[ROLL CALL]
[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 THE ROLL CALL.
MR. HOLCOMB, CHAIRMAN WASHINGTON.
AND COMMISSIONER MEMBERS, BEFORE WE GET ON TO ROUTINE BUSINESS, UH, I'D LIKE TO AT THIS TIME
[SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS]
TAKE A MOMENT.UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, ONE OF OUR OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS, COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS, FOR HER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THIS PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD.
IF WE GATHER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, I'M UNABLE TO START IT.
WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOU AND IT READS, I'LL HOLD IT WITH THIS HAND.
ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS, UH, RECOGNITION.
IT READS AN 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.
SEAN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU ON THIS COMMISSION FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
ANYONE THAT'S, UH, HAD ANY KIND OF INTERACTION WITH YOU OR EVEN BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE YOU, UH, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER ON THE COUNCIL, KNOWS THAT YOU'RE A VERY DEDICATED AND VERY PASSIONATE, UH, PUBLIC SERVANT
SO WE'LL CERTAINLY MISS THAT FIRE THAT YOU BRING, UH, TO THE BOARD.
IF WE COULD HAVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
DONE
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 18TH MEETING? MOVED BY COMMISSIONER FOWLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRUNELL.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE OF THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AT THIS TIME.
[COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE]
US AN UP, AN UPDATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.UM, SO AT YOUR RECEIPT, SO THE DRAFT COPY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND FUTURE BUREAU PROGRESS REPORT, UM, FOR Y'ALL TO REVIEW, UM, THE ANNUAL REPORT INCLUDES A SUMMARY OF WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND THE PROGRESS REPORT INCLUDES UPDATES TO FUTURE VR.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, THOSE COULD BE EMAILED BACK TO RYAN BY JANUARY 10TH.
UM, THEN A REPORT WILL COME BACK TO THIS BODY FOR APPROVAL AT THE JANUARY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK ALL OF OUR LEAD AGENCIES, UM, FOR PROVIDING ACTION ITEMS. UM, COMMENTS AND UPDATES.
UH, WE HAVE 34 LEAD AG LEAD AGENCIES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING, UM, 300, SORRY, 436 ACTION ITEMS. AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, 50% OF THOSE ARE EITHER COMPLETE OR INSTITUTIONALIZED IN THE CITY PARISH PLANNING SYSTEM.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
ASK VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT TO READING 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 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 A MEETING AGENDA AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY FILLING OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD INDICATING 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 OR COMBINED PERIOD OF NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
PROPONENTS WILL SPEAK THAN THE OPPONENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL NOT BE ALLOWED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.
SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS BY AVOIDING DUPLICATION IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
APPLICANT WILL BE ALLOWED A TOTAL PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
OPPONENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REBUT ITEMS PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S.
STAFF WILL NOT HAVE TIME ALLOCATED FOR SPEAKING, EXCUSE ME, UNLESS THERE IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AT THE MEETING WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
IN SUCH CASES, THE PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.ITEM NINE CS 1624 CONSENT ITEM FOR DEFERRAL WILLIAM T WOODSIDE PROPERTY PROPOSED FLAG LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAMUELS ROAD NORTH OF MOUNT PLEASANT ZACHARY ROAD DEFERRED BY PLANNING
[00:05:01]
DIRECTORY TO JANUARY 27TH, 2025.72 50 PERKINS ROAD TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A ONE TO LIMITED RESIDENTIAL, A 3.1 LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PERKINS ROAD WEST OF STARRING LANE.
ITEM SIX, PUB 1 0 5 TRACTION SPORTS COMPLEX, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CYPRESS MOUNDS.
FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, REVISION PROPOSED REVISION TO ADD A MULTI MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF GUARD AIR LANE NORTH OF INNOVATION PARK DRIVE.
ITEM SEVEN P 4 0 8, THE HEIGHTS AT MATERA WOMEN'S HOSPITAL FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVISION.
PROPOSED REVISION IS TO INCREASE BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF MCCALL DRIVE EAST OF STOMBERG LANE.
PHILADELPHIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH PROPOSED TEMPORARY BUILDING ADDITION TO EXISTING RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HANKS DRIVE EAST OF ASTORIA DRIVE PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE COMMISSION MEMBERS.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL 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 THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED FROM CONSENT AND HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA SAYING NONE IS THEIR MOTION.
MOTION BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUSE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[Items 2 & 3]
NEXT TWO ITEMS MAY BE TAKEN TOGETHER.AT THIS TIME WE'LL HEAR PLAN AMENDMENT 7 24 AND CASE 53 24, 1400 TO 1500 WOODDALE BOULEVARD, PA 7 24 1400 TO 1500 WOODDALE BOULEVARD RELATED TO CASE 53 24.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF WOODDALE BOULEVARD SOUTH OF TOM DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR.
