK SUBDIVISION.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION WITH PUBLIC STREETS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY NORTH OF GREENWELL STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 13, 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.
AND ITEM NUMBER 14 SS 11 DASH 23 O.
PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PRIDE, BAYWOOD ROAD, EAST OF LEE ROAD PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE UDC OKAY COMMISSION MEMBERS.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT ARE TO BE TAKEN WITH ONE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO HAVE AN ITEM ON CONSENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED TO BE HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION MOVED 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 NONE OF THOSE ITEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED.
[3. Case 56-23 662 South Foster Drive]
WE CAN NOW MOVE TO ITEM THREE.CASE 56 DASH 23 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WEST SIDE OF SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE NORTH OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CHANGE IN ZONING FROM LIGHT COMMERCIAL C ONE TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT, CAB ONE PROPOSED USE RESTAURANT WITH ALCOHOL.
THE FUTURE BUREAU LINE DESIGNATION IS MIXED USE CASE 56 DASH 23 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING BEING CONSISTENT
[00:15:01]
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED 27 MESSAGES IN OPPOSITION AND ONE IN SUPPORT TO THIS ITEM.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
IS THE APPLICANT OR A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT PRESENT TONIGHT? OKAY.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HE IS SO I WILL MOVE ON TO THE SPEAKER CARDS.
OUR FIRST CARD IS FOR BODO CLAWS.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I I DON'T BELIEVE THE MIC IS ON, SIR.
THEY'RE GONNA HIT THAT BUTTON FOR YOU.
I'M AN ARCHITECT AND I OWN THAT OFFICE BUILDING ON THE CORNER OF SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE ON CAPITAL HEIGHT.
WE BUILT IT IN 75 19 75 AND OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.
I'M APPEARING HERE IN IN OPPOSITION TO THE THREE ZONING ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT VIOLATES THE BATON ROUGE BUILDING CODE SECTION ON PROPER PARKING.
AND THE NET EFFECT OF ALL THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE THAT THIS APPLICATION ACTUALLY, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT PROVIDES ZERO PARKING SPACES.
NOT ONE CODE DEFINES A PARKING SPACE AS A PARKING STALL, WHICH IT WHERE YOU PARK THE CAR AND THE PARKING AISLE INTO WHICH YOU BACK THE CAR AND MANEUVER AND DIVE TO THE EXIT.
ACCORDING TO THE QUOTE, THE STALL NEEDS TO BE NINE FOOT BY 22 FEET FOR REGULAR PARKING AND 13 FEET FOR 2013 FEET BY 22 FEET LONG FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING, THE AISLE FOR TWO WEEK TRAFFIC NEEDS TO BE 20 FEET.
SO THE MINIMUM PARKING SPACE WOULD BE NINE FEET BY WIDE, BY 40 FEET LONG.
AND SINCE THE LOT IS ONLY 40 FEET WIDE, THERE'S NO PARKING ACROSS THE LOT, WHICH WOULD BE PARALLEL TO FOSTER DRIVE.
SO THAT LEAVES THE ONLY OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR PARKING TO PARK PERPENDICULAR TO FOSTER YARD.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, SIR.
NOW THERE'S NOT NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE FRONT YARD, WHICH IS THE AREA FROM THE HOUSE TO, UH, THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE TO PARK ANY 42 FOOT CARS.
ANYBODY CAN SEE THAT THERE'S ABOUT 30 FEET THERE THAT, THAT LEAVES HERE OF THE YARD.
THE ONLY PLACE, I'M SORRY SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR HEIDI KLAUS.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
TELL ME WHEN I CAN WHEN TO START.
I'M HEIDI KLAUS, 6 68 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE FOR 48 YEARS.
OUR LOT BORDERS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE REZONING FOR ALCOHOL SERVICE IN OUR CAPITAL HEIGHTS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE APPLICANT, ALTHOUGH WE DID SEND HIM OUR BASIS FOR OPPOSITION IN NOVEMBER, TO WHICH HE ONLY REPLIED.
I HAVE THIS, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT WHAT I BELIEVE IS CAUSING A MISUNDERSTANDING OF OUR OPPOSITION.
THIS IS OUR STAFF REPORT AND IT IS GENERATED BY THE ZONING MAP FILTER FROM THE B.GOV WEBSITE.
[00:20:01]
AREA FOR THIS, THE, THE DISCUSSION AND IT SHOWS ALCOHOL SERVICE HERE AT 5 45 SOUTH FOSTER AND IT SHOWS PREDOMINANTLY COMMERCIAL ZONING, THIS LITTLE SPOT OF RESIDENTIAL AROUND THE PROPOSED ALCOHOL SERVICE LOT.SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN VIEWING THIS, HOW PEOPLE WOULD THINK IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE ZONING, BUT THIS IS NOT IN FACT WHAT IS IN PLACE ON THE GROUND IN THIS AREA.
I'M NOW GONNA SHOW YOU THIS EXACT SAME AREA WITH THE EXISTING LAND USE FILTER FROM THE B.GOV WEBSITE.
IT SHOWS AT 5 45 SOUTH FOSTER AN OFFICE.
IT'S A FRAME SHOP WITH NO ALCOHOL SERVICE.
IT ALSO SHOWS 17 RESIDENTIAL LOTS TO THE EAST OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY.
OF THESE 1715 ARE OWNER OCCUPIED.
THEY HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BACKYARD.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS, THIS MAP SHOWS THAT THE CHANGE OF ZONING IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THESE SOUND WITH THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INTENTION OF THE COMMISSION IS TO PENALIZE PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE STAFF REPORTS ARE GENERATED.
THANKFULLY, MID-CITY ALREADY HAS A FRAMEWORK IN PLACE FOR THOSE SEEKING PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES ALCOHOL SALES.
