[00:00:06]
[ROLL CALL]
CHAIRMAN, WASHINGTON. HERE. VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.HERE. COMMISSIONER ADDISON. HERE. COMMISSIONER BOYD.
HERE. COMMISSIONER BROWNELL. HERE. COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER ELLENDER. HERE. COMMISSIONER FOWLER.
HERE. AND COMMISSIONER SCROGGS. HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM.
THANK YOU AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 19TH MEETING? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ELLENDER.ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE. THESE ITEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS. THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING.ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON AN ITEM FROM THIS AGENDA, MAY COMMENT IN PERSON AT CITY HALL 222 SAINT LOUIS STREET, THIRD FLOOR, ROOM 348, 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 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 THEN 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 OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
OPPONENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TIME 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 THE ITEM.
IN SUCH CASES, THE PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURE, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT. WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
BALDWIN. CONSENT ITEMS FOR WITHDRAWAL. ITEM TEN S-2-25 STILLWATER SUBDIVISION.CONSENT ITEMS FOR DEFERRAL. ITEM 3 CASE 13-25 1482 LOBDELL AVENUE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (A1) TO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE (NO) LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF LOBDELL AVENUE NORTH OF LASALLE AVENUE.
DEFERRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS TO JULY 21ST.
ITEM 8 CUP-4-25 2475 JACKSON AVENUE. PROPOSED ACCESSORY DWELLING ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF JACKSON AVENUE, EAST OF PLANK ROAD. DEFERRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS TO JULY 21ST.
ITEM 11 CS-6-25 KNOX AND FARRENBACHER TRACT PROPOSED FLAG LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BUHLER DRIVE, NORTH OF NORTH FLANNERY ROAD. DEFERRED BY PLANNING DIRECTOR TO JULY 21ST.
ITEM 12 CS-7-25 IRA W. DEARMOND TRACT . PROPOSED FLAG LOT MINOR SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD, SOUTH OF STONEY POINT BURCH ROAD DEFERRED BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO JULY 21ST.
CONSENT ITEMS FOR APPROVAL. ITEM 4 CASE 16-25, 2609 AND 2623 CORK STREET TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (A2) TO TWO FAMILY (A2.9) LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CORK STREET, EAST OF LAVINIA STREET.
ITEM 6 CASE 18-25 8689 SIEGEN LANE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL (C-2) TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BAR AND LOUNGE (C-A B-2), LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SIEGEN LANE, NORTH OF PERKINS ROAD.
ITEM 7 CUP-2-25. TIMOTHY HILL RANCH PROPOSED PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION FOR FOSTER CARE FACILITY ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF CARLTON ROAD, SOUTH OF KERMIT ACRES AVENUE. ITEM 9 CUP-5-25 FAITH SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, 7330 MICKENS ROAD.
PROPOSED ADDITION TO AN EXISTING RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MICKENS ROAD, EAST OF CORONET DRIVE. PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE HAVE REQUESTS TO REMOVE TWO ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD IN REGULAR AGENDA ORDER.
THOSE TWO ITEMS ARE. ITEM NUMBER 4 ZONING CASE 16-25 CORK STREET AND ITEM 7, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP-2-25 TIMOTHY HILL RANCH. THESE TWO ITEMS WILL BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED IN REGULAR AGENDA ORDER.
[00:05:06]
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO HAVE AN ITEM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED AND HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA BEGINNING WITH[2. PA 3-25 2024 East Baton Rouge Parish Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan Update]
ITEM NUMBER 2. PA 3-25 2024 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN UPDATE TO AMEND THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCLUDE THE 2024 BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN UPDATE.THIS IS A REQUEST TO UPDATE AND AMEND THE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE A FUTURE BR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS WAS INITIATED BY BREC IN LATE 2023 AS PART OF A SCHEDULED FOUR-YEAR UPDATE CYCLE.
THE EFFORT ALIGNS WITH THE COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE UPDATE, ADOPTED BY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IN JUNE OF 2024, THAT IDENTIFIED THIS UPDATE AS A KEY PROJECT TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE COMPLETE STREET IMPLEMENTATION.
BREC ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THIS OFFICE AND OTHER CITY PARISH, STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES, AND WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HNTB, LED PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THIS PLAN, CONDUCTING MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS EARLY THIS YEAR.
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AS THIS UPDATE IS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH GOAL FIVE OF THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT TO ENHANCE THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE PARISH AND ACCOMPLISHES ACTION ITEM 2.2.1 UNDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION ELEMENT CONTINUE COORDINATION WITH LADOTD AND BREC TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED THREE MESSAGES IN SUPPORT TO THIS ITEM.
OKAY, COMMISSION MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKER CARDS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MARK MARTIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION I WORKED FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
WELL, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ON THIS TO GET THE BIKE-PED MASTER PLAN DEVELOPED.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LARGE MAP ON THE INSIDE, YOU WILL SEE THAT WHAT IT DEMONSTRATES IS THAT RIGHT NOW AND WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WILL HAVE A NETWORK FROM WHICH WE CAN BUILD OUT FURTHER INTO THE PARISH.
ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE EITHER ON THE GROUND OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND PAID FOR.
SO THERE'S NO BUDGETARY IMPACT ON THIS. THERE ARE TWO SMALLER INSETS ON THE BACK, WHICH GIVES FURTHER DETAIL FOR HOW THIS, THE CURRENT NETWORK IS WORKING. AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS OUT, WHICH WILL GIVE EVERYBODY IN THE PARISH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR BENEFIT AND TO ALL OF OURS. SO VOTE IN FAVOR, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THANK YOU SIR. OR NOT. OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR DAVID WEST.
THANKS, I STAND IN UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THIS PLAN AND ITS RECENT REVISIONS.