THE APPLICANT IS TANNER STROHEIM.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A REQUESTED FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF EMPLOYMENT CENTER.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS LIGHT COMMERCIAL C ONE AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL THREE LC THREE WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE THREE CW THREE PA 7 24 1400 TO 1500 WOODDALE BOULEVARD RELATED TO CASE 53 24.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
UM, I LIVE AT 1873 EDINBURG AVENUE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 0 8.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
UM, JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
THIS, UH, PROPERTY WAS RECENTLY SUBDIVIDED TO A 12.9 ACRE TRACT, PART OF A BIGGER TRACT.
WENT THROUGH THE COMMISSION, I THINK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, A FEW FEW A MONTH AGO OR SO.
THE CURRENT TRACKS IS CURRENTLY ZONED LC THREE AND C ONE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO CONSOLIDATE THE PROPERTY INTO ONE SINGLE ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING TO REASONABLY INTENSIFY THE ZONING TO CW THREE, WHICH IS OUR OPINION CONSISTENT WITH THE ADJACENT USES.
OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE HAVE TO GO UP FROM COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD TO, UH, ECONOMIC CENTER ON THE FUTURE LAND USE.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS IN PERSON WITH MR. BALDWIN AND AS WELL WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN, WHO IS THE COUNCILMAN FOR THIS DISTRICT.
AND WE'VE HAD, UH, VERBAL SUPPORT FROM BOTH OF THOSE GENTLEMEN AT OUR PER AT OUR FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS.
SINCE THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION FROM THE COMMISSIONER SCRA.
SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS, ANY NEED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED AT THIS TIME.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO CASE NUMBER FIVE.
[5. Case 54-24 535 Saint Rose Avenue ]
NUMBER FIVE, CASE 54 24 5 3 5 ST.ROSE AVENUE CASE 54 24 5 3 5 ST.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF ST.
ROSE AVENUE, SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT STREET COUNCIL.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A TWO WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE AND O CASE 54 24 5 3 5 ST.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS A CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE
[00:10:01]
OF ZONING BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED 21 MESSAGES IN SUPPORT IN THREE MESSAGES AND OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? DOING WELL, THANKS.
THANKS FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS TODAY.
UM, BRIEFLY, I'M THE OWNER, UM, OF BARRACUDA RESTAURANTS, UH, BRETT JONES, UM, SPEAKING OBVIOUSLY FOR THE ZONING CHANGE AT THE LOT AT 5 3 5 ST.
UM, THAT DIRECTLY ABUTS MY BUSINESS AT BARRACUDA TACO STAND, UM, AT 2 5 0 4 GOVERNMENT STREET.
UM, I WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING, UM, THAT WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN OPEN HERE, UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS GROWTH AT GOING FORWARD.
UH, THOUGH I DON'T OWN THIS PROPERTY, WE HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ON OUR SIDE IN IMPROVING THE SPACE.
UM, AND OUR AND SINCERE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER ACCESSIBLE DINING OPTIONS, UH, AND A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
UM, IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, THERE WERE SOME POINTS THAT RAISED THAT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO.
UM, AND THOUGH I'M NOT THE OWNER OR THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY, UM, I CAN I CAN SPEAK TO SOME, SOME OF THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE LOT SO FAR.
UH, WHEN WE DID, WHEN WE FIRST LEASED THE PROPERTY, THERE WAS A BLIGHTED HOUSE, UH, ON THE LOT, UM, ON THE ST.
THIS PROPERTY WAS NOT ONLY IN DISREPAIR, BUT ALSO A HUB FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
THERE WERE SQUATTERS, UM, UH, UH, THERE WERE PEOPLE STRIPPING, UH, THE HOME FOR PARTS, BASICALLY LOTS OF DRUG USE.
UM, IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.
IT WAS IN A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT AT NIGHT, UH, IN PARTICULAR.
UH, AND IT RESULTED IN SEVERAL UNFORTUNATE INTERACTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS AND FOR OUR STAFF, INCLUDING THEFT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PROPERTY, GENERALLY UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR LIVING AND DOING BUSINESS.
UM, THE CITY DID RECOGNIZE THIS SHSU AND MANDATED ITS DEMOLITION.
UM, THE, UH, OUR LANDLORD, MR. NELY, QUICKLY FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT DIRECTIVE, UM, WHICH SHOULD IMPROVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
UH, THE LOT THEN DID BECOME KIND OF A DEFACTO PARKING AREA FOR PATRONS WHEN THERE WERE OVERFLOW UH, EVENTS AND BUSY NIGHTS.