BATON ROUGE JUST SPENT $12 MILLION STRENGTHENING THE ENTERTAINMENT AND BUSINESS CORRIDOR OF MID CITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT STREET AND FLORIDA, WHO'S ZONING IS COMPATIBLE WITH ALCOHOL SALES AND SERVICE.
WHILE STRENGTHENING THE RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS WITH ONE WAY AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ALCOHOL SALES AND SERVICE.
THESE POLAR ZONINGS CAN ONLY WORK TOGETHER WITH LIGHT COMMERCIAL CUSHION BETWEEN THE TWO.
THIS PLAN WAS DESIGNED BY EXPERTS HIRED BY THE CITY TO SUPPORT THRIVING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.
OUR SUCCESS WILL ONLY CONTINUE IF WE FOLLOW THE PLAN.
IF THIS REZONING IS GRANTED, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY PLACE SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT STREET IN MID-CITY AND THE ONLY ADDRESS ON SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE FROM COLLEGE TO FLORIDA THAT SERVES ALCOHOL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM APPLAUDING OR OTHERWISE, UH, DISTURBING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR COLEMAN BROWN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
I'M A LIFELONG BATON ROUGE, AN ARCHITECT AND UH, FRIEND OF BO O'S.
UH, I'M GOING DEFER MOST OF MY TIME TO BODO.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'VE SERVED AS NUMEROUS MID-CITY MERCHANTS, UH, CAPACITIES, CITY CENTER DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, FLORIDA BOULEVARD DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND I WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THIS RESTAURANT USE WITH ALCOHOL IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT WE INTENDED OVER THE LAST 30 OR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO, UH, BODO, IF YOU WANNA SAY A FEW MORE THINGS ON MY TIME.
SO I MADE IT, SIR, YOU, YOU CAN'T YIELD THE REST OF YOUR TIME.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN THAT'LL BE THE END OF, UH, YOUR SPEAKING TIME.
ALRIGHT, SO WHAT, WHAT DO I DO? WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO HAVE A SEAT, SIR.
I THINK YOU CUT OFF AGAIN, SIR.
MY NAME IS CHARLES S SCHOFF AND I LIVE AT 6 6 1 B ENVO STREET.
THE EAST SIDE OF MY PROPERTY LINE BORDERS THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY UP FOR REZONING.
I'VE OWNED MY HOUSE HERE FOR NINE YEARS.
I'M VERY STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS REZONING.
IT PUTS ALCOHOL SALES ON SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THIS QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REZONING WAS DEFERRED AFTER THE OCTOBER 6TH PLAN, 16TH PLANNING MEETING.
AT THAT MEETING, COMMISSIONERS, BANKS, GROUT, ADDISON AND WASHINGTON DETERMINED THAT THE APPLICANT HAD MADE NO CONTACT WITH HIS NEW NEIGHBORS AND COUNSELED HIM TO DO SO.
COMMISSIONER GROUT ALSO NOTED THAT SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORS LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE IN QUESTION THREE FEET.
IN MY CASE, COMMISSIONER WASHINGTON MOVED TO GIVE THIS APPLICANT A MONTH TO CONTACT HIS NEW NEIGHBORS AND DEFERRED THE ISSUE UNTIL NOVEMBER.
AT THE REQUEST OF DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER LAMONT COLE, THIS NOVEMBER DEFERRAL
[00:25:01]
WAS DEFERRED YET AGAIN UNTIL THIS EVENING.THIS GAVE THE APPLICANT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TIME, TWO MONTHS TO CONTACT HIS NEW NEIGHBORS.
THE ENVO RESIDENTS HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD FROM THE APPLICANT OR COLE.
ALSO FROM THIS, THE ONLY ONE WE KNOW WHO WAS HAVING CONTACT WITH THE APPLICANT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER COLE.
FOR THE RECORD, BEFORE THE OCTOBER 16TH MEETING, I CALLED COUNCILMAN COLE'S OFFICE AND LEFT A MESSAGE BUT NEVER GOT A RESPONSE FROM HIM OR HIS OFFICE.
THE APPLICANT TOUTED HIS MID-CITY TIES IN OCTOBER, BUT HE LIVES ON SEVEN OAKS AVENUE MILES AWAY IN AFFLUENT OLD GOODWOOD.
THIS MEANS OUR DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN IN MORE CONTACT WITH THE DISTRICT 11 APPLICANT THAN HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS.
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS REZONING.
THE APPLICANT DOESN'T VOTE FOR COAL.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTIVATION HERE IN 2014, THE SOUTH DOWNS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A REZONING REQUEST FOR ALCOHOL DENIED.
AND THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION THERE WAS ACROSS MORE THAN FIVE LANES OF PERKINS ROAD TRAFFIC FROM SOUTH DOWNS.
THIS IS VASTLY GREATER THAN BORDERING THE BACKYARDS OF HOMEOWNERS LIKE THIS APPLICATION REPORTS BASED SOUTH DOWNS SUCCESS ON THE SUPPORT OF ITS COUNCIL MEMBER WHO BACKED AND RELAYED THE WISHES OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.
FOR SOME REASON, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER SEEMS TO BE SUPPORTING AN APPLICANT FROM A DISTRICT NOT HIS OWN.
THERE ARE ANECDOTAL STORIES OF COUNCIL MEMBER COLE BEING ILL AND MISSING COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT EVIDENTLY HE'S NOT TOO ILL TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THIS APPLICANT WHO IS NOT HIS CONSTITUENT.
THE RESIDENTS OF B ENVAL STREET ARE LOOKING FOR REPRESENTATION TO HEAR OUR VOICES ON THE REZONING.
WE DO NOT WANT ALCOHOL SALES IN OUR BACKYARDS, BUT WITH A DISTANT COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE FORCED TO ASK PLANNING TO HEAR US HOMEOWNERS OUT.
AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE TURNOUT TONIGHT, THE RESIDENTS OF BI STRONGLY STREET STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS REZONING.
IT INTRODUCES ALCOHOL SALES ON SOUTH FOSTER, SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT STREET WHERE HALL SALES HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
SO I'M ASKING DOES ANYONE BESIDE THE APPLICANT KNOW HOW TO REACH LAMONT COLE, THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR DEBBIE WABA.
I HAVE LIVED AT SIX 40 BV FOR 11 YEARS.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I WANNA SAY THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THIS REZONING.
I DID REACH OUT TO COUNCILMAN COLE, OCTOBER 3RD, SIXTH, AND HE WASN'T AVAILABLE.
AND I TALKED TO TIJUANA AND EXPRESSED MY OPPOSITION TO THIS REZONING.
UM, AND TO THIS DAY, THREE OF YOU PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED TO MR. TIMMEL THAT HE NEEDED TO REACH OUT TO US.
AND AS MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, YOU DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND ZONING THAT WOULD ALLOW A BUSINESS TO SELL ALCOHOL, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER ALL THE LIVES THAT WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISION AND NOT JUST THE APPLICANTS.
IT'S SUCH A SCARY THOUGHT TO THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE SELLING ALCOHOL IN OUR BACKYARD WITHOUT A CUSHION EXCEPT FOR MAYBE A FENCE OR POSSIBLY A WALL.
BEVILLE STREET HAS COMMERCIAL AT THE CORNER OF GOVERNMENT, BUT FROM THAT POINT ON, WE ARE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS ALL THE WAY TO CLAY CUT.
IF CAB ONE ZONING IS GRANTED PACKING UP TO OUR HOUSES, THIS WILL BE A PERMANENT AND A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INVESTED OUR LIVES AND OUR MONEY THERE AND WE ARE PLANTED THERE.
I WILL SAY THIS ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THERE ARE TWO NONVERBAL AUTISTIC CHILDREN ON THAT STREET.
THEY'RE GRANDCHILDREN THAT PLAY.
WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE THAT PUT OUR MONEY AND EVERYTHING, OUR HEARTS INTO OUR HOMES.
AND WE NEVER WANTED OR EXPECTED WE WOULD BE DEALING WITH HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER ALCOHOL OUTLET IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I JUST HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EVERYONE AND NOT JUST ONE PERSON.
MY NEXT CARD IS FOR LESLIE BRATTON.
[00:30:04]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AHMED.UM, 47 56 CAPITOL HEIGHTS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM BIENVILLE.
I'M GONNA REITERATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT, UM, DAVID TIMMEL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY WHEN SOMEBODY SANDBAGS THAT AND JUST JUMPS SHIP AND DECIDES THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL ALREADY.
AND, UM, I WAS WONDERING WHY, UM, MR. ADDISON IS JUST GIGGLING AND LAUGHING HALF THE TIME THAT THIS MEETING'S GOING ON.
I MEAN, WHAT'S GOING ON SIR, SIR, IF YOU COULD JUST MAKE YOUR, UH, MAKE YOUR POINTS RELATED TO THE CASE.
WE SPENT $12 MILLION ON A ROAD DIET.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES ALONG THAT ROAD ON GOVERNMENT STREET THAT HAS, UH, ALREADY ZONED BUILDINGS THAT THEY CAN GO RIGHT INTO, MOVE INTO AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS BUILT AS A CORRIDOR FOR THAT KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
WHY TAKE A VIRGIN NEIGHBORHOOD AND ADULTERATED AND THAT'S GONNA BE ON YOUR CONSCIENCE.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR JENNIFER CUTNER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS, UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TO THIS.
UH, LET ME JUST SAY, I AM A, A RESIDENT OF, UH, CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AND MY PROPERTY IS NOT AS IMPACTED BY THIS, THIS, UH, ZONING CHANGE AS OTHERS.
AND I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT THIS.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU, I JUST, I TRIED TO LOOK AT THIS OBJECTIVELY.
I WAS WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR 10 YEARS AND THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
NOT ONLY DID I DEAL WITH THESE ONGOING AGONIZING COMPLAINTS ABOUT BARS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH, UM, WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WENT THROUGH ONCE THIS WAS PASSED.
HAVING SOME VOICE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I WROTE AROUND OBJECTIVELY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THIS IS NOW IF THAT, UH, ZONING VARIANCE OR THAT IS GRANTED, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO BOUNDARIES AROUND CAPITAL HEIGHTS THAT WOULD BE SELLING ALCOHOL.
AND I'M, I'M GOING, WHY? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT STREET TRAFFIC, BUT ONCE YOU START ADDING MORE BUSINESSES TO WHAT'S ALREADY THERE, THAT'S GONNA BE ENOUGH FOR US TO DEAL WITH.
AND THEN MY CONCERN IS, IF YOU GRANT THIS ZONING, UH, CHANGE, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THE ONLY BAR WHO WANTS IT.
AND THIS IS GONNA OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO I AM, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
UM, I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I GOT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, UM, THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND CAPITOL HEIGHTS RUNS RIGHT INTO, UM, UH, SOUTH FOSTER AND I I TOOK OUT OF, I WENT OUT OF MY HOUSE ONE AFTERNOON LATE AND THERE WERE KIDS IN STROLLERS, BICYCLES, SKATES, MOM AND DADS AND DOGS.
I I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO MANAGE THREE KIDS AND A DOG, BUT YOU, YOU GO THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD VERY GINGERLY.
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BARS COME IN.
UM, WE DALLAS HAD AN INJURY PREVENTION CENTER AND THEY LOOKED AT THE IMPLICATIONS OF PUTTING IN BARS CLOSE TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I THINK, UH, CHARLES, YOU HAVE SOME I PASS.