I'M A NATIVE OF BATON ROUGE. I'M ALSO A LIFETIME CYCLIST AND I HAVE A TEENAGER THAT LOVES TO CYCLE TO A DEGREE THAT WE WONDER IF SHE'LL EVER OWN A CAR, WE'LL SEE. I FEEL THAT THE PLAN AND THE RECENT REFINEMENTS TO THIS PLAN MAKE IT A SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE MY DAUGHTER, AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE WHO, WHETHER THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCE, FORWARD THINKING, FOR HEALTH REASONS OR JUST THE PLEASURE OF THE OPEN PATH, WANT TO BE MORE CONNECTED, MORE WAYS AND OUR LOVELY PARISH AND CITY.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR JAMES FULLER.
[00:10:04]
WE HAVE HERE IN BATON ROUGE. AND ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN BROADMOOR, WHICH IS A NICE TEN MILE COMMUTE FROM LSU'S CAMPUS, I DO TRY TO RIDE MY BIKE AS OFTEN AS THE WEATHER IS PLEASANT ENOUGH TO ALLOW AT LEAST.BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF A RARITY I DO FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THAT IT'S ENJOYABLE AND THAT I'VE DONE SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHY OUR BIKE TRIPS SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE.
THEY SHOULD BE PLEASANT AND RELAXING AND CONVENIENT AND SAFE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
AND I THINK WITH THESE UPDATES TO THE MASTER PLAN, THAT THAT CAN BE A GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
IT'S A IT'S A BIG COMPLEX PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, ANYTHING INVOLVING TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION.
SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE BIG AND COMPLEX RESPONSES TO THAT.
I THINK THAT APPLIES TO CYCLISTS JUST AS MUCH AS IT DOES TO PROJECTS WITH CARS.
AND HONESTLY I, MY BIKE GOT A FLAT A LITTLE WHILE BACK AND I HAVEN'T FIXED IT BECAUSE THERE'S FEW INCENTIVES TO WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE JUST TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING. SO I GET IN MY CAR AND I ADD TO TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO POLLUTION AND I SLOW DOWN EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT'S JUST EASIER WHENEVER YOU'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON. SO I THINK ANY STEP IN THAT DIRECTION WOULD BE A REALLY POSITIVE MOVE AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR AMANDA LEONARDO.
I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO THAT, SO THANK YOU.
I TALKED TO YOUNG PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO HAVE EITHER LIVED IN OTHER CITIES OR TRAVELED TO OTHER CITIES, AND I FEEL LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAYS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT WALKABILITY, THAT BIKE ABILITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR NICHOLAS LEONARDO.
HEY I'M NICK, I THINK I PUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK, BUT I AM IN FAVOR OF.
IT WAS ENJOYABLE WORKING WITH VANCE ON THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE, AND I PERSONALLY HAVE HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT IT, AND I ENCOURAGE YOUR FULL SUPPORT AND RECOMMENDATION THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SIR. AND THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER CARD.
COMMISSIONER SCROGGS. YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE QUESTION FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE FIRST.
DO YOU HAVE JUST A MOMENT? AND TO BE CLEAR, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION HERE IN A SECOND TO APPROVE.
BUT THIS IS MORE SELF-SERVING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT IS THERE ANY TALK? I'M LOOKING AT THE PLAN ON CONNECTING PENNINGTON TO THE LSU LAKES.
YES. IN FACT, I THINK MUCH OF THAT PATH ALREADY EXISTS.
BUT IT WILL REQUIRE SIGNAGE, NOT CONSTRUCTION.
GOTCHA. SO WHEN THEY ADDED THE BIKE LANES TO HYACINTH FROM STANFORD, THAT MADE A GREAT CONNECTION OVER TO GLASGOW, GET TO GLASGOW, GO THROUGH ROUZAN AND POLLARD AND CATCH THE TRAIL BEHIND PENNINGTON AND CONNECT OVER TO PERKINS ROAD COMMUNITY PARK, WHICH IS ALSO A NEXUS FOR THE MEDICAL MILE? THAT'S NOT THE NAME OF IT, BUT FOR THE HEALTH DISTRICT.
THE HEALTH DISTRICT. YEAH, AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD INTO MUCH MORE.
YEAH. SO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS, I HOPE, WILL BE WAYFINDING, WHICH WILL COST A LOT LESS TO GO A LOT FASTER AND GET PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE STREETS YET AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
BUT ACTUALLY, ONCE YOU GET THE LAKES, YOU CAN GO ON THE LEVEE.
AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE LEVEE, THEN YOU CAN GO ALL KINDS OF PLACES.
GOOD, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. YEAH. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 4 CASE 16-25, 2609 AND 2623 CORK
[4. CONSENT FOR APPROVAL Case 16-25 2609 and 2623 Cork Street]
[00:15:08]
STREET. CASE 16-25 2609 AND 2623 CORK STREET.PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CORK STREET, EAST OF LAVINIA STREET.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. THE APPLICANT IS J.
ANGEL ORTIZ JR. THE CURRENT FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (A2) WITH THE REQUESTED ZONING OF TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (A2.9) CASE 16-25 2609 AND 2623 CORK STREET. 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.
SO THE REQUEST IS BASIC IN OUR SUPPORT RESTS WITH THE SAME FINDINGS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOUND, WHICH THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE THAT AREA OF THE CITY.
AND IT DOES CONFORM TO THE UDC SO WE FELT THAT THIS IS A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THE SAME FINDINGS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOUND WHEN THEY DID THE REVIEW.
QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN OPPOSITION FOR MAHANA FARRAH. HOW BAD DID I MESS IT UP? NOT TERRIBLE.
OKAY. MAHANA ALFARO SO, SORRY FOR MY VOICE BATON ROUGE IS JUST LOVING MY ALLERGIES RIGHT NOW SO.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT A DOUBLE, LIKE A TWO FAMILY OR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE SINCE SEVERAL OF THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN APPROVED, WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN CRIME, WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE HAVING ROADS BLOCKED BY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
PARKING HAS BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE. AS I SAID, CRIME HAS BEEN MORE PREVALENT AND ALSO IN THE STAFF NOTES, IT TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THOSE STOPS ARE BEING REMOVED.
THERE'S SIGNS ON THEM JUST WITHIN THE LAST WEEK.
AND SO A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LEAVING.
SO I'M JUST THOSE ARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I APPRECIATE, SO JUST THOUGHT YOU SHE WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THOSE BEFORE YOU GO ON, THANK YOU.