UM, DUE TO THIS FACT, WE, WE DID ADD SIGNAGE DIRECTING FOLKS TO OTHER PARKING OPTIONS, UH, THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND, BUT IT DID KIND OF GET THE PARCEL INTO ESSENTIALLY A MUD PIT AT THAT POINT.
IT CREATED AN EYESORE AT THAT POINT, AND NOW WE KNOW MISTAKENLY DUMPED SOME GRAVEL ON IT TO TRY TO APPEAR TO IMPROVE APPEARANCES OF THAT.
AFTER THAT, A CHAIN BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE OF IT AND, UH, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THEN ULTIMATELY A FENCE THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON THIS PARTICULAR LOT OVER TIME.
UM, ALL THAT SAID, OUR BUSINESS HAS THRIVED, UH, THANKS TO STRONG SUPPORT FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AREA.
WE COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND I, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, AND WE'RE IMMENSELY APPRECIATIVE OF, OF THE RECEPTION WE'VE HAD.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DO FACE ONGOING PARKING CHALLENGES THAT HINDER OUR ABILITY TO, UH, RECRUIT NEW CUSTOMERS.
UH, WHILE THOSE VOICING OPPOSITION DO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE LOT IN QUESTION, OUR TEAM IN PARTICULAR, NOT EVEN ME, BUT MY TEAM ON THE SITE DOES HAVE TO HEAR A LOT OF BLOW BACK FROM NEIGHBORS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY APPRECIATE SO MUCH STREET PARKING, UH, THAT DOES COME WITH IT.
UM, SO WE KIND, OUR TEAM, UH, AND I'M SPEAKING A LOT ON THEIR BEHALF, UM, KIND OF END UP GETTING IT FROM BOTH SIDES ON THAT.
AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN SEEK A, A COMMON SENSE RESOLUTION.
UM, WE'RE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY FURTHER AND WE'VE INVESTED, OBVIOUSLY THE SIGNAGE THAT I MENTIONED.
WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE ADDING TO THAT SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING, UH, ON THE PUBLIC AREAS, UH, THAT LEAD INTO OUR BUSINESS.
UM, IN HOPES OF DISPERSING TRAFFIC AWAY FROM ST.
ROSE SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD ALSO BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PARTNERING WITH THE CITY IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR COMPLETING A SIDEWALK DOWN ST.
ROSE ENHANCE THIS WAY FINDING AND GENERALLY, UH, BEING INVOLVED IN IMPROVING THIS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, WE'RE OPEN, UH, TO ALL THESE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
UM, LAST, UM, ULTIMATELY IN CONCLUSION, UH, THE ZONING CHANGE IS NOT JUST A REQUEST FOR A PARKING LOT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE GROWING OUR BUSINESS, CONTINUE PROVIDING THE JOBS THAT WE DO, UM, GIVE OUR TEAM A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SAFE AREA TO COME AND GO, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTTIME, UM, AND, UM, HOPEFULLY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY POSITIVELY.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN BE HELPFUL ON.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR GARRISON NEAL.
UM, I AM THE PROPERTY OWNER, GARRISON NEAL.
UH, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY TENANT BRETT AND HIS BUSINESS BARRACUDA.
UM, AS WELL AS, UH, I AM A, I OWN A BUSINESS ON THE PROPERTY AS WELL CALLED THE PARKER BARBER.
AND, UH, I ECHO A LOT OF WHAT BRETT HAS SAID HERE.
UM, THERE WAS JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SET STRAIGHT.
[00:15:01]
THE, WE DID SEEK THIS CHANGE A YEAR AGO, AND, UM, OUT JUST FULLY TRANSPARENT, WE, THE PERSON WHO WAS COMING TO SPEAK ON MY BEHALF, UM, GOT THE DATE WRONG.AND SO THERE WAS NO ONE HERE REPRESENTING US LAST YEAR.
AND WE'VE WAITED A YEAR AND WE'RE NOW HERE, UH, SEEKING THIS REZONE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS VITAL FOR, FOR BRETT'S BUSINESS.
THE, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND OF SAY SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME IN THE PAST IS WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND REALLY A PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REASON I, ONE, ONE OF THE REASONS THERE IS NO SIDEWALK, AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE, IS BECAUSE IT'S THE OLDEST STANDARD OIL GAS STATION LOCATION IN THE STATE.
SO LIKE DATES BACK, MAYBE THE 1920S, THEY DIDN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS THEN.
SO THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED, THAT'S WHY IT'S, WE DIDN'T REMOVE THE SIDEWALK.
