[00:00:03]
[ROLL CALL]
EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE ROLL CALL.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 15TH MEETING? MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ALL.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BATZ.
UH, THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AT THIS TIME.
[RULES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS]
CHAIRMAN GROUT 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 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 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 AND 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.
APPLICANTS APPLICANT WILL BE ALLOWED A TOTAL OF PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
OPPONENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REBUT ITEMS PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF WILL NOT HAVE TIME ALLOCATED FOR SPEAKING UNLESS THERE IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AT THE MEETING WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
IN SUCH CASES, THE PROPOSAL WILL FOLLOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
GROUT.WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE ARE NO CONSENT ITEMS FOR WITHDRAWAL OR DEFERRAL.
1 4 8 3 2 OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY TO REZONE FROM RURAL TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL NC ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY WEST OF LAKEMONT DRIVE.
ITEM EIGHT M CUP 1 26, 77 40 AND 9,400 THROUGH 9,500 PETIT ROAD.
PROPOSED SAND AND GRAVEL MINING OPERATION LOCATED ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF PETIT ROAD NORTH OF EE DRIVE.
ITEM NINE, PUT FOUR ZERO EIGHT BIRTH CENTER WOMEN'S HOSPITAL FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVISION THE ADDITION OF A MEDICAL OFFICE CLINIC ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF AIRLINE, HIGHWAY AND SLUMBER LANE.
ITEM 10, PUT 2 0 4 OFFICE BUILDING LOT FIVE.
FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, PROPOSED OFFICE DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF COMMERCE CIRCLE NORTH OF CORPORATE BOULEVARD.
OFFICE BUILDING, LOT SIX TOWN CENTER BUSINESS PARK.
FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, PROPOSED OFFICE DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF COMMERCE CIRCLE NORTH OF CORPORATE BOULEVARD.
ITEM 12 SS 2 26 LAVERNE CIRCLE.
PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SIL AVENUE NORTH OF LASSALLE AVENUE PLANNING COMMISSION.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE'VE HAD REQUESTS BY THE PUBLIC TO REMOVE ITEM EIGHT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM EIGHT M CUP 1 26 WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND HEARD IN REGULAR AGENDA ORDER.
THANK YOU COMMISSION MEMBERS, YOU HAVE 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 ANOTHER ITEM ON THE CONSENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED AND HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SAYING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GROUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED AND WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO
[Items 2 & 3]
THE REGULAR AGENDA.MR. CHAIRMAN, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS CAN BE TAKEN TOGETHER.
ITEM TWO, PA 4 25 AND ITEM THREE, ZONING CASE 2326.
CASE 23 26 13 1 18, 13, 1 22, 13, 1 26, 13 1 3 AND 1340 CENIC HIGHWAY RELATED TO PA 4 26.
THIS PLAN AMENDMENT IS TO AMEN.
A COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FROM NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER TO INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF CENIC HIGHWAY SOUTH OF
[00:05:01]
RA, MAY ROAD COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO KENNEY.THE APPLICANT IS SO RENTAL LUMBER COMPANY, FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL C TWO AT LIMITED RESIDENTIAL A FOUR WITH A REQUESTING ZONING OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL M1 CASE 23 26 13 1 18, 13 1 22, 13, 126, 13, 1 30, AND 1340 SCENIC HIGHWAY RELATED TO PA 4 26.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL BASED UPON EXAMINATION OF THE AREA AT A FURTHER LEVEL OF DETAIL AND COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING USES.
STAFF ALSO CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS A CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING IF THE COMPANION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, BEING COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS BART ONG AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT TO, UH, TO TRY AND CLEAN UP SOME PAPERWORK I SUPPOSE MOSTLY, UH, WE HAVE TWO SMALL PIECES OF PROPERTY COMBINED, TOTAL 5.3 ACRES.
UH, BOTH ARE ZONED, UH, COMMERCIAL IN THE FRONT, HIGH DEN, HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IN THE BACK.
UM, NEITHER ONE CAN REALLY BE USED FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE OF ZONING.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CLEAN IT UP.
UM, UH, M1 SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST OPTIONS FOR US, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER M TWO ZONES IN OUR AREA.
UM, AND IT APPEARED THAT IT HAD BEEN USED, UH, PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY AS UH, MORE OF AN MM ONE ZONE.
IT'S BEEN A TIRE SHOP, IT'S BEEN A TRANSMISSION SHOP.
UM, WE CLEANED UP NO LESS THAN FOUR DUMPSTERS OF TIRES, UH, THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED ON THE PROPERTY BEFORE WE GOT IT.
UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE, UH, THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE OUR, OUR SUBMISSION FOR A ZONING CHANGE TO M1, UH, TO ALLOW US TO BE ABLE, UH, TO FIND A VIABLE AND SUITABLE BUSINESS FOR THAT AREA.
AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, WE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS, FOR THESE TWO ITEMS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARDS FOR THESE TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU.
SO AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR MOTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER BATZ TO APPROVE THESE TWO ITEMS. I BELIEVE THAT MOTION RECEIVES A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ELLEN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THOSE TWO ITEMS ARE APPROVED AND WE WILL MOVE ON.
[4. Case 22-26 9798 Greenwell Springs Road To rezone from Light Commercial (C1) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (restaurant)(C-AB-1) on property located on the south side of Greenwell Springs Road, west of Platt Drive, on property now or formerly known as a portion of Lot C of the W.A. Henry Lee Tract. Section 26, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 5 - Hurst)]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CASE 2226, CASE 22 26 9 7 9 8 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD, WEST OF FLAT DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HERTZ.
THE APPLICANT IS BERNARD KUBOTA.
FUTURE BE OUR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMMERCIAL.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS LIKE COMMERCIAL C ONE WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CV ONE CASE 22 26 9 7 9 8.
STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS A CRITERIA FOR A, A CHANGE OF ZONING BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
COUNCILMAN HURST HAS PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT, WHICH IS AT YOUR SEATS AND STAFF HAS RECEIVED 83 MESSAGES IN SUPPORT TO THIS REZONING REQUEST.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED 24 MESSAGES IN OPPOSITION.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
UH, I'M A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 42 YEARS AND I SAW MY COMMITTEE GO DOWN ON THAT AREA.
GREENWOOD SPRING ROAD IS PARTICULARLY DEAD.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN THE MAYOR BROOM INVITE BUSINESS PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TO DO SOMETHING WITH
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OUR COMMUNITY, WE WAS THERE.WE SAY WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
SO ME AND MY FAMILY, WE WERE HARD, HARD OUR OWNING MONEY TO BO TO BUY THOSE VACANT BUILDINGS AND ALI BRING BACK THAT TO CODE THAT WE CAN HAVE PLACE TO GO.
WHEN YOU ARE ON GREENWOOD SPRING ROAD, IF YOU WANT TO EAT, YOU HAVE TO GO ON SHE FOREST.
IF YOU WANT A DRINK, YOU HAVE TO GO ON SHE FOREST.
WE GOVERNMENT STREET, WE FLOOR THE STREET THERE IS DEAD.
EVERY, EVERY PROPERTY THERE MOVING TACO BELL CLOSED DOWN.
SO WHEN THE MAYOR TOLD ME THAT IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, DO IT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, INSTEAD OF BRINGING THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE ON SHARE FOSTER.
SO ME AND MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY, WE ARE LOCATED $3.2 MILLION TO BUY A BUILDING IN OMA.
SO WE LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY SO WE KNOW WHAT IT IS AFTER WE FINISH IT.
I TOLD THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCILMAN AND THERE, WHICH IS THE COUNCILMAN RIGHT NOW, HE SAY, GO FOR IT.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AS THE GENTLEMAN POINTED OUT WHEN I TOLD THEM WE HAD OPPOSITION, THEY SAY, WE'RE GONNA SEND THE LETTERS.
WE CANNOT, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FIGHT THIS THING.
BUSINESS AFFIDAVITS FROM THEM.
THEY WANT US TO OPEN UP BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO.