JUST TO SAY I UNDERSTAND HER CONCERNS. OUR INTENT IS ALWAYS TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPERTY THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT THERE COMPLIES WITH CODE. TO HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING AND THAT THE PROPERTY IS NOT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SHE HAD, WHICH INVOLVES ROAD SIGNAGE AND ANYTHING ELSE.
THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER. SO THE STRUCTURE ITSELF IS GOING TO BE BUILT WITH THE GUIDANCE AND REQUIREMENTS BY THE CITY WHEN WE PULL THE PERMIT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION, I BELIEVE VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT WOULD LIKE THE APPLICANT TO, MR. ORTIZ COULD COME BACK. I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE THESE ARE TO BE TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS, ONE TWO FAMILY DWELLING, YES. ONE TWO FAMILY DWELLING? YES, SIR. MR. DIRECTOR DO WE HAVE ANY TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS NEARBY? I MEAN, IS THIS THAT UNIQUE ? SUPPORT OF THE STAFF ANALYSIS WHEN WE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT THIS REZONING WAS, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS TWO FAMILY DUPLEX HOUSING ON THE GROUND NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE SAME INTERSECTION,
[00:20:08]
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CORK STREET AND LAVINIA STREET.SO THAT WAS PART OF THE ANALYSIS GOING INTO THE STAFF CERTIFICATION IS THAT EXISTS ON THE GROUND.
IT'S STILL CONSIDERED LOW DENSITY. OVERALL LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DUPLEX IS ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER FUTURE BR AND IT IS AT A CORNER SO ALL THAT WENT INTO THE STAFF ANALYSIS.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR YOU THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER GROUT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BOYD.
COMMISSIONER COLEMAN HAS SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. YOU MAY WANT TO JUST KIND OF STAY CLOSE TO THE PODIUM, MR. ORTIZ. YES, COME BACK, MR. ORTIZ, BECAUSE MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE NEIGHBORS, WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? AND HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN IN THAT AREA? NO, MA'AM, I HAVE NOT, I TEND TO DO THAT WHEN WE'RE INVOLVED WORKING THERE.
I DON'T OWN THE LOT PERSONALLY. IT'S, THIS IS, I'M AN APPLICANT FOR AN OWNER WHO ENLISTED MY HELP IN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT. WE DO A LOT OF INTRUSIVE REMODELING AROUND THE CITY, AND MOST OF THAT, A LOT OF THEM REQUIRE VARIANCES. SO I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH EITHER OF THOSE PEOPLE AS OF YET.
I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO TALK TO HER AFTER THE MEETING TO KIND OF CLARIFY SOME THINGS.
AND I GUESS THAT'S HER CONCERN BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW AND YOU HAVEN'T YEAH ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
AND SO YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER.
HAS THE OWNER HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OR THE COUNCIL PERSON? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? COMMISSIONER FOWLER. WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS ZONING REQUEST? SO IF IT WERE TO BE REZONED, IT WOULD SIMPLY ALLOW A DUPLEX IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE WOULD BE THE ONLY PERMITTED USES IN THE ZONING DISTRICT.
SO JUST A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT HAS A DUPLEX SETUP? CORRECT. AND NO OTHER USES UNDER THIS CAN BE DONE? NO OTHER OFFICE USES COMMERCIAL USES, NO. IT'S SIMPLY OUR ONLY DUPLEX ZONING DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BOYD. SO LOOKING AT THE MAP, IT SAYS THIS IS LOT NINE AND LOT TEN.
YES, SIR. THOSE TWO BUILDABLE LOTS? YES, SIR.
YOU COULD BUILD TWO HOUSES RIGHT THERE, TECHNICALLY.
ONE OF THE LOTS WAS NON-CONFORMING ENOUGH TO PREVENT ADEQUATE SPACE FOR PARKING AND WHATNOT.
EVEN THOUGH THE MEASUREMENTS SAY IT, IT'S THE DESIGN OF IT IS NOT THERE.
IT'S NON-CONFORMING. OKAY. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER GROUT THAT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOYD.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, THIS ITEM IS APPROVED. THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 5 CASE 17-25 7777 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.
[5. Case 17-25 7777 Greenwell Springs Road ]
CASE 17-25 7777 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD. PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD, WEST OF LANIER DRIVE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5- HURST.THE APPLICANT IS LAQUENCIA GOVERNOR. THE CURRENT FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMMERCIAL.
C-AB-2 CASE 17-25 7777 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.
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 TWO LETTERS IN OPPOSITION.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN COPIED AND EMAILED THOSE LETTERS IN OPPOSITION.
[00:25:04]
WE ALSO RECEIVED, I SPOKE TO COUNCILMAN HURST PERSONALLY AS OF THIS MORNING, AND HE HAS CONCERNS AND EXPRESSED HIS OPPOSITION TO THIS REZONING REQUEST TO C-AB-2. THANK YOU. COMMISSION MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES. GOOD EVENING.GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOMETHING I AM TRULY.
I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN, EVERY CITY NEEDS A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND UNWIND, CONNECT AND ENJOY GOOD CONVERSATION AND RELAX IN A CULTURALLY RICH ENVIRONMENT. FOR ME, THAT SPACE IS A HOOKAH LOUNGE.
THE ENTRANCE AND OPENING OF HOOKAH LOUNGE COMES FROM MORE THAN JUST A BUSINESS.
IT'S A ROOT IN CULTURE, COMMUNITY, AND CONNECTIONS.
HOOKAH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN JUST SMOKE. IT'S A TRADITION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, MANY CULTURES AND REPRESENTS OF HOSPITALITY, FRIENDSHIP AND TAKING TIME TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE MOMENT.