CHARLES HAS SOME, UH, RESEARCH ON THAT.
UM, I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS.
I THINK IT'S GONNA, UH, AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK IT'S GONNA AFFECT, UM, VALUES, PROPERTY VALUES.
I'M ALSO VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO BUFFER ZONE ON EITHER SIDE.
WE'VE GOT BARS NEXT TO HOUSES ON GOVERNMENT AND WE GOT, WE, WE COULD HAVE A BAR NEXT TO HOUSES DIRECTLY NEXT TO HOUSES UNTO FA FOSTER.
SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DENY THIS AND AT LEAST GIVE IT CONSIDERABLY MORE, UH, CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU DO THIS.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR MONICA MURPHY.
LANDRY STREET AND ALSO RENTAL PROPERTY ON CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1988.
I'M ALSO SECRETARY OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS RECENTLY VOTED IN AS A TAX COMMISSION SECTION.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR CHAIRMAN, JOHN HAYNES,
[00:35:01]
WHO WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.COUNCIL MEMBERS AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, I REQUEST YOU DENY THE APPLICATION FOR REZONING 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER TO C AB ONE.
FIRST SOUTH FOSTER IS NOT A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR ANY HIGH TRAFFIC BUSINESS, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS IN THAT AREA OF THE ROAD.
ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OWN TRAFFIC DATA, THERE WERE 117 VEHICLE ACCIDENTS ON THE TWO BLOCK STRETCH OF SOUTH FOSTER BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND CLAY.
CUT FROM JANUARY, 2010 THROUGH AUGUST OF 2022, ADDING A VENUE WITH ALCOHOL IMPAIRED CUSTOMERS TRYING TO PULL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ONTO SOUTH FOSTER AS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
SECOND, THIS EXPERIMENT WAS ALREADY TRIED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED REZONING LOCATION, ALBEIT UNINTENTIONALLY AT SAMMY'S CRAWFISH KING, WHICH WAS ALLEGEDLY SELLING ALCOHOL TO ITS PATRONS.
THE RESULT WAS AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, TRESPASSING AND INEBRIATED PATRONS CAUSING HAVOC FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON BOTH SIDES OF SOUTH FOSTER.
NOTE THAT SAMMY STILL HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED FOR CAB ONE.
THE ASSURANCES OF THE WOULD-BE RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE MEANINGLESS.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, 60% OF RESTAURANTS FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AND 80% FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, THIS PROFO PROPOSED RESTAURANT VENTURE WILL MOST LIKELY FAIL.
AND ONCE THE LOT AT 6 6 2 SOUTH FOSTER IS REZONED, THERE IS NO RESTRICTION ON THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT WOULD FOLLOW.
I DO NOT THINK IT IS THE INTENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND DEFINITELY NOT THE INTENT OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO PERMIT A NIGHTCLUB OR BAR TO EXIST IN THAT LOCATION.
HOWEVER, ONCE IT HAS BE REZONED, PREVENTING THAT TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT WOULD BE DIFFICULT AT BEST.
FOURTH, THE CITY'S OWN COMMUNITY DESIGN AND NEIGHBORHOOD SECTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE SOUTH FOSTER AS A LOCATION FOR NEW RESTAURANTS OR ANY SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT.
RATHER, IT SPECIFICALLY POINTS TO GOVERNMENT STREET AND FLORIDA BOULEVARD AS THE PREFERRED DESTINATIONS FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RESIDENTS CLOSEST TO THE PROPOSED REZONING ARE OPPOSED TO THIS.
THERE'LL BE NO GOODWILL FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND THE LONGTIME RESIDENTS WHO SHARE A PROPERTY LINE WITH THE LOT WILL BE THE ONES MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED BY ANY POOR BEHAVIOR.
OTHER PROPOSED PATRONS WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO NEW BUSINESS RESTAURANTS OR EVEN BARS.
WE SIMPLY DO NOT WANT THEM SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT STREET.
AGAIN, THIS REQUEST IS IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S OWN PLAN FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF OUR MID-CITY AREA AS A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE NOT ASKING THE COUNCIL TO VOTE IN ANY EXTRAORDINARY FASHION, WHETHER WE'RE ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL FOLLOW ITS OWN EXISTING PATH AND PLAN AND MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
MY NEXT CARD IS FOR CATHERINE FRY.
UM, I KNOW EVERYONE HAS KIND OF ALREADY GAVE THEIR PLEAS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I AM, UM, JUST GONNA MAKE A PERSONAL PLEA.
I AM THE YOUNGEST HOMEOWNER ON BIENVILLE.
UM, AND I AM DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THIS LOT.
I WOULD BE SHARING A FENCE WITH, UM, THIS ESTABLISHMENT AND I'M OPPOSING THE REZONING.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL OKAY WITH THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE USED MY LIFE SAVINGS TO PURCHASE THIS HOME THINKING THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE BABIES HERE.
AND I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT IF THERE'S A BAR IN MY BACKYARD.
LIKE I SAID, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I TALKED TO DAVID TIMMEL WHEN WE WALKED OUT LAST TIME BECAUSE I AM HIS NEIGHBOR AND I WANT TO HAVE A CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN COEXIST.
AND I SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK EVERYONE WILL FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE HAVE A MEETING AND YOU CAN EXPRESS.
'CAUSE HE TOLD ME SOME OF HIS IDEAS AND IT SOUNDED A LOT BETTER THAN, THAN THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL ASSUMING AND GUESSING.
AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD REACH OUT TO US, YOU KNOW, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
AND HE'S ALSO NOT HERE TONIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOT TO SPEAK FOR SOMETHING.