AND WE DID SO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AFTER WE FINISH IT, THEN WE HAVE A SO CALLED, UH, ASSOCIATION.
THEY NEVER CAME TO US, ASKED US WHAT WE DOING OR ANYTHING UNTIL WE FINISH THE REMODELING AND DO EVERYTHING WE GOT TO DO TO BRING BACK THE CODE.
NOW THEY COMING TELLING US, OH, WE DON'T WANT THE UH, UH, UH, LIQUOR THERE.
OH, OH, WE WANT INSTEAD OF SOUL FOOD THERE.
WE OPENING A RESTAURANT WITH FOOD IS NONE THERE SIR.
GOOGLE UP CHECK IS NOTHING BUT WOODS.
WE PUT OUR CORE AND PUT THAT IN THAT COMMUNITY AND I'M GETTING OPPOSITION AND WE DISAPPOINT THEM.
YOU KNOW, AS A BLACK MAN, $3.2 MILLION DON'T COME JUST LIKE THAT.
BUT THEY GOT PEOPLE SET UP IN THEIR OLD WAY.
THEY'RE PUSHING THEIR AGENDA OR OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE $3.2 MILLION OF PROPERTY THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING THERE BUT YOUR HOUSE.
AND YOU CAN TELL ME THAT ALL THAT MONEY GONNA GO TO WASTE BECAUSE, SO WE WENT HOUSE TO HOUSE TO HOUSE TO HOUSE X ASK THEM, DO YOU WANT THIS THING HERE OR NOT? THEY SAY, YES.
BUSINESSES RIGHT HERE, THEY SEND AFFIDAVITS, PEER PROPERTY, DLO THERE.
THE ONLY THING THEY KNOW EVERYTHING COME THERE THAT I TALK ABOUT THEM.
THEY TRYING TO BRING THAT DOWN AND THEY, THEY GOT NERVE TO COME TELL ME, WE DON'T HAVE PLACE TO EAT.
IF WE GOTTA EAT, WE GOTTA GO TO CENTRAL.
WHO WE GOTTA GO TO FLORIDA STREET, BUT WE COULD START IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
BEGINS TO START THAT MY SON RELOCATED $1.2 MILLION
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OF HIS EARNED MONEY PLAYING FOOTBALL FOR THE SAINTS.HE GIVE THAT MONEY THERE TO DO THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HIS BROTHER GOT HIS MONEY, WE PUT IT IN HIM.
BUT I'M WE DISAPPOINTED TO GET THE OPPOSITION.
I THOUGHT THEY COULDNT EMBRACE IT.
SAY, OH, I'M GLAD YOU CAME TO THE COMMITTEE.
NO, BUT THEY INSTEAD LET, UH, WE USED TO HAVE A SHOPPING CENTER FOR GROCERY THERE.
YOU KNOW THAT WHAT THE TURN OUT TO BE WAREHOUSE.
SO THE PLACE WHEN YOU COME SIX O'CLOCK IS DEAD.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM FOR RHONDA BENNETT.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
WE'RE IN TO SAY, WELL I WENT TO PARK PARKS MILL BACK IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES AND I'M MUST SAY IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE THERE.
AND OF TODAY IT'S LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
MY FAMILY STILL RESIDE THERE SOME AND MY FRIENDS, LIKE YOU SAY, WE HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO HAVE A LITTLE BAR OUT IN SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, SPORTS BAR ON THAT LEVEL.
THAT'S ALL WE ASKING FOR AND SEEKING FOR.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DARRELL HURST HERE WHO I'LL INVITE TO THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME.
I CAME FROM ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT, BUT WHAT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS A TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT THAT WE NEED IN ALL NORTH BATON ROUGE, NOT JUST ON GREENWELL SPRINGS.
IF YOU DRIVE DOWN GREENWELL SPRINGS, THERE'S NOTHING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE DEVELOPING A GROCERY STORE AND THERE WAS AN APPLICANT WITH 7.5 ACRES, LITERALLY NEXT DOOR TO WHERE HE'S MOVING TO AND ON NORTH SHOREWOOD.
AND I SAID, WELL, GREENWELL SPRINGS LOOKS LIKE WORLD WAR THREE RIGHT NOW.
LET'S FOCUS ON AN AREA WHERE WE CAN DEVELOP AND THEN MIGRATE DOWN GREENWELL SPRINGS TO DEVELOP THE TACO BELL THAT HE'S USING IN PARK FOREST.
FOR EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS THAT HE BOUGHT THE TACO BELL PREVIOUSLY, HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET, WAS DOING MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO IT.
IT LOOKED LIKE A THIRD WORLD BUILDING AND HE'S DONE UPGRADES TO IT.
BUT THE TACO BELL BECOME, BECAME AVAILABLE.
SO HE MOVED HIS EFFORTS FROM THAT BUILDING TO THE TACO BELL BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER TO PUT UP AND BRING IN THE COMMERCE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INSIDE THE BUILDING AND LOOK AT IT AND HE HAS PUT TONS OF MONEY THERE.
IT IS A BUILDING THAT WOULD DO WELL IN ANY PART OF OUR CITY, WHETHER IT'S ZACHARY CENTRAL BAKER, ST.
GEORGE BATON ROUGE, OR WHERE HE IS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS IS WHAT WE NEED NOW.
UM, HE FOCUSED ON THE NEIGHBORS FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE THEY HAVE 10 PEOPLE IN OUR OPPOSITION.
BUT I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS MONTICELLO.
I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND THE AREA THAT ARE A THOUSAND PERCENT FORWARD.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT IN SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE I HAD DISTRICT FIVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND I WOULD TALK ABOUT THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIQUOR LICENSE THAT I WOULD ALLOW.
AND I MADE THAT COMMITMENT FOR TWO YEARS, UM, ON GREENWELL SPRING SPRINGS BECAUSE I'VE DESIRED, I'VE DENIED SO MANY AND IT WAS HIS BUSINESS.
SO IT IS NOT A BAR, IT'S A RESTAURANT.
THERE ARE SOME, HE HESITATIONS RELATED TO THIS LOCATION BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AFTER HOURS CLUB THAT WAS A NUISANCE TO OUR CITY PARISH THAT WAS A PART OF THE SHOPPING CENTER IN THE BACK.
IF Y'ALL KNOW THE LOCATION WHERE WITH DIXIE WAS, WE WENT THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER TO GET IT SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THAT MURDER THERE A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.
SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PTSD AND UNDERSTANDABLY HAS PTSD.
UM, BUT WHAT WE NEED OVER THERE IS RETAIL RESTAURANTS THAT ALLOW FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND WHAT HE'S DOING IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS I'VE TALKED TO THAT SAYS WE WANT IT, BUT WE DON'T WANT THE KIND OF FOOD HE'S SERVING.
AND I'M LIKE, YOU OPEN UP YOUR OWN RESTAURANT, BUY THE BUILDING AND DO IT YOURSELF.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE CAN OPEN A
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VAPE SHOP, HE CAN OPEN A LIQUOR STORE WITH HIS CURRENT USE.HE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT'S UNDESIRABLE TO THE COMMUNITY VERSUS SOMETHING THAT'S DESIRABLE.
AND THE FACT THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE A DACKER MACHINE IN THERE.
I SAID, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IF WE WOULD'VE PUT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT WITH MARGARITAS? WOULD YOU HAVE ARGUED THEN IF IT WAS WALK-ONS, WOULD YOU HAVE ARGUED? BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE AREA IS NOT INVESTABLE.
SO THOSE LARGE SCALE, UH, UH, CORPORATE BUILDINGS WILL NOT COME TO THE AREA.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE THE SMALL BUSINESS AND THE, UH, THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TO INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO GET IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME HESITANCY FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT IT'S EITHER HIM OR THE TACO BELL TURNS INTO EVERY OTHER RAGGEDY BUILDING OVER THERE.
THE ONLY RESTAURANT THAT'S LEFT THE SUBWAY AND THEY'RE LEAVING RIGHT NOW.