IT'S JUST, IT'S SO HISTORIC THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE ONE.
UM, BUT THAT BEING SAID, I I I, WE BOTH AGREE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON, ON HOW TO MAKE SURE.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'LL HEAR FROM SOMEONE NEXT WHO THINKS THAT BY HAVING THE PARKING LOT, IT, IT PUTS PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
AND THAT ALSO, UM, KIND OF CONTRADICTS ITSELF BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN BACK ENTRANCE.
SO IF YOU DO PARK THERE, YOU WOULD EXIT FROM THE PARKING RIGHT INTO THE BUSINESS.
UM, THE, UM, BRETT SPOKE TO THE HOME BECAUSE IN ONE OF THE COMMENTS IT WAS THAT THE HOUSE WAS PERFECTLY FINE WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AND I LET IT GO TO THE, IT'S WHERE IT WAS.
I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES TO, UH, TO BOARD IT UP, TO STOP THE, WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
AND THE CITY DID ASK THAT IT BE DEMOLISHED.
YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS IN GENERAL, OUR STANCE IS THAT BY ADDING THESE ADDITIONAL 14 PARKING SPACES OFF STREET, IT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PARKING CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE NEIGHBOR AND ACTUALLY GET THE CARS OFF THE STREET ONTO SOMETHING THAT IS, IS REASONABLE IF YOU DRIVE BY RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TRIED, LIKE BRETT SAID, EVERYTHING TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP PARKING AND THEY'RE STILL, LIKE THE NEW FENCE THAT WE PUT UP IS ABOUT TO BE RAN OVER 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO INTERESTED IN GETTING TO BARRACUDA THAT THEY'RE HITTING THE, THE FENCE AND PARKING IN THE STREET TO GET THERE.
UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS, IS GOOD AND BAD OBVIOUSLY.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SPOKE WITH, WITH MEMORY MANY MEMBERS OF, UM, OR A FEW MEMBERS OF, UH, METRO COUNCIL, AND I DID WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, I DID GET PERMISSION THAT MS. ANA HARRIS, UM, IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
SHE SAID I COULD MENTION HER NAME.
UM, IT IS HER TECHNICALLY, UH, DISTRICT.
SO ANYWAY, I'M, I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR, I BELIEVE THIS IS YONI MATU.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
UM, I'M THE STORE MANAGER AT BARRACUDA.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY, UH, EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND JUST EVEN LAST NIGHT I HAD TO CALL THE COPS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON GOVERNMENT STREET AND, UH, I JUST FEEL FOR THEM TO HAVE TO WALK, YOU KNOW, TO BOUDREAUXS, UH, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
UM, AND JUST IN VERY DARK, YOU KNOW, 10 PAST 10:00 PM SO I KNOW THIS PARKING WILL HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM MEMBERS FEELING SAFE.
OUR NEXT CALL IS FOR DARREN OR DARRELL HUNT.
I HAVE PROPERTY AT 2375 WISTERIA STREET, WHICH IS IMMEDIATELY ACROSS ST.
ROSE FROM THIS, UH, PARKING LOT.
UM, I'M NOT A FAN OF BARRACUDA TACO, I MUST TELL YOU BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR SINCE THE BEGINNING.
NEVERTHELESS, I PROBABLY SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO HERE TONIGHT.
THE PARKING LOT PARKING PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ZONING AND PERMITTING OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS NEVER ADEQUATE.
PEOPLE WERE NEVER GONNA PARK BEHIND BOUDREAUXS AND WALK TO THIS RESTAURANT.
AND SO WE ARE IN THE DILEMMA THAT WE ARE IN, WHICH IS THE STREETS IMMEDIATELY AROUND THIS ROUTE RESTAURANT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT BECAUSE OF A PARKING PLAN THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND NEVER APPROVED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BE THAT AS IT MAY, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
IN ADDITION TO, UH, THIS PARKING LOT, IF YOU APPROVE IT, I WOULD SUGGEST, I THINK THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SOME LANDSCAPING UP THE BLOCK FROM THE STREET.
MOREOVER, PARKIN IS PROHIBITED ON FIRST BLOCK OF ST.
ROSE SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT, EXCEPT THAT THERE ARE NO MORE SIGNS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVE THEM OUT THERE WRITING TICKETS.
BUT WE NEED SOME SIGNS UP THERE SAYING THAT PARKIN IS
[00:20:01]
PROHIBITED.I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A GOOD SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN CREATED.
UH, ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF COST BEING, UH, SOCIALIZED BY PROFITS ARE PRIVATIZED.