UM, LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, MY BEDROOM IS 30 FEET FROM WHERE HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO BE PUTTING 30 PARKING SPACES.
I HAVE CHICKENS IN MY BACKYARD.
I GROW MY OWN FOOD, I HAVE DOGS, AND WE WILL BE SHARING A FENCE.
AND I AM NOW LOOKING FOR AN EXIT PLAN.
YOU KNOW, I'M 26 WHO'S GONNA BUY MY HOUSE WITH AN ALCOHOL, YOU KNOW, WITH A, A BAR BEHIND IT? I, I, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE RAISING CHILDREN HERE ANYMORE.
IT'S SAD BECAUSE FOR HIM, IT'S NOT HIS EVERYDAY LIFE, BUT FOR ME AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE HERE IT IS.
THIS CHANGES MY EVERYDAY LIFE.
EVERY DAY GOING TO BED EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING.
AND I LOVE REGGAE, SO I'M ALL FOR THAT, YOU KNOW.
[00:40:02]
YOU, WE ALL KNOW HOW ALCOHOL CHANGES THINGS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE RESTAURANT.I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT REZONING IT TO WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO SELL ALCOHOL.
AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, UM, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HERE DOES.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN SEE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND AT LEAST SHOW UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OURSELVES AND, YOU KNOW, HE IS NOT HERE.
UH, NEXT COURT IS FOR MR. DELLA FIORA.
COULD YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, SIR? I DIDN'T WANNA BUTCHER IT.
AND, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK FOR A FEW MINUTES.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN CAPITOL HEIGHTS FOR 18 YEARS.
I'VE BUILT A FEW HOUSES THERE, AND EVEN THEN BEFORE THIS ZONING COMMISSION TRYING TO CHANGE THE ZONING, UH, BACK THEN FOR ME IT WAS TO TRY TO GET DUPLEX ZONING, WHICH, UH, OR MULTIFAMILY, UH, LIKE A TWO RESIDENCE ZONING THAT WAS NEW AND I DIDN'T DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS, UM, MORE DENSITY FOR CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
UM, WHEN I FIRST MOVED THERE, I THINK THE HOUSES WERE, THE MEDIAN PRICE WAS MAYBE AROUND 150,000 OR SO.
THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR A HOUSE NOW IS DOUBLED.
SO IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, UM, I SOLD MY FIRST HOUSE FOR 200,000.
NOW A THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH HOUSE.
WHAT AM I SAYING? I'M SAYING THAT CAPITOL HEIGHTS IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YOUNG AFFLUENT PEOPLE TO MOVE TO, BUT IT'S ALSO A GREAT TAX BASE FOR OUR CITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM $60,000 HOUSES TO 400 AND AND $600,000 HOUSES.
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UH, I LOVE THAT THERE'S ALL THESE BARS ON GOVERNMENT STREET BECAUSE IT LENDS TO US WALKING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BE IT AT THE END OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS ON JEFFERSON OR, UM, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S THE, THE WALKING PATH OR, UM, AT GOVERNMENT STREET WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE CLOSE TO GOVERNMENT STREET, THEY ALREADY KNEW THAT THERE WERE SOME BARS THERE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S WHATEVER, A HANDFUL OF THEM, UM, ALONG THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS CORRIDOR.
I'M OPPOSED TO THE, THE NEW ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ZONING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS SPOT OF SOUTH FOSTER, WE, WE REALLY NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT GETTING A CROSSWALK THERE.
WE HAVE THE ONLY WALKING PATH IN THE CITY, THE LAKES, THE LSU LAKES.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ORGANIZED WALKING PATH THERE.
I KNOW PEOPLE WALK THERE, BUT WE HAVE THE ONLY WALKING PATH.
AND SOME, SOMEONE MENTIONED WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU SEE, UH, CHILDREN.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY MOTHERS WITH, UH, STROLLERS, UH, PEOPLE WALKING AROUND, GIVE THEM SOME PLACE TO WALK AND THERE THEY ARE.
THERE'S NO WAY TO CROSS FOSTER, UH, REALLY SAFELY.
IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND THERE'S TWO WALKING PATHS.
SO INSTEAD OF GETTING MORE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, WHAT WE NEED IS, UM, A CROSSWALK THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TRY TO TRAIN SOUTH LOUISIANA DRIVERS TO STOP FOR A CROSSWALK.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, I'M OPPOSED TO THE ZONING.
IT'S NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING FOR MY HOME VALUE THERE.
UM, ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GONNA BRING MORE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC WHERE THAT THAT PART HAS A, A LIGHT COMMERCIAL OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, A FRAME SHOP.
THERE'S A LITTLE, UM, SOME KIND OF A RESTAURANT OVER THERE, BUT MOST, IT'S MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL AND IT'S JUST, I DON'T WANT ANY NEW BARS WHERE THERE IS.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED PLENTY OF PLACES TO, UM, OPEN ON GOVERNMENT STREET.
UH, NEXT CARD IS FOR MATTHEW CALLIS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS, UH, MATTHEW ACK, AND I'M, UH, BEEN A RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 13 YEARS NOW.
UM, I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER IN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN, WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I CURRENTLY AM THE TREASURER OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT, WHERE I'VE SERVED FOR FIVE YEARS.
UH, THERE'S CURRENTLY NOT REALLY A WORKING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS IT FLUXES IN AND OUT BASED ON THE PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEERS.
UM, BUT I HAVE A LETTER FROM TYLER HICKS WHO SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR FIVE YEARS AND SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, TYLER SAYS, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING AND COMMISSION, I'M WRITING AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF THE CAPITOL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDING THE PROPOSED REZONING.