HE'S TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM TO STAY.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS THAT I'M IN SUPPORT A THOUSAND PERCENT.
I MADE A COMMITMENT TWO YEARS AGO THAT IF HE DID IT THE RIGHT WAY, I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT.
AND WHEN HE FINISHES THE TACO BELL, HIS PLANS TO GO RIGHT BACK ACROSS THE STREET.
HE'S BOUGHT ALL THREE PROPERTIES THAT SURROUND HIM BECAUSE HE WANTS TO INVEST IN THE AREA WHERE HIS KIDS LIVED, GREW UP AND WHERE HIS, HIS FAMILY WORKS AND PLAYS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
HE'S DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M IN SUPPORT.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE OPPOSITION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER CARD IS FOR DEBORAH O DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, MA'AM? OKAY.
CAN I PASS SOMETHING OUT THAT, THAT, CAN I GIVE YOU ALL THE PACK? SURE.
YOU CAN JUST HAND THEM TO, UH, COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
THANK YOU OPPOSING THE REQUEST FOR REZONING.
I HAVE READ THE MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH INCLUDE THE WORDS, ENCOURAGING ACCESS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PARK FOREST IS A PART OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND HOW WOULD A LI HOW WOULD LIQUOR CELLS ENHANCE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? THERE IS A LOCATION PROHIBITION.
THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE, STATES THAT NO LICENSE OR PERMIT SHALL BE GRANTED TO AN APPLICANT WHEN THE PROPERTY UPON WHICH THE BUSINESS IS TO BE CONDUCTED IS WITHIN 300 YARDS OF A SCHOOL.
MY OPPOSITION INCLUDES SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
THE PHOTOS OF THE BUSINESS AND GEO PREP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH HAS OVER 200 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE.
HAS MEASUREMENTS BEEN TAKEN OF THE DISTANCE FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE APPLICANT'S BUSINESS? ACCORDING TO THE UNIFIED DIVERSITY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE REPORT SHOWING THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND SATISFIES THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE, WHICH IS ON PAGE THREE DASH SEVEN OF YOUR PACKAGE.
HAS THIS SECTION OF THE CODE BEEN USED IN DETERMINING REZONING IF, IF MEASUREMENTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND SUBMITTED, WERE THEY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REVISED STATUTE 26 281, WHICH IS INCLUDED ON THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR PACKAGE? THE PHOTOS ALSO REPRESENT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON PLAT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND I SPOKE TO MR. JESS LORD AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE MOST RECENT DAILY COUNT OF VEHICLES THAT TRAVEL BETWEEN JEWEL ROAD AND COLME RIVER IS 20,825 VEHICLES.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED HOW THE SALE OF CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES COULD AFFECT AN ALREADY CONGESTED ROAD OR HIGHWAY? HOW WOULD IT IMPACT THE INTEREST INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT VALUE WOULD IT ADD TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS STATED IN YOUR MISSION STATEMENT? ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AS SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AROUND A DECREASE IN CRIME, INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE, AND A PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WOULD, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONGRESSMAN.
I MEAN, UM, UM, MR. UH, HURST, SP SPOKE OF MONTICELLO AND ALL THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE IS A TACO BELL THAT MOVED DOWN ON THE CORNER OF, UH, MONTEREY AND GREENWOOD SPRINGS ROAD.
THERE'S A, UH, POP, UH, UH, POPEYE'S CHICKEN.
THERE'S A PIZZA HUT, I MEAN A DOMINO'S PIZZA DOWN THE STREET.
SO THERE ARE RESTAURANTS AROUND THERE.
WE WANT DESIRABLE BUILDINGS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AS I LEAVE HERE, I'M ASKING AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE, WHAT WOULD, LIKE, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST COULDN'T SEE YOU BEHIND THAT POLL.
[00:25:02]
YEAH.HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.
I AM IN TOTAL OPPOSITION OF REZONING 97 98 GREEN SPRINGS ROAD FROM C ONE TO C ONE TO ALLOW FOR ALCOHOL CONSUM CONSUMPTION.
ALCOHOL, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY VIOLENCE.
THIS PROPOSED BUSINESS IS AT THE ENTRANCE OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE, INCLUDING TWO FATAL SHOOTINGS WITH COUNCILMAN HAS ALREADY MENTIONED.
THERE WERE COMPLAINTS OF FIGHTS, LOUD MUSIC, ILLEGAL PARKING, LITTERING TO NEARBY PROPERTIES DUE TO THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL AND THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PROPOSED BUSINESS TO THE SCHOOL AND NEARBY HOMES, WE WISH YOU WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER NOT RECOMMENDING FOR REZONING.
IN ADDITION, THE FAMILY HAS SPOKEN OR THE OWNERS RATHER HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE PROPERTIES AND THEIR INVESTMENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAVE BOUGHT.
AND I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE TWO BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAVE MENTIONED ACROSS THE STREET, UM, ARE ALSO IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR AND OR ICE SOURCE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT HE OWNS.
AND HE SAYS THAT HE'S WORKING ON THE INSIDE, BUT THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT HE'S ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT HE IS ACTIVE AND WANTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN PARK FOREST FOR 33 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOR THE ENTIRE 33 YEARS.
AND I DON'T THINK AT ANY POINT IN TIME HAS THE, HAVE THE RESIDENTS, I MEAN THE APPLICANT OR THE FAMILY MEMBERS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE ASSOCIATION.
OUR NEXT COURT IS FOR JACQUELINE ROWAN, LEAH, JACQUELINE, ROWAN LEE.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE ROY LEE.
I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE PARK FOREST CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DENY THE REQUEST TO REZONE 97 98 GREEN SPRINGS ROAD FROM A C ONE TO CAB ONE.
THE REQUEST IS ABOUT MORE THAN ADDING ANOTHER RESTAURANT.
IT'S ABOUT EXPANDING THE PROPERTIES PERMITTED USE TO INCLUDE THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO AN ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL AREA ALONG WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE REZONING PROMOTES THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AND IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LONG-TERM VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE PROPERTY ALREADY HAS COMMERCIAL ZONING THAT ALLOWS A BROAD RANGE OF BUSINESSES THE APPLICANT HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED WHILE THE EXISTING ZONING IS INSUFFICIENT OR WHILE THIS ADDITIONAL ALCOHOL RELATED USE IS NECESSARY.
REZONING SHOULD BE BASED ON SOUND PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND DEMONSTRATE PUBLIC BENEFIT, NOT SIMPLY A PREFERENCE FOR DIFFERENT USE.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR THE, THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, PROTECTS ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS, AREAS, AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NEAR OUR RESIDENTS.
APPRO A MORE INTENSE COMMERCIAL USE THAT INCLUDES ALCOHOL SERVICE AT THIS LOCATION IS CONSISTENT, IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THOSE GOALS.
GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD IS ALREADY A HEAVY TRAVEL CORRIDOR.
A RESTAURANT SERVING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE TRAFFIC, TURNING MOVEMENT, PARKING DEMANDS AND CONGESTION, CREATING ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERNS FOR RESIDENTS, PEDESTRIANS, AND MOTORISTS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO HAS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS.
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, RESIDENTS ENDURED REPEATED DISTURBANCES CONNECTED TO AND AFTER OUR CLUB IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM OUR METRO COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ALCOHOL OFFICE, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO CONTROL, AND OTHER AGENCIES.
DESPITE THOSE EFFORTS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL A TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE FINALLY RESULTED IN BUSINESS CLOSING.
WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THIS APPLICANT WOULD OPERATE IN THE SAME MANNER OR THAT HISTORY WILL NECESSARY REPEAT ITSELF.
HOWEVER, THOSE EXPERIENCES DEMONSTRATE WHY REQUESTS, WHY REQUESTS TO EXPAND ALCOHOL RELATED USES DESERVE CAREFUL SCRUTINY AND WHILE PROTECTING NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS TO REMAIN A PRIORITY.
THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT OPPOSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE WELCOME BUSINESSES THAT INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, CREATE JOBS AND RESPECT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER, NOT EVERY COMMERCIAL USE IS APPROPRIATE FOR DISLOCATION.
FOR THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO UPHOLD THE INTENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PLACE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS FIRST
[00:30:01]
BY VOTING TO DENY DISTRICT ZONING REQUEST.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE TWO REMAINING SPEAKER COURTS THAT ARE, UH, MARKED AS IF NEEDED AS IT RELATES TO SPEAKING.
THE FIRST IS FOR LILLIAN GRASSLEY.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES MA'AM.
I LIVE AT 3 4 8 1 ALETHA DRIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE SUBDIVISION.
I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THIS ZONING CHANGE PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT WILL BE PERMANENT SO THAT IF MR. CAMBODIA AND HIS FAMILY'S DESIRES DON'T WORK OUT OR THINGS JUST DON'T HAPPEN THE WAY THEY WANT, THIS PROPERTY WILL FOREVER BE ZONED FOR POTENTIAL ALCOHOL CELLS AND NOBODY CAN CONTROL IT.
ONCE THAT, ONCE THAT GENE'S OUTTA THE BOX IS OUT OF THE BOX.
I KNOW MR. KUBOTA FROM YEARS, YEARS BACK.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1995.
I'VE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE ASSOCIATION.
I WAS THE TREASURER UNTIL RECENTLY FOR BOTH THE ASSOCIATION AND THE CRIME DISTRICT FOR ALL THOSE 20 SOME ODD YEARS.
AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM AT ONE COMMUNITY MEETING.
I HAVE, FIRST TIME I MET THEM WAS WHEN THEY CAME TO OUR MEETING LAST, EARLIER THIS MONTH.
SO SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT AND THEY'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THEIR DEFINITION OF SUPPORT IS, BUT I HAVEN'T, IT HASN'T BEEN VISIBLE BY THEM EVEN SHOWING UP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SUBDIVISION.
SO I JUST REQUEST THAT YOU ALL AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO INVESTIGATE THOSE 83, UM, IN SUPPORT OF, TO SEE ARE THOSE REALLY PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR THE COMMUNITY? 'CAUSE I WOULD FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.
AND I ALSO WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THAT, UM, PRESCHOOL AND THIS FACILITY.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S MORE THAN 300 FEET.
I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL, HOW Y'ALL, UH, MEASURE IT, BUT ME EYEBALLING IT, IT IS DEFINITELY WITHIN 400 FEET.
SO TO MAKE THIS CHANGE AT THIS POINT, I THINK WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO FUTURE HOMEOWNERS THAT MAY COME TO THE SUBDIVISION AND MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF A BUSINESS.
AND I THINK THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS WITH THEIR PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET THAT PROBABLY IS ALREADY ZONED TO ALLOW FOR THIS USE.
UH, FINAL COURT IS FOR DIANE LACEY.
I AM A RESIDENT HONESTLY OF PARK FOREST.
I DON'T NEED THREE MINUTES BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA START REPEATING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID.
BUT MY PRIMARY OBJECTION IS BECAUSE WHEN, UM, THE APPLICANT CAME TO OUR MEETING LAST WEEK, UH, ONE OF OUR, OUR COMMISSIONERS ASKED, WHAT TYPE OF A RESTAURANT ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE? AND OUT OF HIS MOUTH CAME, OH, IT'S A SPORTS BAR.
WELL THAT TOOK A LOT OF US BY SURPRISE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T EXPECTING, WE THOUGHT IT WAS TO BE A RESTAURANT.
AND MY DESCRIPTION OF A RESTAURANT, IN FACT I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS THE MENU GONNA BE? AND UM, BASICALLY HE SAID CHICKEN AND A FISH AND MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THAT TO ME IS NOT A DEFINITION OF A RESTAURANT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S GONNA BE SERVING OTHER THINGS, UH, TO GO AND I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF A RESTAURANT, BUT A RESTAURANT AND A SPORTS BAR OR ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I GUESS I ALSO HAVE TO QUESTION THE CODING BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PRIMARILY BE SELLING ALCOHOL AND FOOD AS A SECONDARY, THEN THE CODE WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED TO A CAB TWO INSTEAD OF A CAB ONE I THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT DOOR OF THE OLD TACO BELL AND MY FRONT DOOR IS EXACTLY A HALF A MILE.
THAT TO ME IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AND ADDITIONAL NOISE.
SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO PARK FOREST.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A BUSINESS THERE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A BUSINESS THERE BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT A GOOD VISION FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I WANNA SEE SOMETHING ELSE GO THERE.
AND THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON GREENWELL SPRINGS
[00:35:01]
POSSIBLY I HAVEN'T INVESTIGATED, BUT JUST DON'T BRING IT IN OUR FRONT DOOR OR OUR BACK DOOR FOR SOME.THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER COURSE.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE APPLICANT BACK, UH, FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL THAT HE'S WELCOME TO SHARE WITH UH, ANY OF HIS SUPPORTERS.
I THANK YOU TO HEAR ME CAMILLE, AND EXPRESS MYSELF.
WHAT THEY TALKING ABOUT TACO BELL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRE DEPART WILL HAVE SHOT ME UP.
THE LADY JUST FINISHED, UH, SPEAKING UP HERE.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU OPENING, BUT YOU GOTTA OPEN.
SO FOOD THIS, I SAID, MAN, THIS IS A FRANCHISE.
OKAY? WHEN I GO TO TJ RIBS, THEY HAVE A MARGARITAS THERE AND DARKNESS, MAN.
WHAT CAN YOU SEE? WHAT CAN YOU SEE? WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET BY BUYING THE PROPERTY.
WE PUT $600,000 IN IT AND SHE'S, SHE GOT NO TO COME TELL ME.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THE MAYOR CAME LOOK AT IT.
THE COUNCILMAN COME LOOK AT, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TELL ME? THAT DON'T MEAN NOTHING TO US.
EXCUSE ME SIR, BUT YOU CAN GET THE PEOPLE WHO SET UP ON THEIR WAY POWER STRUGGLE.
A MAN CAME TO MY WHY I'M REMODELING, SIR, LOOKING AT ME IN MY FACE.
TOLD ME HE PUT A $450,000 ON THE BUILDING OVER THERE AND THEY DENY HIM CHOOSE TO SELL SMOKE.
AND HE WENT ACROSS THE STREET ON THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TRY TO WRAP THIS UP REAL QUICK.
I LIVE DOWN THE STREET, AROUND THE CORNER I SEE 10 PEOPLE HERE.
YOU HAVE 80 PEOPLE THAT SAID YES.
AND I'VE NEVER GONE AGAINST PARK FORESTS.
THEY KNOW THEY'VE BEEN SOME OF MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.
AND I CALLED A LOT OF 'EM AND I SAID, HEY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO BE AGAINST YOU ON THIS ONE.
WE CAN'T PICK WHAT KIND OF FOOD WE WANT WHEN SOMEBODY OPENS A RESTAURANT AND INVEST THAT TYPE OF MONEY.
WE CAN'T PICK IF A MEXICAN RESTAURANT COMES, WE HAPPY 'CAUSE WE LIKE TACO TUESDAY, BUT WE DON'T WANT THE POTENTIAL FOR CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH COMES OUTTA THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE A PLACE AND GO AND, AND WALK WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THEIR RESIDENCE.
SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT THAT SAME SHOPPING CENTER HAD A WINN-DIXIE THAT SOLD LIQUOR.
IT WAS THRIVING, HAD A NAIL SHOP, HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF.
I GET COMPLAINTS EVERY DAY FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS MAN HAS INVESTED $3 MILLION IN THESE PROPERTIES AND ABOUT $2 MILLION I BELIEVE, IN THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS.
AND WHEN YOU GO INSIDE THIS PHENOMENAL, WHAT I WANNA DO IS GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE ONE THING PARK FOREST KNOWS THAT I WILL DO A RESTAURANT MEANS THAT OVER 50% OF THE SALES HAVE TO BE IN FOOD.