AND IN TODAY'S FAST PACED WORLD, I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
I WANT TO CREATE A LOUNGE THAT FEELS WELCOMING, LUXURY AND INCLUSIVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN COME TOGETHER AND SHARE A STORY, MUSIC, FLAVOR. MY VISION IS TO COMBINE THE RICH TRADITION OF A HOOKAH WITH MODERN LOUNGE VIBES, COMPLETED WITH GREAT MUSIC AND ALSO ARTISTIC DRINKS, COMFORTABLE SEATING AND AN ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO STAY RELAXED AND RETURN. THERE A GROWING DEMAND OF UNIQUE, UPSCALE SOCIAL SPACES, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE OFFERING A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND NOT JUST A NIGHT OUT AND HOOKAH LOUNGE JUST FILLS THAT NEED.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PARTYING, IT'S ABOUT HAVING A SPACE TO CONNECT, VIBE AND FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE AND QUALITY PRODUCTS, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MARKETING, IT CAN BECOME THAT SPACE. MORE THAN ANYTHING I WOULD WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS ON WHO I AM AND THE SPACE BUILDING ON A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR SHARE MORE ABOUT MY VISION.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKER CARDS THAT ARE IN FAVOR.
THE FIRST IS FOR GERARD TORY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS STARTED BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR WHEN I WAS APPROACHED BY MY FRIEND AND CLIENT, MR. GARY CASEMORE, WHO IS A, WHO'S NOT ONLY THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION, BUT HE'S ALSO A LONG TIME BUSINESSMAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I MET THE LADY WHO JUST CAME TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL BACK IN APRIL, MISS GOVERNOR.
AND AT THAT TIME, SHE SHARED WITH ME ALSO THE SAME THINGS THAT SHE SHARED WITH THIS COUNCIL ABOUT HER VISION, HER DESIRE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE NOT ONLY A BUSINESS THAT WOULD BE WELCOMING THAT WOULD BE, CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, BUT ALSO ONE THAT WAS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE ORDINANCES AND THE REGULATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR BODY. ONCE AGAIN MY CLIENT AND FRIEND, MR. CASEMORE, HE ASKED ME. HE SAID, LOOK, HE SAID, GERARD WOULD YOU PLEASE GET INVOLVED AND DRAW UP AN AGREEMENT FOR US? THAT WOULD GO AHEAD AND BOTH NOT ONLY CAPTURE WHAT THE DESIGNED USE FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION WOULD BE, BUT ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND WHAT THE GOVERNING ORDINANCES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT, LOOK, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THE AGREEMENT THAT CAPTURES AND RECOGNIZES WHAT, IN FACT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS REGARDING
[00:30:07]
THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROPERTY.AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT THESE PARTIES AGREED ON.
THEY AGREED THAT, LOOK, THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THOSE REGULATIONS, THOSE RULES, THOSE ORDINANCES OF THIS BODY AS WELL AS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
BUT THE PARTIES BOTH THE OWNER, MR. CASEMORE HE BELIEVES THAT MISS GOVERNOR IS SERIOUS AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LAWFUL, LEGITIMATE, COMPLIANT BUSINESS THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ORDINANCES AND THE RULES OF THIS PARTICULAR. YOU'RE ABOUT 20S, SIR.
YES, SIR AND ALSO, MISS GROSVENOR, AS SHE'S ALREADY ARTICULATED, SHE WILL ALSO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE BODY WITH THIS COUNCIL REQUIRES IN TERMS OF AS A BUSINESS.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SIR AND OUR OTHER SPEAKER CARD IS FOR GARY CASEMORE.
GOOD EVENING SIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME IN AND SPEAK THIS EVENING.
MR. TORRES TOLD IT BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT I OWN THE PROPERTY I'VE HAD IT FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS, AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE. AND MISS GOVERNOR IS SINCERE ABOUT WANTING TO PUT A BUSINESS IN THERE AND I HOPE YOU ALL ALLOW HER TO DO THAT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAD OTHER ONE OTHER SPEAKER CARD THAT WAS IN FAVOR BUT DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK, AND THAT WAS FOR DAVID BRIGGS. COMMISSIONER MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM. VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT. MR. DIRECTOR UNDER OUR RULES, IS THIS, DO WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF RULES FOR NOISE OR TIMES THAT WE CAN, THAT THIS CAN OPERATE UNDER OUR RULES AT C-AB-2? I COULDN'T RECALL. NO THERE'S EXISTING CITY CODE ORDINANCES FOR NOISE, BUT NOTHING IN THE ZONING.
IS THERE SOMETHING ALSO WITH AEDC ON THAT? NO, THAT'S JUST [INAUDIBLE].
NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO. OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT. MR. DIRECTOR JUST FOR THE RECORD. WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON HERE IS A C-AB-2, NOT A HOOKAH LOUNGE.
CORRECT? SO IF THIS FAILS, IT COULD BE ANOTHER.
IT COULD BECOME A BAR OR ANOTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED THIS EVENING IS, IS TO REZONE IT THE REQUEST TO REZONE IT FROM LIGHT COMMERCIAL C1 TO C-AB-2 BAR AND LOUNGE ZONING. CORRECT OKAY THANK YOU. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS FROM ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION? COMMISSIONER ELLENDER. YEAH, SO I'M KIND OF LOOKING SOME WE GET THESE THAT ARE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES, AND THIS IS ONE WHERE I GO BACK ON IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT, THAT THIS IS, WE'RE REZONING THIS PROPERTY LONG TERM AND I JUST DON'T HAVE A COMFORT WITH THE HOUSING IN THE AREA, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ACTUALLY MAY BE A DAYCARE NEAR THE AREA.
JUST NOT SOMETHING I'M REALLY COMFORTABLE TO SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? THERE'S A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
[00:35:06]
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS DENIED.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 7 CUP 2-25 TIMOTHY HILL RANCH.
[7. CONSENT FOR APPROVAL CUP-2-25 Timothy Hill Ranch (Deferred by the Planning Director from May 19)]
CUP 2-25 TIMOTHY HILL RANCH PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF CHARLTON ROAD, SOUTH OF COMITE ACRES AVENUE.COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 - KENNEY. THE APPLICANT IS MATT ESTOPINAL.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A PHILANTHROPIC FACILITY FOR FOSTER CARE.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS AGRICULTURAL RURAL CUP 2-25 TIMOTHY HILL RANCH.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UDC REQUIREMENTS.
COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS MATT ESTOPINAL WITH SJB GROUP 5344 BRITTANY DRIVE IN BATON ROUGE.
MATT, COULD YOU USE THE MIC? I'M SORRY, I CAN HEAR MYSELF, BUT I COULDN'T.
I'M THE ENGINEER OF RECORD. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY ENGINEERING RELATED QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER THOSE.
TIMOTHY HILL RANCH IS A MULTI-STATE FOSTER CARE AGENCY.
SO THESE ARE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF CRIMINAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT, AND THEY'RE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES.
WE DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBORS THEY HAD CLEARED THE LAND THEMSELVES.
THEY HAD BUILT THIS CUSTOM BARNDOMINIUM, WHICH WAS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THE TYPE OF WORK WE DO WITH A SEPARATE POLE BARN, A SEPARATE APARTMENT FOR A WORKSHOP SPACE, TO GIVE THESE YOUTH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE.
AND SO WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IN FIGHTING THOSE STATISTICS AND BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS, OF COURSE, FROM NEW YORK, WE'RE IN LONG ISLAND TO SEARCY ARKANSAS, NEAR HARDING UNIVERSITY AND NOW IN ZACHARY AS WE ARE ACQUIRING HERITAGE RANCH. SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN FAMILY SECRETARY MATLOCK HAS BEEN OUT THERE HIMSELF, AS WELL AS DEPUTY SECRETARY AND THE STATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DOCTOR REBECCA HOOK.
BUT THEY ARE HELPING US NAVIGATE HOW TO SERVE THE STATE IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAYS.
AND SO THIS IS A 52-ACRE PARCEL WITH MULTI SITE FACILITY.
SO A HOME, AN APARTMENT AND A WORKSHOP SPACE THAT'S FENCED IN AND EVEN TODAY WE HAD A VISIT WITH DCFS ON OUR SITE AND ZACHARY, SO IT WOULD BE CONSISTENTLY VISITED BY DCFS OFFICIALS AND RUN WITH 24/7 STAFF.
WE RUN A PRETTY TIGHT SHIP, LIKE I SAID, FROM NEW YORK DOWN TO SEARCY ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE.
SO OUR STATES ARE NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA.
HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MISSISSIPPI YOUTH THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITIES THERE.
AND AS I SAID, WE WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
I HAD THE CHANCE TO HEAR FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO IS HERE TODAY JUST SEEKING MORE INFORMATION.
AND WE WOULD BE FOOLISH NOT TO LISTEN TO THOSE REQUESTS, BUT ALSO WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE CUES OF THE STATE OFFICIALS WHO DEEM IT AN APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR THE YOUTH THAT THEY'VE GUIDED THROUGH THE YEARS.
THEY KNOW THESE YOUTH, THEY KNOW THEIR TENDENCIES, AND THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WILL BE GOOD FOR REHABILITATING THEM AND GIVING THEM A CHANCE AT A DIGNIFIED LIFE. SO THAT IS US.
WE SIMPLY NEED ZONING APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LICENSING PROCESS.
WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WAITING FOR US AND NEAR ALMOST 220 YOUTH.
220 AGED OUT LAST YEAR WITH ABOUT 20 EXTENDED FOSTER CARE BEDS.
SO THAT MEANS IF YOU'RE AGE 18 AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE 20, FANTASTIC.
[00:40:04]
IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU GET A CHECK AND YOU'RE EMANCIPATED.WE KNOW WE'RE NEW TO THE STATE AND AS I SAID, WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS AT HERITAGE RANCH, OUR NEIGHBORS AND SJB GROUP WHO HAVE WALKED WITH US AND DISCERNING THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT BRINGING SERVICE TO YOUTH HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU OUR FIRST CARD IN SUPPORT IS FOR DANIEL WAGNER.
SO I WON'T PREACH AT YOU, BUT I'LL TELL YOU A COUPLE STORIES IF THAT'S GOOD. AND I THINK ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE IN LOUISIANA TO SEE OUTCOMES BE DIFFERENT, AS CARLY MENTIONED. 200 CHILDREN ARE SCHEDULED TO AGE OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, COLLECTIVELY, OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, TWO DIFFERENT YOUNG WOMEN WHO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE SYSTEM CAME TO LIVE WITH MYSELF AND MY WIFE AND OUR YOUNG DAUGHTER. THE FIRST ONE WAS LIVING WITH US WHEN SHE TURNED ONE, AND THE SECOND ONE WAS LIVING WITH US WHENEVER SHE TURNED FOUR. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY JUST TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCES OF SOCIETAL ILLS AND BROKENNESS, ADDICTION, THINGS THAT THEY DID NOT INVITE INTO THEIR OWN LIFE. AND STATISTICS DO SAY THAT WITHOUT INTERVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES THROUGH OUTSIDE PARTIES INTERVENING IN THEIR LIFE, THAT OFTENTIMES THESE CYCLES DO TEND TO REPEAT THEMSELVES.
SO I WOULD APPEAL TO YOU IN THAT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN BATON ROUGE, IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THAT YOU MAY KNOW AND YOU MAY BE CLOSE TO AND MAY HAVE INTERSECTED WITH WOMEN WHO, IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCE WERE LIVING IN SUBPAR ENVIRONMENTS AND SOME GOVERNMENT HOUSING THAT WAS SECOND HAND LEASED WITH LOTS OF DRUGS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SEXUAL ABUSE THERE. BUT IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE OUR FAMILY AND OUR HOME, WE HELPED HER GET SOME STEADY EMPLOYMENT AND MOVE INTO AN INDEPENDENT LIVING.
AND THEN FOR THE SECOND ONE FATHER'S DAY WAS THIS LAST SUNDAY, AND SHE'S SITTING AT A TABLE WITH MYSELF AND MY DAD AND MY BROTHER, WHO'S A NEW UNCLE. SO JUST THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS AFFORDED THROUGH LOVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEALT WITH ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THEIR LIFE, NONE OF WHICH THEY'VE DESIRED TO BE GIVEN PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AND SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL BENEFIT FOR THEM, BUT A GREAT BENEFIT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR BEING WILLING TO ENTERTAIN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT CARD IS IN FAVOR AND SAYS THEY WILL SPEAK IF NEEDED.