WHILE I'M TYPICALLY HESITANT TO OPPOSE REDEVELOPMENT OF UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES IN THE GOVERNMENT STREET AREA,
[00:45:01]
I BELIEVE THAT APPROVING THIS REZONING REQUEST IS THE WRONG DECISION FOR THE SPECIFIC PROPERTY DUE TO ITS SMALL LOT SIZE AND PROXIMITY TO THE SMALL LOT SIZE RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT WOULD SHARE A FENCE LINE.IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE SERVING ON THE BOARDS OF BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE CRIME PREVENTION IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT, I WAS CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH SMALLER REZONING REQUESTS OF CAPTAIN D'S CURBSIDE AND MID-CITY BEER GARDEN.
IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES, THE BUSINESS OWNERS LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND CLEARLY SHOWED THE STEPS THEY WOULD TAKE TO MITIGATE ISSUES SUCH AS NOISE, TRAFFIC, AND PARKING.
IN THE CORRESPONDENCE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MY CONCERNED NEIGHBORS, THE OWNERS OF 6 62 SOUTH FOSTER DRIVE HAVE SHOWN LITTLE TO NO RESPONSIVENESS IN ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS FROM THEIR FUTURE NEIGHBORS.
ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER THE MANY VACANT, BLIGHTED, VACANT, AND BLIGHTED CB ONE PROPERTIES PRESENT ALONG GOVERNMENT STREET AND THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WHEN 75% OF NEW BUSINESSES FAIL, WHY VOTE AGAINST THE WISHES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS WHO KNOW AND LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD? I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND INTENTION ON THIS MATTER, AND I TRUST THAT THE COMMISSION WILL MAKE A DECISION THAT BEST REFLECTS THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I WOULD ADDITIONALLY LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, I WAS PERSONALLY LIVING IN THE AREA WHEN CURBSIDE WAS MY TWO DOORS DOWN.
THEY CAME TO TALK TO US BEFORE THEY, BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING TO TELL US WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
UM, AND WE, WHERE I LIVE IS SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY FROM, UH, THE BEER GARDEN, BUT THEY STILL DID A PRESENTATION AT A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO SHOW EVERYONE.
UH, THEY ALSO CONTACTED THE CHURCHES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF INGLESIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOR 10 YEARS.
AND THIS, THIS PERSON HAS NOT REACHED OUT TO ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS, AND THAT'S VERY TELLING.
WE HAVE TWO, UH, TWO REMAINING SPEAKING CORDS THAT ARE IN, UH, OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, BUT THEY DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
I'LL READ THOSE NAMES IN FOR THE RECORD.
TABITHA RE AND LINDSAY MARQUETTE, AT THIS TIME I WOULD NORMALLY OFFER A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL TO THE APPLICANT, BUT IF HE NOR NOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT IS HERE, THEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER? UH, COMMISSIONER SCROGGS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
DENY I BELIEVE THAT MOTION RECEIVED A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BOYD OR THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I WILL, I WILL NOTE AN OBJECTION FOR THE SIMPLE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING THIS TO, UH, GO TO COUNCIL.
THAT'LL ALLOW THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
AND, UH, AND THE APPLICANT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T HERE TO MAKE IT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS HERE WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY BROUGHT.
SO IF HE HAS, UH, FURTHER COMMENTS THAT HE'D TO MAKE AT THAT TIME, THEN WE'LL DO THAT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DENIED.
[6. ISPUD-2-23 Goodwood Villa]
NUMBER SIX I BUD.2 23 GOODWOOD VILLA IPU DASH TWO DASH 23 GOODWOOD VILLA, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH SIDE OF GOODWOOD BOULEVARD, WEST OF COLONIAL DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 ADAM.
THE APPLICANT IS DAVID C ABERT.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSED LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH THREE LOTS AND SETBACK VARIATION.
THE FUTURE BUREAU ORLEANS DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IPU DASH TWO DASH 23.
GOODWOOD VILLA STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA OF THE INFILL SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED THREE MESSAGES AND OPPOSITION AND FOUR MESSAGES IN SUPPORT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
THE SUBJECT LOT IS IMMEDIATELY EAST OF A LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD.
THE GEC BUILDING, THE PROPOSAL IS TO SUBDIVIDE THE EXISTING LARGE RESIDENTIAL LOT INTO THREE SMALLER RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THE HOMES ARE SINGLE STORY TWO CAR ATTACHED GARAGE ENCLOSED GARAGES IN THE 1900 TO 2200 SQUARE FOOT SIZE.
UH, EACH HOME WILL HAVE A SIDE YARDS WITH WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES OF
[00:50:01]
THE HOUSE.THIS IS NOT A ZERO LOT LINE SITUATION.
UH, BRICK VENEER AND CEMENTITIOUS SIDING, UH, ARE PLANNED.
UH, THE TWO HOMES FACING COLONIAL DRIVE.
TWO FACED COLONIAL, A THIRD ONE FACES GOODWOOD BOULEVARD.
THE TWO THAT WOULD FACE COLONIAL DRIVE WOULD MAINTAIN THE 30 FOOT FRONT BUILDING LINES SET BACK, WHICH THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD HAS.
WHO HAS TO BE HARMONIOUS WITH WHAT IS EXISTING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO REZONE THIS LOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFULLY MADE.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE OUD PLAN THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED BEFORE, Y'ALL WOULD PROVIDE A NICE TRANSITION FROM THE LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING ADJACENT TO SUBJECT LOT AND WOULD PREVENT FUTURE NON-RESIDENTIAL REZONING ATTEMPTS ON THIS AS WELL.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NOT AT THIS TIME.
UH, FIRST SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM IS FOR LON THORN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS IN VILLE.
AND LADIES, GENTLEMEN, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE RECENTLY.
CYPRUS MANOR COURT FROM ONE STREET SUBDIVISION IMMEDIATELY TO THE WEST OF COLONIAL DRIVE.