IF HE'S NOT DOING THAT, I'M GONNA HELP THEM SHUT HIM DOWN.
SO IF THEY DON'T, I I, I'VE STOOD BESIDE THEM A THOUSAND TIMES AND BLOCKED AND GONE TO THE A B, C BOARD AND, UH, ENSURE THAT CERTAIN RESTAURANTS DIDN'T HAVE THE OP, NOT RESTAURANTS, EXCUSE ME, VAPE SHOPS, BARS AND ALL THOSE OTHER ONES THAT WE DENIED DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FOOT IN THE COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
WE NEED AND WE NEED MORE OF THESE.AND I'M HOPING THAT HIS INVESTMENT CREATES A WILDFIRE THAT BRINGS MORE INVESTORS TO THE AREA.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WORLD WAR III.
AND IF NOT HIM, THEN WHO? AND Y'ALL MAY NOT LIVE OVER THERE, BUT I DO.
I HAVE TO GO TO CENTRAL TO EAT.
I HAVE TO GO WADE TO CROSS FLORIDA BOULEVARD TO EAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF I OF I 12.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CARE, I'M TALKING, PLEASE RESPECT ME.
THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT A THIS ONE AT A GROCERY STORE.
WHAT IS A GROCERY STORE GONNA FILL UP WITH CARS, NAIL SHOPS, DRY CLEANERS, 10 TIMES MORE CARS IN THIS RESTAURANT WILL EVER BRING.
BUT IF A GROCERY STORE WAS THERE THAT SOLD THE SAME ALCOHOL, YOU WOULDN'T GET THE SAME COMPLAINTS.
THEY WOULD'VE A HIGH FOOD SECTION.
THEY WOULD'VE A LIQUOR SECTION 'CAUSE THEY HAD IT.
AND THEY WOULD'VE CARS OUT THE WAZOO.
THAT WOULD'VE WAY MORE TRAFFIC THAN GREENWOOD SPRINGS HAS SEEN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
SO EVERYTHING THEY'RE SAYING IS NULL AND VOID BECAUSE WHAT THEY WANT IS NOT WHAT HE HAS TO DO WITH HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
HE'S GONNA SERVE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN, FRIED CHICKEN, HOT WINGS.
I'VE SEEN THE WHOLE STAINLESS STEEL BARS WHERE HE HAS THE BOWL MIXING SECTIONS.
AND THE DUDE HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.
I SAID, GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY AND IF HE DOES THE WRONG THING, SHUT HIM DOWN.
AND I'M, I'M JUST ASKING Y'ALL TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S WHAT WE NEED.
AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, BEFORE INVITING ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UH, WITH THIS ITEM, DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, UH, A LOT OF FOCUS OF THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN ON THE SALE OF ALCOHOL.
UH, WOULD YOU MIND KIND OF CLARIFYING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL, UH, UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AROUND THIS REQUESTED REZONING, CLARIFYING WHAT THE CURRENT USES ARE AND HOW THOSE CONTRASTS WITH THE REQUESTED ZONING.
AND ALSO IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THIS RE UH, REZONING IS FOR CAB ONE VERSUS A CAB TWO.
SO FURTHER TALK ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS AS THEY RELATE TO CAB ONE VERSUS, UH, CAB TWO AND ANY REGULATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
CERTAINLY I THINK THAT'D BE HELPFUL FOR THE CONVERSATION.
UM, MY STAFF AND I HAVE TALKED TO A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CALLED MY OFFICE, UM, EXPLAINED SOME OF THE NUANCES BETWEEN THE ZONING CODE, THE EXISTING ZONING VERSUS THE PROPOSED ZONING.
THE CURRENT ZONING IS LIKE COMMERCIAL C ONE C ONE USES OUR, OUR GENERAL RETAIL LIKE COMMERCIAL USES, WHICH CAN INCLUDE A VARIETY OF RETAIL SALES.
IT CAN INCLUDE 100% LIQUOR STORE SALES.
PACKAGED LIQUOR STORE SALES WOULD NOT REQUIRE A REZONING.
THERE'S NO PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENT.
IT COULD BE 100% ALCOHOL SALES WITHOUT A REZONING.
THEY WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE A, B, C OFFICE AND FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THERE.
UH, C ONE ALSO ALLOWS IN ADDITION TO GENERAL RETAIL TATTOO PARLORS, UH, VAPE STORES, UH, GENERAL OFFICES, AND A VARIETY OTHER SMALLER MEDIUM SCALE COMMERCIAL USES.
UM, I CAN GO INTO SOME OF THOSE SPECIFICS LATER IF NEEDED.
THE REQUESTED ZONING, CAB ONE FOR BATON ROUGE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, CAB ONE IS COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ONE.
THIS IS THE ZONING DISTRICT INTENDED FOR RESTAURANTS, NOT BARS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION, MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO.
THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC ENFORCEFUL REQUIREMENTS TIED TO C ONE VERSUS C TWO, WHICH IS BAR AND LOUNGE C ONE, WHICH IS RESTAURANTS.
ALTHOUGH IT'S INTENDED FOR BUSINESSES FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES AT A LIMITED, UH, LIMIT SET BY THE CODE IN THE LICENSING BY THE A, B, C.
WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PREPARE MEALS AND ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THIS ZONING COMBINED WITH THE A BC OFFICE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTAURANT SERVING ALCOHOL, THE A BC OFFICE AND THE ORDINANCE IS VERY CLEAR ON THIS.
AT LEAST 51% OF THE MONTHLY GROSS REVENUE MUST COME FROM FOOD, FOOD ITEMS AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
THAT IS AN ENFORCEABLE BY LAW THAT IS ENFORCEABLE BY THE A, B, C AGENTS.
UH, THESE BUSINESSES ARE SUBJECT TO MONTHLY AUDITS, INSPECTIONS AND UNDERCOVER STING OPERATIONS.
UM, ALCOHOL SALES MUST BE TRACKED, UH, FOR THOSE AUDITS.
FOOD SALES MUST BE SERVED ON ALL DAYS OF OPERATION AND A MENU AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTATION ARE REQUIRED BY THE A BC OFFICE AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S NOT A ZONING REQUIREMENT, THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT IN OUR STAFF REPORT.
IT'S NOT, UH, ENFORCEABLE IR OFFICE OR THE PERMIT AND INSPECTION OFFICE UNDER THE CITY PARISH, THE A BC OFFICE BEFORE THEY ISSUE ANY PERMITS, PART OF THEIR SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS THAT'S TYPICALLY DONE AFTER THE ZONING IS IN PLACE, UH, FOR THEM TO RECEIVE A LICENSE
[00:45:01]
BY THE A, B, C IN ORDER FOR THEM TO OP, OPEN UP AND OPERATE AS A CA ONE BUSINESS.THE A BC OFFICE HAS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY GO OUT AND VERIFY THE 300 FOOT DISTANCE REQUIREMENT.
THIS IS ENTITLED NINE CHAPTER 18, SECTION NINE POINT 10, 10 B OF THE CITY CODE AND ORDINANCES.
THAT 300 FEET REQUIREMENT IS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE AS THE CROW FLIES, IT'S UNDER LOUISIANA LAW.
IT'S A SAFE WALKING DISTANCE DONE TO INTERSECTIONS, CROSSWALKS, ET CETERA.
SO ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT DISTANCE REQUIREMENT WILL BE ENFORCED AND VERIFIED AS PART OF THAT SEPARATE A BC LICENSING PROCESS.
UH, THERE IS NOTICE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT.
THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT SEPARATE PROCESS AS WELL.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT A DIRECT DIRECT LINE FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A, A COMMENT FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DIRECTOR.
UH, UNDER CURRENT ZONING RIGHT NOW, UH, THEY COULD, THEY COULD HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT PACKAGED LIQUOR, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
A A LIQUOR STORE WOULD BE GENERAL RETAIL SALES, WHICH WOULD BE ALLOWED WITHOUT CHANGING THE ZONING.