AT ANY RATE, I PROBABLY, UH, WOULD URGE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND PROVE THIS THING TONIGHT.
YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
OUR NEXT COURT IS IN FAVOR, BUT DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK FOR BLAIR CARNEGIE.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR RANA GRAY.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I LIVE AT 2 3 3 3 WEST SIRIUS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 0 6.
I LIVE LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE LOT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I OPPOSE THE REZONING BECAUSE ST.
THERE'S NO FUNCTIONAL SIDEWALKS.
I'M TOTALLY SYMPATHETIC WITH DARRYL AND THE PROBLEM THAT HE HAS THERE, WHEN THERE'S PARKING ON THIS BLOCK OF ST.
ROSE, IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
LITERALLY, THE METRO COUNCIL HAS TWICE RE REJECTED THIS REZONING PROPOSAL.
AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS REJECTED EITHER THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR, I DON'T KNOW, WHICH DEFIED THE DECISION, POURED THE GRAVEL LOT AND STARTED LETTING PEOPLE PARK THERE.
AND THE CONGESTION MADE IT LITERALLY IMP IMPASSABLE AT THAT POINT.
UM, WHEN I, I THINK I DO THINK WITHOUT MR. NEIL PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH, I DO THINK WHEN YOU PUT A TINY PARKING LOT THERE, IT ACTS LIKE FLY PAPER AND IT ATTRACTS EVERYONE 'CAUSE THEY KNOW THERE'S A PARKING LOT THERE.
THEN THEY JUST CONTINUE WHEN IT'S FULL AND PARK WHEREVER THEY CAN ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.
I'VE TURNED IN TWO OR THREE TIMES OFF OF GOVERNMENT STREET AND ALMOST HIT PEOPLE, ALMOST HIT CARS, ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIANS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MANEUVER INTO THAT LITTLE SMALL LOT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
SO THEY DID SECURE PARKING ON GOVERNMENT STREET.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH OUR COUNCILWOMAN IS MS. COLEMAN AND SHE, UH, HAS SPOKEN WITH MS. HARRIS AND SHE TOLD ME THEY HAD ALREADY TALKED TO MS. HARRIS AND SHE WOULD BE GLAD TO FACILITATE A CONVERSATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE ST.
ROSE DIVIDES DISTRICT SEVEN AND DISTRICT 10.
SO WE DEALT WITH LAMONT COLE IN THE PAST ON THIS, AND HE SUPPORTED, UM, OUR POSITION ON THAT.
BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE INCOMING, UH, PERSON.
I ALSO WORK ON THE MOVIE VR PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A CALL FOR PROJECTS THAT'S COMING UP VERY SOON, AND WE TALK TO MS. COLEMAN ABOUT PROPOSING A MID-BLOCK CROSSING TO MAKE IT SAFER.
I WORKED ON THE FUTURE VR PROGRAM WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS, AND I KNOW I'VE ATTENDED ALL THE GOVERNMENT STREET REDESIGN MEETINGS, AND WE TOTALLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT STREET REDESIGN AND WHAT IT'S DOING.
BUT IT DIDN'T INTEND FOR REZONING TO ENCROACH INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT INTENDED TO, UH, KEEP GOVERNMENT STREET COMMERCIAL.
AND WE HAVE EXISTING PARKING LOTS WE'D LIKE TO USE.
SO, UM, FOR THOSE REASONS, I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOT ALLOW THE REZONING CHANGE.
WE HAVE ONE, UH, FINAL SPEAKER CARD AND OPPOSITION FOR JUSTIN KZA.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR THE GARDEN DISTRICT.
I SPOKE IN OPPOSITION IN THE PAST.
I'M SPEAKING AGAIN IN OPPOSITION TODAY, UH, FOR THE VERY SAME REASONS FOR THE SITUATION HASN'T CHANGED.
THERE IS PLENTY OF PARKING IN THIS AREA FOR ALL OF THIS TO OCCUR.
WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL REASONS ON WHY THEY NEED THIS PARKING LOT.
ONE OF THEM IS FOR EMPLOYEES TO PARK.
THAT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR MORE, UH, CUSTOMERS, NEW CUSTOMERS TO COME IN.
UH, THEY TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF BAD SITUATION ON ST.
THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO MANAGE THE PARKING ON ST.
NO NEW STRIPING, NO NEW LINES.
THEY TALK ABOUT HOW OLD THIS PROPERTY IS AND A PROPERTY LINE GOES TO THAT STREET.
THEY'RE IN 100% CONTROL OF THIS, AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION.