AND GOODWOOD VILLA TWO ACRE PLOT WAS SUBDIVIDED INTO FOUR RESIDENTIAL HOMES, 23 TO 2,400 SQUARE FEET.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ONE HOUSE TO FIT IN WITH THE HUNDREDS OF HOUSES IN GOODWOOD VILLA AND TARA.
THAT WOULD BE FINE, MAYBE EVEN TWO.
BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THREE SHOTGUN HOUSES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE, A DOUBLE GARAGE DOOR AND A FRONT DOOR, THAT'S JUST GREED.
AND WHEN YOU SAY IT MEETS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, SURELY WE CAN DO BETTER THAN MINIMUM.
NOW IF I COME TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I BUY THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO YOU AND WANT SUBDIVIDED INTO THREE, IF YOU APPROVE IT, WATCH OUT.
'CAUSE I MIGHT COME AND DO IT TO YOUR LOT NEXT DOOR TOO.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR JOHN ENGELMAN.
I'M A RETIRED LAWYER AND MOSTLY IN THE PREVIOUS CENTURY.
I SPENT 18 YEARS AS CITY JUDGE IN BAKER.
IN 2010, MY WIFE KATHY AND I DECIDED TO MOVE TO BATON ROUGE FROM BAKER.
WE WANTED TO LOOK IN MID-CITY FOR A HOME, AND WE FOUND ONE IN GOODWOOD VILLA THAT WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY.
MY HOME IS ABOUT HALF A BLOCK FROM LOT ONE, WHICH IS WHAT THE A BEARS WANT TO, UH, CRAM THREE HOUSES UPON.
OUR SUBDIVISION IS ALMOST 60 YEARS OLD.
IT'S KIND OF OLD FASHIONED AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.
WE HAVE 178 LOTS IN GOODWOOD VILLA AND 177 OF THEM HAVE ONE HOUSE ON THEM.
WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE IN GOODWOOD VILLA, I ASSURE YOU, IF THAT HOUSE HAD HAD NEXT DOOR TO IT A LOT WITH THREE HOUSES ON IT, THERE IS NO WAY WE WOULD'VE BOUGHT.
IN GOODWOOD VILLA THREE HOUSES ON ONE LOT OF LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE.
IN SIZE MEANS THREE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE, THREE TIMES AS MANY CARS, THREE TIMES THE NOISE, THREE TIMES THE PETS, THREE TIMES THE GARBAGE.
IF THIS, UH, REZONING IS APPROVED, VERY LIKELY ONE OF THE HOUSES WILL BECOME A RENT HOUSE.
AND I ASSURE YOU THAT PEOPLE WILL PARK ON THE STREET ALONG COLONIAL DRIVE.
THIS WILL MEAN A MORE DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TURNING EXPERIENCE FROM GOODWOOD BOULEVARD ONTO COLONIAL DRIVE AND FROM COLONIAL DRIVE BACK ONTO GOODWOOD.
THIS PLAN IS SIMPLY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE OTHER 177 LOTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN GOODWOOD
[00:55:01]
VILLA SUBDIVISION.ALL THESE LOTS, THEY'RE ZONED A ONE WE LOVE OUR A ONE ZONING AND EACH LOT HAS ONE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS, SIR.
SO YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS REMAINING.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR CHRISTINA DORSA.
UM, I AM PRESIDENT OF THE GOODWOOD VILLA CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW.
WE FOUGHT THIS FIGHT SOME YEARS BACK.
AS ONE, ONE OF THE MEMBERS ALREADY STATED WHEN IT WANTED TO BE, SOMEONE TRIED TO REZONE IT TO COMMERCIAL FOR A DENTIST OFFICE.
NOW IS THE CASE IS BACK THEN, WHICH IS WE'RE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT THE BUFFER BETWEEN THE RESIDENTIAL AND AND COMMERCIAL AREAS.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE A BEARERS AND WE ASKED, IS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND? CAN WE DO TWO LOTS INSTEAD OF THREE? AND THE ANSWER WAS NO.
THE PROBLEM I HAVE PERSONALLY WITH THE PLAN IS, AGAIN, THAT THIRD HOUSE.
AS PART OF THE SMART ZONING, SMART PLANNING IN BATON ROUGE, WE LIKE TO LIMIT DRIVEWAYS ONTO MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
AND AS YOUR STAFF REPORT STATES, GOODWOOD BOULEVARD IS A MAJOR STREET.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING A DRIVEWAY ON A MAJOR STREET ACROSS A BICYCLE LANE AND 25 FEET AWAY FROM, AS MR. ABER STATED, THE DRIVEWAY FOR GEC ENGINEERING.
IT'S NOT THE, ADDING THAT THIRD HOUSE ON THE BACK OF THE LOT DOES NOT GIVE YOU GOOD BUFFERS BETWEEN YOUR COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.
IT ADDS A DRIVEWAY 25 FEET FROM A COMMERCIAL DRIVEWAY AND IT PUTS AN ADDITIONAL DRIVEWAY ACROSS OUR BIKE LANE.
WHY, WHY, WHY INVEST SO MUCH MONEY AND TIME INTO PUTTING THESE BIKE LANES IF YOU'RE JUST GONNA KEEP ADDING DRIVEWAYS ACROSS THEM AND DETERIORATING THE SAFETY OF THOSE BIKE LANES? IN ADDITION, TO APPROVE THIS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GRANT A WAIVER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT 30 FOOT SETBACK ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD.
IN ADDITION, THAT LACK OF A 30 FOOT SETBACK PUTS THEM IN VIOLATION OF OUR DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.
IT PUTS THEM IN VIOLATION OF THE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS, NOT ONLY FROM THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY, BUT FROM THE SIDES OF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE NONE OF THE PROPERTIES HAVE THE EIGHT FOOT SIDE RESTRICTIONS THAT OUR DEEDED DEEDED RESTRICTIONS REQUIRE.