IF THEY MOVE TO A CAB ONE THAT GETS OFF THE TABLE, CORRECT? NOW IT WOULD STILL REMAIN.
THANK YOU TO THE POINT OF INFORMATION, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHICH IS FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE, UH, AUDIENCE AT HOME.
UH, AS THE CROW FLIES IT, IT IS, UH, ABOUT 1500 FEET AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL AND BY AND DRIVABLE OR WALKABLE ROADS.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER COLEMAN HAS A MOTION.
I SO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THIS ITEM FROM COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
THAT MOTION RECEIVES A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BATS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT MOTION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED.
[5. Case 24-26 4743, 4747, 4751, 4755 and 4759 Peerless Street and 4730 Paige Street To rezone from Single Family Residential (A2) to Two Family (A2.9) on property located on the north side of Peerless Street and south of Paige Street, east of Moon Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 9-A, 10-A, 11-A, 12-A, 13-A and 40-A of the Fortune Addition Subdivision, Square 11. Section 96, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 5 - Hurst)]
WE CAN NOW MOVE TO ITEM FIVE, ZONING CASE 24 26.24 26, 47 43, 47, 47, 47 51, 47 55, AND 47 59 PIER STREET.
AND 47 30 PAGE STREET PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PIER STREET AND SOUTH OF PAGE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HERTZ.
THE APPLICANT IS GARY HAWKINS, SENIOR FUTURE B LAND USE DESTINATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, A TWO WITH A REQUESTING ZONING OF TWO FAMILY A 2.9 CASE 24 26, 47, 43, 47, 47, 47 51, 47 55, AND 47 59 P STREET AND 47 30 PAGE STREET.
EVEN THOUGH THE REQUEST IS LESS NON-CONFORMING THAN UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EXISTING ZONING AND ALIGNS WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, STAFF IS UNABLE TO CERTIFY THE ZONING CHANGE.
THE PROPERTY'S MID-BLOCK LOCATION WOULD INTRODUCE TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USES AND MAY TRANSITION THE HOUSING DENSITY OF THE DIVISION 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.
MY NAME IS GARY HAWKINS, SENIOR.
UM, I GREW UP IN THE AREA OF ZION CITY, UM, UP UNTIL MY COLLEGE YEARS.
AND, UM, I, MY FAMILY, SOME FAMILIES STILL LIVE THERE.
UM, I GO BACK AND MY HEART HURTS TO SEE THE BLIGHT PROPERTY, THE EMPTY, UH, LOTS, UM, HOMES THAT SHOULD BE, UH, TORN DOWN.
UM, AND SO GOD HAS BLESSED ME IN A WAY THAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND, AND BEAUTIFY MY COMMUNITY.
UM, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO DO, UH, WITH THE ECONOMY IS IT'S DIFFICULT TO, UM, BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY WITH THE ECONOMY IN THAT LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE MARKET RATE THAT THEY ALLOW YOU TO BUILD.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A STRUGGLE TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY.
AND SO MY DESIRE IS TO BUILD A TWO FAMILY HOME WHERE NOT ONLY I GIVE BACK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MY OWN FAMILY.
[00:50:01]
UM, I, I WANT TO BEAUTIFY ZION CITY, UM, IN EVERY WHICH WAY POSSIBLE.UH, MAKE IT TO BE WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DESIRED TO BE.
I SAID WHATEVER EVER, EVER CAN GET OUT AND COME BACK, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
THEY'RE HOMELESS AND THE HOMES ARE IN, IN, UH, REALLY BAD SHAPE.
AND SO MY DESIRE IS TO GO IN AND, AND, UM, BEAUTIFY THE PROPERTY BY DOING SO.
I REQUEST THAT YOU GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REZONE FROM A SINGLE FAMILY TO A TWO FAMILY RESIDENCE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKER COURTS THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
UH, THE FIRST IS FOR BILL SCOTT.
IS MR. SCOTT HERE? IF NOT, OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR, I'M SORRY, HE DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK AND I DON'T THINK THE OTHER TWO DO EITHER.
MADDIE ADAMS AND FOR ANGIE LEVELS AND COUNCIL.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? COUNCILMAN HURST? I GOT A LOT OF WORDS.
WHEN I LEFT SOUTHERN, I GOT HIRED BY AT AND T IN THE COLLEGE HIGH PROGRAM, AND I MOVED TO, UH, SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA, WHICH IS WHAT, UM, ST.
AND SO I GOT TO SEE IT FROM ITS INCEPTION AND I KEPT SAYING, MAN, I NEED TO FIND A GOOD CHURCH HOME.
SO I KEPT CALLING BATON ROUGE.
I TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE COULD I GO, WHERE COULD I GO, WHERE COULD I GO? AND, UH, I ENDED UP AT VOICES OF FAITH, WHICH UNDER, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP IN ATLANTA, LEFT ATLANTA.
HADN'T TALKED TO HIM FOR A WHILE.
AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, UM, I REKINDLED, UM, WITH, WITH PASTOR HAWKINS AND, AND JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW HE BLESSED MY LIFE.
BUT THE, THE POINT OF ME GOING THERE IS HE WAS TAKING THE ATLANTA MARKET BY STORM THROUGH THE CHURCH.
THEY WERE BUILDING SCHOOLS AND SHOPPING CENTERS AND INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES AND TAKING DILAPIDATED AREAS AND RESTORING THEM.
AND SO WHAT HE'S DONE IN THE ATLANTA MARKET AND SUBURBS IS WHAT HE'S TRYING TO BRING BACK TO WHERE HE GOT HIS ROOTS TO ALLOW HIM TO GO CHANGE THE WORLD.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, KNOWING THE TYPE OF PERSON HE IS, THE INTEGRITY THAT HE BRINGS, WHATEVER PROJECT HE'S A PART OF, I'M WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN SUPPORT.
NORMALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MULTI, RYAN KNOWS I CRITICIZE EVERYTHING.
THEY CAN TALK ALL DAY LONG, BUT I'VE, I'VE SHUT DOWN SO MANY BUSINESSES FOR THEM THAT, UM, BECAUSE RYAN, RYAN WILL TELL YOU, I PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
AND NORMALLY WITH MULTIFAMILY, I ALWAYS ASK, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE? HOW ARE YOU GONNA MANAGE IT? WHAT, UH, IF THE TENANTS ARE NOT GOOD, HOW YOU GONNA MANAGE THOSE? THIS IS ONE PERSON I DON'T HAVE TO QUESTION.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M NOT ONLY HERE TO, UH, SUPPORT FOR, UH, HIM, BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I DID REACH OUT TO THEM AS WELL.
AND THE FOLKS THAT I SPOKE WITH, I ALWAYS CHECK, UM, LABOR FOR.
SO I ASK THAT YOU BE, BE, UH, IN SUPPORT OF IT AS WELL.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BEFORE I INVITE, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I WANNA JUST, UH, UH, THANK MR. HAWKINS, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT HE'S, UH, PUT IN.
HE WAS, YOU MAY RECALL THAT HE WAS HERE, WAS IT LAST MONTH? UH, RYAN FOR, FOR A SIMILAR, UH, APPLICATION, UH, IN A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO JUST HAVING SOMEONE THAT, THAT, THAT UNDERSTANDS, UH, THE NEED FOR THE REVITALIZATION, UH, THE WORK THAT IT TAKES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE, UH, ENDEAVORS SUCH AS THAT AND GOES ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY, WORKS WITH THE RESPECTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WORKS, WORKS WITH THE RESPECTIVE, UH, STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO GET THESE THINGS OFF THE GROUND.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS AND, UH, WE'LL SHOW THAT SUPPORT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
BUT I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE COMMISSION, VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
I, I WANT TO ADD TO THAT, UM, I, I'VE DONE SOME WORK IN, IN DESIGN WORK IN NORTH BATON ROUGE FOR SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
TYPICALLY, I WOULD NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF, OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS MID-BLOCK HAVING BEEN THERE.
I I, I CAN'T, I, I CAN'T, UH, I CAN'T ENDORSE THIS ENOUGH.