UM, SINCE WE HAVE DENIED THAT, UH, SINCE THE REZONE GOT DENIED IN THE PAST, I HAVE RECEIVED ZERO ZERO COMPLAINTS TO THE GUARD DISTRICT CIVIC ASSOCIATION ABOUT PARKING IN THIS AREA.
UH, I HAVE NOT TALKED WITH THIS GENTLEMAN, BUT I'VE TALKED TO OTHER FOLKS ON THAT BLOCK.
AND WHEN A PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, THEY SAY, I RECOGNIZE NOT WANTING A PARKING LOT AND NOT WANTING PEOPLE IN PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE IS BASICALLY TRYING TO GET MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
AND IF I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE, I'D RATHER THERE'D BE A HOUSE THERE THAN A PARKING LOT.
PARKING LOTS ARE BAD NEIGHBORS PARKING ON THE STREET.
THE GARDEN DISTRICT IS FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE WIDE ENOUGH STREETS WHERE IF WE CAN PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND STILL DRIVE A FIRE TRUCK DOWN IT, YES, I AM A NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT IS ENCOURAGING FOLKS THAT DON'T LIVE THERE TO PARK ON THE STREET TO USE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN OUR AREA.
I AM DOING THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT PEOPLE WANNA BE IN, AND IF PEOPLE WANNA BE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
[00:25:01]
TO ALSO USE THE OTHER ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, I CAN'T ALSO OPPOSE THAT AND CONTINUE TO BE IN, UH, A POSITION THAT I AM TO BE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WANNA BE IN.UM, I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER REASONS ON HERE.
UH, I CAN POINT OUT THAT BARRACUDA TACO STAND IS DOING GREAT.
THE TWO LOCATIONS IN NEW ORLEANS, NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAS A SINGLE PARKING SPOT DEDICATED TO BARRACUDA TACO.
SO THAT BUSINESS MODEL IS PRETTY SOLID.
THEY'RE COMING HERE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR THIS PARKING FOR A REASON THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUSINESSES.
THE REASON IS GARRISON WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUT HIS PROPERTY, AND THE CITY IS REQUIRING HIS PARKING MINIMUMS. INSTEAD OF PURSUING THIS ZONING CHANGE AND TAKING AWAY MUCH NEEDED HOUSING IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WHICH WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THESE CARS WILL STILL SPILL OUT ONTO THE STREET AND THERE WILL STILL BE PROBLEMS ON ST.
WHY NOT AS RAN, UH, PROPOSED, HAVE A CROSSING TO, UH, MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS THAT PARKING.
OR WHY NOT WAIVE THE, THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT IN THIS MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING, WHERE PEOPLE DO WANNA WALK TO BUSINESSES, WE CAN HAVE, UH, GARRISON CAN REDEVELOP OUT THE REST OF HIS PROPERTY.
HE COULD NOT PUT THESE OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS UP HERE AS A BIT OF A FRONT TO, TO CIRCUMVENT THIS.
UM, I JUST THINK ABOUT HIM BLAMING THIS, UH, THE CITY FOR DEMOLISHING THE HOUSE.
UH, BUT IF HE HAD DONE HIS DUE DILIGENCE, HE'D HAVE KNOWN EXACTLY WHAT SITUATION THAT WAS IN, OR HE JUST ASSUMED Y'ALL ARE A RUBBER STAMP ON THESE SORTS OF THINGS AND WANTED TO GO FORWARD.
UH, I'M DOING MY BEST UP HERE.
I'M DOING MY BEST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE'RE NOT SO NICE THAT WE CAN AFFORD A A LOBBYIST TO COME AND TALK TO Y'ALL BEFORE THESE MEETINGS.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOUR, A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
I GUESS I'M, I'M TECHNICALLY NOT THE APPLICANT.
IT'S BRETT, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER, SO I ASSUME YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM ME.
UM, OH, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL HEAR FROM WHOEVER WANTS TO ADDRESS, UH, ANY OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC.
UM, I, MY, MY STANCE IS STILL THE SAME.
THIS, THERE, WE HAVE JUST A DIFFERENCE IN OPINIONS HERE ABOUT HOW TO RELIEVE THE PARKING CHALLENGE.
OUR, MY STANCE IS THAT BY ADDING THE ADDITIONAL PARKING HERE NEXT TO OUR BUSINESS, WE'LL TAKE 14 CARS OFF THE STREET.
YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
IT'S NOT ALL THAT EVERYONE WANTS THEM PARKING IN THE STREETS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.
SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY WOULD APPRECIATE SOME, UH, SOME RELIEF ON THE PARKING.
SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
COMMISSION MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS APPLICATION.
GR UH, CAN THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD FOR A MOMENT? UH, EITHER ONE OF YOU.