THAT IS FOR VICKI ELLIS. LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE NEEDED . HI. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS VICKI ELLIS, AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF HERITAGE RANCH IN ZACHARY, LOUISIANA. I WAS REFLECTING AS I WALKED IN TONIGHT THAT THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS IN 2011.
AND WHEN I WAS BEFORE THIS BODY TO REQUEST APPROVAL FOR HERITAGE RANCH IN ZACHARY WE WERE REALLY BLESSED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE APPROVAL NOT ONLY BY THIS BODY, BUT BY THE METRO COUNCIL. AND WE OPENED UP IN 2015 TO SERVE KIDS IN CRISIS ON THAT PROPERTY IN ZACHARY VERY SIMILAR SETTING, VERY SIMILAR PROGRAM. AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN LIVES CHANGE, FAMILIES CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
THE COMMUNITY WAS NERVOUS ABOUT THEIR KIDS SAFETY AND THEIR COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
BECAUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE HOMELESS, KIDS THAT ARE INCARCERATED, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, AND THERE AREN'T PLACES FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED.
AND IF THEY DON'T GET IT, THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRIME.
SO WE HAVE TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEM. I HAVE MET TIMOTHY HILL RANCH THROUGH AN ACTUAL MERGER OF HERITAGE RANCH BECAUSE THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS REALLY IMPORTANT AT THE RANCH, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND WE'VE WANTED TO GROW BUT HAVEN'T HAD THOSE.
AND SO THEY ARE COMING IN AND PARTNERING WITH US.
[00:45:02]
AND EXPERIENCE FAMILY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE AND IT'S GOING TO BE LIFE CHANGING.WE JUST HAD A SMALL KIND OF KICK OFF AT HERITAGE RANCH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHERE OUR CONSTITUENTS CAME AND THEIR BOARD CAME DOWN FROM NEW YORK, ARKANSAS. THEY ARE INVESTED IN THIS AREA AND THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME.
CARLY AND HER HUSBAND HERE ARE TAKING SHIFTS IN THE HOUSE AT THE RANCH TO BE WITH THESE BOYS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST TALKING THE TALK. THEY'RE WALKING THE WALK. AND SO I DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL APPROVE AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND BE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT CAN CHANGE THE LIVES OF OUR KIDS GIRLS AND BOYS IN BATON ROUGE WHO SO DESPERATELY NEED IT AND DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO BE THAT'S SAFE.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR. YES THANK YOU, I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER OF THE LAND NEXT TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, THIS TIMOTHY HILL RANCH, THEY'RE CALLING IT TO THE SOUTH.
I OWN A LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT WAS OWNED BY MR. MILLIGAN. THAT SAT ON THE METRO COUNCIL BEFORE ME AND WHEN I GOT THE CARD THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE MOVING IN THIS GROUP HOME NEXT TO ME, I WONDERED WHAT MR. MILLIGAN'S REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN. THIS THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS LOCATED EAST OF BAKER.
IT'S LOCATED ON CHARLESTON ROAD, IT'S A, CHARLESTON ROAD IS A LITTLE LOCAL ROAD THAT ONLY LOCAL TRAFFIC KNOWS ABOUT IS QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S RESIDENTIAL.
AND NOW THEY'RE SUGGESTING THAT THEY TURN IT INTO A FOSTER CARE FACILITY, A GROUP HOME, I CALL IT. AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS AS FAR AS, HERE IN BATON ROUGE, I AM. I WAS FAMILIAR WITH AT LEAST TWO.
AND THEN THE JUVENILE FACILITY OF NORTH OF BATON ROUGE HERE.
IT BRINGS A CERTAIN ATMOSPHERE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGES FROM A QUIET, PEACEFUL, CUL-DE-SAC TO THIS HAVING TO TAKE CERTAIN MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FAMILY AND KIDS ARE SAFE.
I SAID THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
YOU CAN CALL IT A RANCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S A GROUP HOME SETTING.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE BUILT ON THERE, IT WASN'T BUILT BY THE ENGINEER.
IT WAS BUILT BY THE OWNERS THEMSELVES. AND THE SEWER SYSTEM IS MORE MO-DAD .
I'VE ASKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS I WAS GIVEN THE NUMBER SIX, MAYBE SIX PEOPLE.
THEN EIGHT, TEN, AND TODAY SOMEBODY TOLD ME IT WAS UP TO 24.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY, A LOT OF SEWER, A LOT OF RAIN WATER AND IT GOES TO THE SOUTH BY NATURE. I'M THE SOUTH. SO I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT OBJECTION AND HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER . THANK YOU SIR. AT THIS TIME, I'LL INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU, MR. PENN. AS I SAID, WE ARE HAPPY THAT MR. PENN IS HERE. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MOVE STEP BY STEP TO WORK WITH SJB GROUP AND OTHERS TO DETERMINE THE BEST PATH IN BUILDING. THIS IS SIMPLY THE FIRST STEP IN PURSUING THE LICENSURE IS ZONING APPROVAL.
IT IS A 52 ACRE PARCEL, AND THE TAPERS ARE A FAIRLY LARGE FAMILY.
[00:50:03]
SO THEY HAD COOKOUTS AND A COUPLE CRAWFISH PONDS.THEY ACTUALLY HAD OUR STAFF OUT WITH SOME FAMILY OUT THERE.
AND THERE HAVEN'T BEEN SEWAGE ISSUES, TO THAT DATE, TO TODAY FROM HOSTING THEIR FULL FAMILY.
SO I KNOW THAT, I MEAN, WE DO THINGS WITH EXCELLENCE, AND I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SJB GROUP TO MAKE SURE THAT MR. BEN'S PROPERTY PAST THE 52 ACRE LINE, PAST THE FENCE LINE WILL BE RESPECTED AND THAT WE WON'T BE FOOLISH TO IGNORE NEIGHBORS, BUT TO PARTNER WITH THEM. WE DO APPRECIATE, LIKE I SAID, JUST HIM WANTING TO GATHER INFORMATION AND KNOW THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP. SO WE'VE HAD BETHANY CHURCH COME OUT AND SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE IN BAKER THEMSELVES.