I THINK IT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
UM, IT IS, THE AREA IS BLIGHTED.
IT'S GOT A, IT'S GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND THOSE PROBLEMS ARE NOT GONNA SOLVE THEMSELVES.
THEY NEED PEOPLE PUTTING, PUTTING SOME TIME, EFFORT, AND INVESTMENT INTO IT.
SO I THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
AND SO, YEAH, I, I'M GONNA AGREE WITH, UH, WITH, UH, MY FRIEND ROSSI.
I AM A WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT WHEN THIS COMES UP FOR A VOTE.
COMMISSIONER MAXEY MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER MAXEY TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
THAT MOTION RECEIVES A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING
[00:55:01]
NONE, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED AND WE'LL MOVE[6. Case 25-26 228 West Chimes Street To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB-2) on property located on the north side of West Chimes Street, west of Highland Road, on property now or formerly known as a portion of Lot 6 of the Campanile View Subdivision, Square 1. Section 54, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 10 - Coleman)]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.CASE 25 26, CASE 25 26 2 2 8 WEST CHIME STREET.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WEST CHIME STREET, WEST OF HIGHLAND ROAD COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
THE APPLICANT IS BRITTANY JARO.
FUTURE VR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL C TWO WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL ALCOHOL BEVERAGE BARN LOUNGE C TWO CASE 25 26 2 2 8 WEST CHIME 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 THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED TWO MESSAGES IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UH, I, I EMAILED, UH, A COPY OF THIS TO YOU GUYS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN PULL IT UP NOW OR NOT, BUT, AND, AND YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD ON TO THAT.
UM, YEAH, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE LOTUS AND WE ARE COMMUNITY CAFE LOUNGE, UH, BY LSU THAT, UH, IS REALLY A SPACE FOR CREATIVES, RIGHT? SO IF YOU DO ART, MUSIC, POETRY, UM, WE ARE HERE FOR THAT TYPE OF, UH, DEMOGRAPHIC.
AND WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE, THE MUSIC BUILDING FROM LSU.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE REZONING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SELL ALCOHOL AS MANY OF THE OTHER BARS AND LOUNGES ON THE STREET DO.
SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO BE IN THE SAME VEIN AS, UH, THE OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS ON CHIME STREET.
WE, UH, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE ARE AWARE THAT SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT FOR THE AREA.
AND BEFORE WE STARTED OUR BUSINESS THERE, THERE WERE A LOT OF EMPTY VACANT BUILDINGS ON CHIME STREET, WHICH IS VERY SURPRISING TO ME.
BUT THAT WAS A CASE AND THERE WAS A VAGRANT PROBLEM, A TRASH PROBLEM.
AND I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
TWO CHIME STREET, UH, INSTITUTED A TRASH CLEANUP CREW.
UM, WE'VE ADDED LIGHTING SECURITY AND STARTED TO BRING BACK SOME LIFE TO THE, THAT SIDE OF THE STREET BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE EL UH, THE AREA.
BUT BETWEEN, YOU HAVE CHIMES ON HIGHLAND AND CHIMES, YOU GOT MURPHY'S ON THIS END AND THEN VACANT BUSINESSES IN BETWEEN FOR THE MOST PART.
BESIDES INSOMNIA, WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT IN BETWEEN INSOMNIA AND UH, UH, MURPHY.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR.
THEY HANG OUT, THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
WE ARE GIVING THEM A PLACE TO DO THAT AND BE SAFE WHILE THEY DO IT.
UM, SO WE JUST THINK THAT ALONG WITH THE FOOD THAT WE OFFER, BEING ABLE TO OFFER A DAIQUIRI, UM, SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
WHEN YOU HAVE CHIMES ON THIS END AND YOU GOT MURPHY'S BAR ON THAT END, AND YOU KNOW, COLLEGE KIDS, THEY LIKE TO, THEY LIKE TO HOP FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A MORE ATTRACTIVE AREA THAN, YOU KNOW, OTHER PLACES THAT THEY GO PARTY, UH, BECAUSE IT'S CLOSER TO CAMPUS.
UH, SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO BE THAT PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MORE THAN JUST, UH, A CLUB OR A BAR, BUT A COMMUNITY HUB FOR CREATORS, FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY, AND ART.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKER CORDS, UH, THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION.
OUR FIRST IS FOR HANNAH AND ORIA.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
[01:00:01]
MY NAME IS HANNAH ORIA.I HAVE A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MUSIC FROM LSU.
I HAVE LIVED AT 2 4 4 WEST CHIVE STREET FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, SINCE JULY, 2016.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO MUSIC OR POETRY OR ART GOING ON AT THE LOTUS.
WE ALSO HAVE ALREADY MURPHY'S, WHICH HAS BEEN TAKING AWAY HOURS OF SLEEP.
IT'S EXTREMELY LOUD MUSIC UNTIL 2, 3, 4 AM AT 5:00 AM THERE'S THE RATTLING OF THE TRASH CAN ON THE CONCRETE.
IT SHAKES THE BUILDING CONTINUOUSLY.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN SIT ON THE COUCH BECAUSE OF THE NOISE.
I'M LOCATED RIGHT BETWEEN THE LOTUS AND MURPHY'S.
ADDING TO THAT, THERE'S THE NOISE OF DRUNK PEOPLE SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS AT 3:00 AM 4:00 AM EVEN, EVEN IF THE BAR CLOSES, THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE IN THE STREET.
SCREAMING POLICE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY NOT HELPFUL ON MANY INSTANCES.
CLIENTS OF THE BAR, OF THE BAR BLOCK THE DRIVEWAY.
THERE'S TRASH, THERE'S VOMIT, THERE'S PEEING, THERE'S TRESPASSING FROM THE CLIENTS OF THE ALREADY EXISTING MURPHY'S, AND THE UNIVERSITY IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MESSAGE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS REZONING FROM A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF THE LSU SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS REZONING, WITH THIS NEW BAR AND DOES NOT, NOT WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
THERE'S ALSO THE SMELL OF WEED.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO OUT IN MY PARKING LOT AND SMELL WEED SO STRONG THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT ON GAME DAYS.
PEOPLE COME WITH THEIR KIDS SHOULD THOSE KIDS HAVE TO SMELL WEED.
SEE VOMIT, STEP THROUGH TRASH.
SEE DRUNK PEOPLE, YOU HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS MAN.
STUDENTS ARE SCARED TO GO TO PRACTICE AT SCHOOL LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH THE DRUNK PEOPLE OVER THERE.
THIS REZONING DOES NOT HELP THE STREET GET BETTER.
I NEXT COURT IS FOR JAN ANDERSON.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
2 36 WEST SHINES, TWO 40 WEST SHINES AND 2 44.
ALL THESE BUILDINGS ARE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO LOTUS TWO, UM, TO THE LOTUS WHO'S TRYING TO GET THE BAR.
OUR BUILDINGS ARE MULTI-FAMILY, HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE 1930S.
UM, WE HAVE 12 UNITS WITH OVER 16 KIDS.
WE SERVICE LSU STUDENTS, LSU STAFF AND FACULTY, YOU KNOW, IN OUR UNITS.
SO OUR TENANTS, UM, WE ARE IN STRONG OPPOSITION OF THE LOAD IS BECOMING A BAR.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE NOISE PROBLEMS ALREADY.
UM, OUR STUDENTS, OUR BEDROOM WINDOWS, MULTIPLE BEDROOM WINDOWS ARE FIVE FEET FROM THE LOTUS PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
THEY HOUSE OUTDOOR, LIVE LOUD MUSIC, LIVE DJS IN THEIR BACK PARKING LOT.
THEY PUT UP TABLES, THEY PUT UP CHAIRS.
AND UM, SOME OF THEIR EVENTS DON'T EVEN START TILL 11 AT NIGHT DURING THE WEEK.
ON THE WEEKENDS, WE HAVE STUDENTS MESSAGING US WEE HOURS SAYING THE POLICE AREN'T COMING.