UM, I, I, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT EATEN AT YOUR RESTAURANT, BUT I KNOW THE AREA A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY AND WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS, UH, THE CONCERNS I HEARD WERE WE WANT TO GET THE PARKING OFF THE STREET, WHICH IS FINE.
HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE YOU, IS THAT LOT GOING TO GIVE YOU? MY UNDERSTANDING IS 14 COMFORTABLY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CORRECT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE PEOPLE PARKING ON THE STREET.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT HERE, I DROVE BY IT AGAIN TODAY.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE THING ON, NO PUN INTENDED, ON THE SURFACE.
THE PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT THERE'S A VERY GOOD LINE THAT THAT'S BEEN MADE, UH, WITH GOVERNMENT STREET WHERE WE HAVE COMMERCIAL TO THE FRONT OF GOVERNMENT STREET AND WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL TOWARD THE BACK.
THAT BEING SAID, Y'ALL NEED MORE PARKING.
NOW, WHETHER YOU CAN HAVE A MID WALK CROSSWALK, I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN DENIED BEFORE.
UH, BUT IN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE RIGHT IN THE AREA, TALKING TO, UH, SOME DESIGNERS WHO WORK IN THE AREA, WHO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC FLOW, ET CETERA, UM, THEIR OPINION IS THAT YEAH, IT, IT BREAKS THE LINE, BUT THIS, THIS IS ALMOST NECESSARY.
UH, THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THIS IS COMING NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, AS YOU KNOW, WE REZONE NOT FOR A PARKING LOT, WE REZONE FOR ALL OF THE USES IN NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE.
NOW HAVING REVIEWED NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, UM,
[00:30:01]
YEAH, IF YOU WERE TO SELL IT AS NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, THE WORST YOU COULD GET WAS A SMALL LAW OFFICE IN THERE, UH, AN ART GALLERY, THINGS THAT WOULD BE, THINGS THAT WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO THAT AREA OF GOVERNMENT STREET.SO I, RIGHT NOW AM AM LEANING IN.
AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE THIS, I THINK IT'S A NECESS, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY BUSINESS THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM ON GOVERNMENT STREET.
I DON'T WANNA SEE THIS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT I, I THINK FROM LOOKING AT THE SITE, UH, IF A MOTION IS MADE TO APPROVE, I WILL SUPPORT IT.
VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT ADDITIONAL, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER FOWLER? WELL, UH, TO YOUR POINT, IT MAY BREAK THE BARRIER OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP ON GOVERNMENT, BUT AS I LOOK AT THE ZONING DOWN GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE MULTIPLE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE COMMERCIAL ZONING UP AND DOWN, WHAT WOULD BE APPEAR TO BE RESIDENTIAL, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL, PARTICULARLY ON EDISON, THERE ARE MULTIPLE MM-HMM
ON BLANCHARD STREET, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, AND ON INGLESIDE THERE IS A FEW THAT GO BEYOND THAT, THAT BARRIER THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE.
AND SO I, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF, OF THIS REZONING PURELY JUST BECAUSE I DO THINK IT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS PARKING AT THIS PARTICULAR RESTAURANT.
AND YES, WE HAVE BROKEN THAT, BUT THE PROBLEM THAT I ALWAYS SEE IS WHEN YOU START DOING THAT, IF WE DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT, IF WE DON'T HAVE TO, SURE, LET'S NOT.
BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE OF THE PARKING SITUATION AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO IN THE AREA ON ST.
ROSE, AND I THINK ON OLD LEANER, UM, WHAT I'VE, WHAT I'VE HEARD IS GET THE PEOPLE OFF OF, OFF OF THE STREET.
AND YES, 14 CARS IS NOT A LOT.
I MEAN, YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU 14 BARS CAN BREAK, CAN BREAK A, YOU KNOW, BREAK A CITY, BUT IT CAN'T.
AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT WELL, 4, 4 14 COMPARED TO THE, TO THE THREE THAT EXIST CURRENTLY IS A PROBLEM.
A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT YES.
TO WHAT IT, WHAT IT HAS RIGHT NOW.
I, I THINK, I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER ADDISON, UH, WOULD LIKE, WOULD LIKE A TURN.
COMMISSIONER ADDISON, I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
UH, COMMISSIONER BANKS COUNCIL MEMBER, OUTGOING COMMISSIONER BANKS WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SECOND THAT MOTION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? YEAH, COMMISSIONER, JUST, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I HATE THE, UM, THE, UH, ROAD DIET OF GOVERNMENT STREET, BUT JUST AS, UH, THE PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE HAVING, THERE ARE EXISTING BUILDING BUILDINGS ALONG GOVERNMENT STREET THAT ACTUALLY LOST PARKING SPACES BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE, THE DESIRE TO MAKE IT WALKABLE AND THIS DIET.