SO RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, FOUR MINUTES, THEY'RE ALSO INVESTED.
AND AGAIN, A HIGH VALUE FOR THAT. AS TO THE NUMBER I DID SHARE, YOU KNOW, I SAID TRANSPARENTLY, ARKANSAS WENT FROM 4 TO 24 RESIDENTS IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, AND THAT WAS DUE TO RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SLOW WE MOVE WITH URGENCY WHEN IT'S A HOMELESS YOUTH AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OR SOMEONE LIKE SECRETARY MATLOCK SAYING, HEY, I'VE GOT EIGHT BEDS AND I NEED YOU TO FILL THEM, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE WITH URGENCY TO DISCERN WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY THAT WE COULD SERVE IF IT'S NOT US. OKAY MAYBE ANOTHER AGENCY. SO WE DID EXPAND OUR BED COUNT ON THAT 50 ACRE PROPERTY IN SEARCY, ARKANSAS. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT? THAT IS CORRECT, MR. PENN. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH TIME, MAYBE WE SERVE MORE THAN THE 6 TO 12 GIRLS ON THIS SITE, BUT WE WILL DO THAT IN STEP WITH LICENSING, SUBDIVISION APPROVAL AND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY.
THEY DO HAVE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS. Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT. BUT THERE'S LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN DRESSER AND SPACE ALLOTTED FOR THEM. AND SO WE CAN'T GET AROUND THOSE, NOR WOULD WE.
AS FAR AS NOISE OR ANYTHING IN THAT REGARD, WE HAVE 24/7 STAFF.
AND AS I SAID, WE DO RUN A TIGHT SHIP, TO PUT IT IN COLLOQUIAL TERMS. BUT THEY'RE WORKING. THEY'RE CALLED INTERNS. SO IT'S AN ON SITE INTERNSHIP MODEL.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE A FACILITY YOU MAY BE PICTURING.
AND I APPRECIATE MR. PENN BRINGING THAT UP. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NEWS ARTICLES WHERE THERE WAS A DEGREE OF NEGLIGENCE BY SOME AGENCIES, THAT IS NOT US. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT TYPE OF CARE.
AND IN FACT, SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES ARE SHUTTING DOWN.
AND I KNOW THAT JUST FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SECRETARY MATLOCK.
AND I SAY THAT RESPECTFULLY, BUT THAT THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE WITH US.
THEY WILL BE WORKING IF THEY DON'T SLEEP WELL AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.
THEY REALLY DIDN'T WORK HARD ENOUGH. AND THEY ALSO ARE SHADOWING EMPLOYERS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
THEY'RE NOT DIGGING HOLES FOR THE FUN OF IT, LIKE THE MOVIE HOLES OR SOMETHING SILLY LIKE THAT.
THEY ARE USING SKILLS, LEARNING HOW TO PUT THEIR MIND TO WORK AND MAKING THE MOST OF THE LIFE THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN SO THAT, AS I SAID, THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF A DIGNIFIED FUTURE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE MR. PENN'S CONCERN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING GREAT NEIGHBORS, TO WORKING AND STUFF WITH SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS IN THE NEXT PHASE OF RETROFITTING AND CONTINUING TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. COMMISSION MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND BEFORE INVITING ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THE APPLICANT MENTIONED REZONING, BUT THIS IS IN FACT A CUP AN APPLICATION FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. DIRECTOR HOLCOMB IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF TOUCH ON SOME OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE REZONING AND THE CUP AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN OR TAKE PLACE OR BE PURSUED IF A CUP WERE TO BECOME PROBLEMATIC AS OPPOSED TO AN OFFICIAL REZONING? CERTAINLY THAT WOULD LIKELY BE VERY HELPFUL IN THIS DISCUSSION.
IT WAS STATED EARLIER, I BELIEVE, BY MAYBE THE APPLICANT THAT THEY WERE REQUESTING A REZONING.
THIS THIS IS NOT A REZONING THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
IT'S A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHICH IS GENERALLY APPROPRIATE IN RURAL ZONING, BUT IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS ON WHETHER THIS PARTICULAR USE AND SITE PLAN THAT'S BEFORE YOU VERY SPECIFIC IN WHAT'S PRESENTED IS APPROPRIATE AT THIS LOCATION OR NOT.
SO AGAIN ZONING IS NOT BEING CHANGED IT REMAINS RURAL ZONING.
IF THIS WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL I DID SEND HIM ALL THE INFORMATION, THE DETAILS OF THE SITE PLAN.
[00:55:06]
BUT, MISTER CHAIRMAN, TO YOUR SECOND POINT, AGAIN THE APPLICANT, THIS IS AGAIN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WITH AN ATTACHED SITE PLAN.THAT'S APPROPRIATE, WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE OR NOT FOR TWO EXISTING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WITH A COMBINED TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 6792FT² FOR ESSENTIALLY A FOSTER CARE FACILITY, AND THE SPECIFIC USE IS CLASSIFIED AS WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION FOR FOSTER CARE FACILITY AT THIS LOCATION.
THERE IS VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IF IT WERE TO BE APPROVED AND IF THE SITUATION ARISE IN THE FUTURE, IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS OR IT WERE DEEMED TO BE PROBLEMATIC IN THE FUTURE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE WITH THIS COMPANY OR THEIR TRACK, DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD, THERE IS A VERY CLEAR PROCESS TO TAKE STEPS WHICH THE COUNCIL COULD INITIATE ON POTENTIALLY REVOKING THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HOLCOMB. VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT. CAN THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD FOR A MOMENT? THE, I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF NUMBERS ON PATIENTS.
WHAT IS WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SURE, SO THERE ARE TWO BUILDINGS. THERE'S A MAIN HOUSE, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE BARN IF YOU'VE SEEN THE IMAGE.
AND THEN THERE'S AN APARTMENT WHICH WE'RE ADDING EGRESS WINDOWS THAT WAS PART OF THE PLANS.