SO, UH, FOR THOSE REASONS, IT'S GONNA RESULT IN A LAWSUIT BETWEEN THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE DEVELOPER.
WE'VE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE A TWO HOUSE MIDDLE GROUND AND THEY'VE BEEN UNWILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT A A TWO HOUSE MIDDLE GROUND.
THE THIRD HOUSE JUST MAKES IT UNACCEPTABLE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING GUIDELINES AND UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF DEEDED RESTRICTIONS AND SIN VIOLATION OF.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M OPPOSED.
WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CORDS THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION BUT DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
THOSE ARE FOR O OWEN COPE AND TOM C.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL INVITE THE APPLICANT, UH, BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
UH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, IN OPPOSITION DID MENTION, UH, CONCERNS WITH TRAFFIC AND WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, UH, AND ADDRESSED ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HADN'T ADAPTED THE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
UH, AND THEN IT'S ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY OF THE EXISTING HOUSES THAT FACE GOODWOOD BOULEVARD, THAT FRONT ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD, UH, THEY'RE NOT 30 FEET BACK, THEY'RE SOMETHING LESS THAN 30 FEET BACK AS WELL ON COLONIAL.
THE HOUSES THAT FACE COLONIAL DRIVE, THEY ARE 30 FEET BACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH ON THE, THE, UH, TWO LOTS THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED FACING COLONIAL.
COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, INVITE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? VICE CHAIRMAN GRUB.
I'M, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE I, I KNOW THIS LOT INTIMATELY.
UH, MY OFFICE IS ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD JUST DOWN THE STREET ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY.
I PASS THIS EVERY DAY AND HALF FOR 20 YEARS.
THIS LOT HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.
UH, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A POTENTIAL
[01:00:01]
FOR COMMERCIAL ON THIS.GOODWOOD BOULEVARD IS A BASICALLY COMMERCIAL STREET IN THIS AREA.
UM, THIS BEING A ONE MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.
UH, I'M NOT REALLY WILD ABOUT THE THIRD LOT AT ALL, BUT I WOULD RATHER SEE RESIDENTIAL HAPPEN HERE TO KEEP IT RESIDENTIAL THAN COMMERCIAL.
AND I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS, ISSUES.
THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND AND THE APPLICANT ARE GONNA HAVE TO WORK OUT 'CAUSE WE CAN'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY WILD ABOUT THREE, BUT I WOULD RATHER SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN HERE THAN NOTHING.
SO WHEN THE TIME COMES, UM, I, AS OF RIGHT NOW, UNLESS SOMEBODY CAN BRING SOMETHING FA FURTHER FORWARD, I RELUCTANTLY WOULD, WOULD APPROVE THIS IF A MOTION IS MADE.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT I'LL, IT RELUCTANTLY IS A, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? THERE'S A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BOYD.
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
AT THIS TIME.WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS, BEGINNING WITH DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
SOPHIA REMINDERS BEFORE YOUR NEXT MEETING, UH, REMINDER, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 25TH AND MONDAY, JANUARY 1ST FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS.
AND ALSO ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15TH IN OBSERVANCE OF THE MARTIN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
I DO NEED TO POINT OUT THAT JANUARY, THE JANUARY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE YEAR.
YOU'LL ELECT OFFICERS APPROVE THE 2024 CALENDAR, THE ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM, AND THE ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT.
AT THIS MEETING, YOU HAVE DRAFT COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS AND ALSO INFORMATION BULLETINS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLISHED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2023 CONSISTENT WITH ANY PAST PRACTICE, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ELECTION OF OFFICE OR REQUESTED TO INDICATE THEIR INTEREST.
UNDER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS THIS MONTH, I DO WANNA WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER AND COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS, WHO HAS AND CELEBRATES A DECEMBER BIRTHDAY.
THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS JANUARY 17TH, 2024.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AND A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER SLASH COUNCIL MEMBER SHAUNA BANKS.
I WAS JUST GETTING OVER A COLD SO I DON'T ALREADY A COLD.
OTHER, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, I'D, I'D HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, PERFORM FOR YOU
AT THIS TIME WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
COMMENTS.WE'LL BEGIN WITH, UH, OUR LATEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
UH, WE'LL BE CONGRATULATING JEFFREY LUENBERGER OF THE LONE RANGE, UH, PLANNING, UH, DIVISION, WHO'S A LONG RANGE PLANNING MANAGER.
JEFFREY COORDINATES ALL PROGRAMS IN LONG RANGE AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE TO FUTURE BR CITY PARISH COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING.
FUTURE BR GUIDES OUR COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LONG TERM AND DESCRIBES HOW OUR COMMUNITY'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS TO BE ACHIEVED.
IN SHORT, THERE'S A BLUEPRINT FOR OUR FUTURE.
THE 12 MONTH PLAN PRO, I'M SORRY, THE 12 MONTH UPDATE PROCESS INVOLVED MEETING WITH LEAD AGENCIES, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND PLANNING STAFF TO SOLICIT INPUT.
HE ALSO COORDINATED PUBLIC OUTREACH WITH OUR CONSULTANTS TO GET ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
IN ALL OF HIS ASSIGNMENTS, JEFFREY DISPLAYS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND OVERALL WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHERS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JEFFREY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO, UH, INDICATE MY INTEREST, UH, IN CONTINUING TO SERVE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, VICE CHAIRMAN GROP.
UH, AS I, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONTINUE AS THE VICE CHAIR, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, COMMISSION FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
[01:05:01]
YOU.ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN MOTION FROM THE BIRTHDAY GIRL SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LATINO? ANY OBJECTIONS, MEETINGS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.