SO, I MEAN, THOSE ARE, UM, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON BOTH SIDES WHERE, UM, THAT LEFT NOT ONLY CURRENT BUSINESSES FACING GOVERNMENTAL PARKING SPACES, BUT UH, THESE NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE MOVING IN AND THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE PARKING ON THE SIDE STREETS, TO ME, IS A, UM, IT'S NOT AS, IT'S NOT AS DETRIMENT AS A PARKING LOT WHERE THEY CAN SAFELY PARK SAFELY BE ABLE TO GET IN THE BUILDING AND THEY BUMP AGAINST A RES A RESTAURANT, I MEAN A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
UH, RYAN, CAN THIS PROPERTY BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PARKING LOT? SO THE ZONING CATEGORY THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING IS NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE.
THAT IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ZONING CATEGORY THAT WOULD ALLOW A PARKING AS A PRINCIPAL USE.
IT, IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN THE FUTURE.
AND IT WOULD ALLOW A SMALL SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS FOR OFFICE, NOT, NOT RETAIL BUSINESS, BUT OFFICE BUILDING TO BE THERE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL IS NOT LOST.
IF IT IS, IF, UH, THERE IT DOES FOR WHATEVER REASON, CHANGE HANDS AND BECOME RESIDENTIAL, THAT'S STILL AN OPTION.
BUT, UM, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE PREDICAMENT AND ALSO, UM, FEEL BAD FOR A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES THAT LOST PARKING SPACE AS A RESULT OF THIS.
COMMISSIONER BANKS, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BANKS TO APPROVE THIS
[00:35:01]
ITEM.ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS ITEM IS APPROVED AT THIS TIME.
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
ON TO COMMUNICATION, BEGINNING WITH DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.JUST A FEW THINGS TO REMIND THE COMMISSION ABOUT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO WISH A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUTGOING COMMISSIONER SHAUNA BANKS WHO CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
FOUR YEARS
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25TH, AND ALSO NEW YEAR'S DAY, JANUARY 1ST FOR THE PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL ALSO BE CLOSED JANUARY 18TH IN OBSERVANCE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS SCHEDULED AT THE END OF JANUARY, MONDAY, JANUARY 27TH, AND IS ALSO THE ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.
YOU WILL ELECT OFFICERS APPROVE THE 2025 CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR, THE ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM, AND ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT AT THIS MEETING.
ALSO CONSISTENT WITH PAST PRACTICE.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLAN PLANNING COMMISSION WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ELECTION TO AN OFFICE ARE REQUESTED TO INDICATE AND EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST UNDER COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS TONIGHT.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR LONGSTANDING PLANNING COMMISSION EMPLOYEES THAT RECENTLY RETIRED WITH THE CITY PARISH.
MANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW DONNA BENNETT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
SHE'S A SENIOR CLERICAL RECEPTIONIST.
UH, SHE GREETS CUSTOMERS, ANSWERS THE PHONE, AND DOES MANY AS MANY OTHER TESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
SHE'S RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY PARISH.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE DONNA AND WISH HER WELL ON HER RETIREMENT.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH HER MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS, UH, AS UH, STATED BY DIRECTOR HOLCOMB HAD SAID, AND THIS IS THE SECTION OF THE AGENDA WHERE YOU INDICATE INTEREST IN, UH, SERVING AS EITHER THE CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN OF THIS BOARD.I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, INDICATE MY INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS, UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS BODY, VICE CHAIRMAN GRUB.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UH, CONTINUE SERVING AS VICE CHAIR FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE OFFICES? IF NOT, AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SELECTED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
JEREMY ILIAN PLANNER IN THE SITE PLAN AND PLA DIVISION.
UH, SECTION, UH, JEREMY REVIEWS SUBDIVISIONS COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND USING HIS BACKGROUND IN ARCHITECTURE TO OF EFFICIENTLY REVIEW SITE PLANS.
JEREMY HAS READILY ACCEPTED ANY TASK.
HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED ASSISTED WITH TRAINING AND KEEPS THE REVIEW PROCESS RUNNING SMOOTHLY IN ALL OF HIS ASSIGNMENTS.
JEREMY WORKS TO ENSURE TASKS ARE COMPLETED ON TIME WITH AN EYE FOR THE DETAILS BECAUSE OF HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHERS.
HE'S A VALUABLE EMPLOYEE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THESE REASONS.
HE'S BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TEAM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JEREMY IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS? ANY OBJECTIONS SAYING NONE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.