SO SIX TO BEGIN WITH IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IF BOTH CONTRACTS WERE OPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO FOUR AND ONE, TWO IN THE APARTMENT. BUT UP TO 12 ON THIS SITE, AS IS.
IF WE WERE TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS, THAT WOULD OF COURSE BE A WHOLE NOTHER BALL GAME, AND THAT WOULD BE A FUTURE APPLICATION IN YEARS, IN THE FUTURE BUT CURRENTLY. ARE THESE MEN? AND THESE YOUNG, THESE ARE THEIR BOYS AND GIRLS OR JUST WOMEN? WE'VE APPLIED FOR WOMEN, YOUNG WOMEN, SO AGES 13 TO 17 FOR THE MAIN HOUSE AND THEN 18 TO 21 FOR THE SEPARATE APARTMENT.
BUT OUR HERITAGE RANCH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, SITE THAT'S IN ZACHARY, FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD.
IT'S A SIMILAR SETTING, BUT THOSE ARE YOUNG MEN.
SO THEY'VE ALWAYS SERVED PRIVATELY PLACED YOUNG MEN.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO THERE, SERVE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC. SO THESE FEMALES AND MALES ARE SEPARATED AND HOPEFULLY CAN'T TOUCH EACH OTHER TOO FAST DOWN THE ROAD FIVE MILES SO.
AND MATT, MATT CAN YOU COME FORWARD FOR A SECOND? I HAVE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. I KNOW THERE WAS THERE'S TALK OF, YOU KNOW, THIS ADDING CAPACITY, TRAFFIC. HOW MANY? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT CAR WISE HERE? ANY? I MEAN, ARE WE LOOKING AT TWO CAR INCREASE, FIVE CAR INCREASE? I MEAN, IF THAT MISS CARLY WAS EXPLAINING TO ME IT'S VERY RARE FOR ONE OF THE WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE SHE CAN AFFORD A CAR AND INSURE IT AND DRIVE IT.
SO IT'S MOST OF THESE YOUNG LADIES DON'T DRIVE.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS AND I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE MY STATEMENT NOW, SINCE I HAVE YOU ALL HERE.
I'VE DESIGNED THESE TYPES OF HOMES IN THE PAST, AND YOU TYPICALLY WOULD LIKE THESE IN AN AREA, A MORE RURAL SETTING. IT'S CALMER, IT'S MORE PEACEFUL, THERE'S LESS CHANCE OF SOMEBODY GETTING INTO TROUBLE.
SO I THINK YOUR CHOICE OF PLACEMENT IS EXCELLENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE RULES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW YOU MAY HAVE TO DO SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE BUILDINGS AND YOU HAVE TO DO SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE MO-DAD OR CITY SEWER.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL CAN WORK OUT. THAT'S RIGHT THE PERMIT OFFICE WILL HANDLE ALL THAT STUFF. EXACTLY. OKAY. YES, SIR. WELL, AT THIS, AT THIS TIME, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY THERE'S A MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW. AND THAT IS SERVICES HOUSING FOR THIS POPULATION IS LIMITED AND YOU ALL SERVE IN 12 IS ONLY. IT'S NOT EVEN SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, BUT YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND
[01:00:07]
THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THIS POPULATION.AND IT IS MY DESIRE THAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID, NOBODY THERE BE DRIVING DOWN THE LINE? YEAH, YEAH SEE THEM DRIVING, SEE THEM IN THEIR OWN HOME, SEE THEM WITH FAMILIES.
BUT DEFINITELY THIS IS A POPULATION THAT MANY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY HOLLER ABOUT GROUP HOMES, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF US. AND SO YOU ALL ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND EXPECTATIONS ARE THERE FOR YOU TO DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND MORE. THANK YOU, MISS COLEMAN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER BOYD. THIS IS MORE OUT OF CURIOSITY, BUT ARE THE SCHOOL AGE YOUTH? ARE THEY? IS YOUR FACILITY ALSO A SCHOOL OR DO THEY GO TO SCHOOL? HOW DOES THAT? WONDERFUL QUESTION. SO RIGHT NOW OUR HERITAGE GUYS GO TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS, SO THEY DO COME TO US FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.
BUT OUR TENNESSEE SITE USES THE LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM, AND WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO KIND OF DETERMINE WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE ON SITE. BUT OF COURSE, WITH OUR 24 /7 STAFF AND THEN OUR EDUCATION COORDINATOR, THOSE CLASSES WOULD BE FACILITATED. BUT AS OF NOW, HERITAGE ATTENDS PUBLIC SCHOOL SO YEAH.
YEAH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BOYD. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? IF NOT, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THIS ITEM FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT THAT MOTION RECEIVED A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED.
AT THIS TIME, WE CAN MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS BEGINNING WITH DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
SO A FEW THINGS TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO AT YOUR SEATS YOU HAVE A INITIAL UDC SEE REVISION FOR WALLS AND FENCES THAT WAS INITIATED LAST AT LAST MONTH'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT WILL BE ON AN UPCOMING AGENDA, IF NOT NEXT MONTH, THE FOLLOWING MONTH. SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.I DO WANT TO WISH A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER BOYD, WHO CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY, I BELIEVE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR. DO YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION? THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH FOR JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY AS WELL AS A UPCOMING 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY. AND OUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, JULY 21ST.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS.
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
AND I'D LIKE TO AT THIS TIME, CONGRATULATE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, JASMINE THOMAS PLANNING MANAGER OF THE LONG RANGE DIVISION.JASMINE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE EPA BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT GRANT AND SKILLFULLY OVERSEES OUR ENTERPRISE ZONE AND RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAMS. AS A DEDICATED BOARD MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA BROWNFIELDS ASSOCIATION AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL AREA SECTION OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, SHE DEMONSTRATES LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT. JASMINE COORDINATES STAFF SUPPORT FOR THE COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, WHILE ALSO ENSURING OUR WEBSITE IS UPDATED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JASMINE ON THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SCROGGS.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ADDISON. IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS,
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.