OCCASIONALLY THEY COME, YOU KNOW, THEY, UM, THEY CANNOT EVEN FALL ASLEEP.
THEY'RE TRYING EAR, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO PUT EARPLUGS IN, WHICH IS NOT SAFE.
UM, THEY'RE ALREADY REPEATEDLY HAVING THESE LATE NIGHT MUSIC ORDINANCES.
AND AS YOU KNOW, NOISE ORDINANCES ARE HARDSHIP FOR NEIGHBORS TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH.
[01:05:01]
YOU KNOW, ARE, THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING LIVE PARTIES, LOUD MUSIC WITH DJS SETTING UP TILL FOUR IN THE MORNING.WE'VE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO THEM AS NEIGHBORS.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACCOMMODATING.
THEY SAID, WELL, WE WANNA BE, WE WANNA HAVE PARTIES AND MUSIC AND, YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULDN'T BE HOUSING NEXT DOOR.
WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE THE BUILDING'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE 1930S.
UM, SO JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN APPROVE IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD.
IT SHOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR WHAT HAS BEEN THERE AND WHAT IS THERE.
AND AGAIN, WE SERVICE LSU STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO STUDY, WHO ARE TRYING TO SLEEP, AND WHO LIVE ACROSS FROM THERE.
HAVE ABOUT 20, PLEASE DENY THE REQUEST, ALLOWING A BAR WITH LIVE MUSIC THAT IS ALREADY A PROBLEM CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE.
THIS IS NOT, LOTUS IS NOT TRYING TO BE A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD POETRY BAR.
THEY HAVE ALREADY HAVE A PATTERN OF EXCESSIVE DISRESPECTFUL, LOUD BEHAVIOR DURING THE WEEK ON THE WEEKENDS TILL FOUR IN THE MORNING.
THAT PICTURE IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING ALREADY.
IT'S, OH, I DIDN'T GET A WARNING.
I'LL GIVE YOU 15 SECONDS TO WRAP UP.
UM, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, IT'S ALREADY HAS LOUD EVENTS, EXCESSIVE NOISE.
AND ACTUALLY DENY A REQUEST, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN, DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD.
NEXT TO THREE MULTIFAMILY, UM, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WHO ARE TRYING TO LIVE, SLEEP, AND WORK.
THE NEXT COURT IS FOR BRIAN ANDERSON.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
UH, SO I'LL, I'LL GO PAST WHAT SHE'S ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT.
UM, SOME REAL QUICK HISTORY ON THE STREET.
UM, IT WAS THE FIRST PRIVATELY DEVELOPED STREET AFTER LSU DECIDED TO MOVE TO THE CAMPUS.
THE BUILDINGS THAT MY WIFE SPOKE OF, THE THREE BUILDINGS AT 2 36, 2 40, 2 44 ARE AS OLD, IF NOT OLDER THAN MANY OF THE BUILDINGS ON LS, U'S CAMPUS.
SHE DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT WE ALSO WITH OTHER PARTNERS, OWN ANOTHER BUILDING DOWN THE STREET AT 1 36 WEST CHIMES THAT IS ALSO IN 1930 BUILDING.
MY BACKGROUND IS ARCHITECTURE.
I WENT UP THERE LOOKING TO BUY A CONDO FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE I GRADUATED FROM LSU IN ARCHITECTURE.
SOMEHOW GOT BAMBOOZLED INTO BUYING FOUR BUILDINGS.
UM, IF YOU COUNT THE 1 36 WITH THE 2 36, WE HAVE OVER 23 STUDENTS.
UM, THERE'S A WEIRD INCONVENIENT TRUTH WE DON'T TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS THAT THE 80% OF THE KIDS ON THAT CAMPUS ARE UNDER 21.
YET ALL OF THESE BARS WANNA BE RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T SERVE TO 'EM UNDER 21, BUT DOESN'T QUITE MAKE SENSE.
WHICH MEANS EITHER THEY'RE A SELLING TO UNDERAGE CHILDREN, B, BRINGING PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELONG ON THE CAMPUS, ONTO THE CAMPUS OR SEE DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, GOING BACK TO THE CAMPUS, WHEN THAT STREET WAS DEVELOPED, IT WAS A MIXTURE OF RESIDENTIAL ALONG WITH SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORTED IT.
THERE WAS A BOOKSTORE, THERE WAS AN ICE CREAM SHOP.
YOU GO BACK TO THE THIRTIES AND THE FORTIES.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
I WOULD SAY ARGUABLY THERE'S OVER 30 SOMETHING CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THAT STREET.
IN THE THIRTIES, FORTIES, THE ZONING HAD IT SPECIFICALLY SET UP BOOKSTORES, ICE CREAM SHOPS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A DINER IN THE GROUND FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, WE TURNED IT BACK INTO A HUNDRED PERCENT RESIDENTIAL.
IT WAS NOT BARS IN THE SIXTIES, IT WAS CONVERTED OVER TO BARS.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE BARS THAT RAN THROUGH THE SIXTIES TO SEVENTIES.
I'VE BEEN ON THAT SUIT FOR MANY YEARS.
I DO A LOT OF THE WORK MYSELF.
MY WIFE AND I ARE NOT BIG DEVELOPERS.
PEOPLE WILL COME DOWN THE STREET AND THEY'LL TELL ME STORIES ABOUT, OH, I USED TO SHOP HERE.
WHEN THE BARS CAME IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES, THE STREETS STARTED TO DECLINE.
BY THE TIME I GOT THERE 10 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE VAGRANTS WE SPOKE OF.
UH, THERE WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT IN THE NINETIES WHO DIED AT ONE OF THE BARS IN THAT AREA FOR DRINKING UNDERAGE.
THE STREET HAD A PATTERN OF DECLINE.
THE SIXTIES, THE SEVENTIES, THE EIGHTIES, PEOPLE TALK NOSTALGICALLY.
WHEN I WAS THERE IN THE NINETIES, WE DID NOT GO ON THAT SIDE OF CAMPUS 'CAUSE IT WAS ALL BARS AND GHETTOS.
WE WENT IN THERE 10 YEARS AGO, SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THESE PROPERTIES TO BRING THEM BACK.
WE NOW HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO SPEND A GOOD BIT OF MONEY TO LIVE THERE.
THE PARENTS FROM OUTTA STATE, LOVE THEM BEING THERE.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESIDENTIAL.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS, SIR.
SOMEONE IN ZONING MADE THE DECISION AND MANY YEARS AGO TO CONVERT A LOT OF THOSE BARS ONCE THEY CLOSED DOWN BACK TO OTHER USES THAT WERE CONDUCIVE TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
'CAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT REALLY IS.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, PEOPLE ARE NOW TRYING TO PUT IN BARS.
BARS DON'T COME BACK FOR COMMUNITIES.
[01:10:01]
NOT EVEN HERE 'CAUSE HE LIVES OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND HE JUST COLLECTS A RENT CHECK EVERY MONTH.THERE ARE MULTIPLE CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THE STREET.
IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED MORE AS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR TY HELE THAT SAYS, IF NEEDED, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK, SIR? CAN Y'ALL WILL FIND THE IRONY IN THIS.
I OWN MURPHY'S AND I HAVE TRIED TO BUY THREE OF THE VACANT BUILDINGS ON THE STREET TO CONVERT THEM INTO BARS.
SO I, IF I CAN BUY THEM AT A REASONABLE PRICE, I WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU ASKING YOU TO CONVERT THIS.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO, TO OTHER BARS BEING ON THE STREET.
IN FACT, I THINK IT HELPS MY BUSINESS.
WHAT I'M OPPOSED TO IS THE WRONG TYPE OF BUSINESS.
SO I'M REALLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE END GAME HERE AND WHAT THE OPPOSITION IS SPOKEN TO AND ABOUT IS VERY TRUE.
THESE PARTIES ARE ADVERTISED TO START AT 11:00 PM AND GO TILL 4:00 AM.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR INSTAGRAM PAGE, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO, YOU WILL SEE THERE'S ALREADY ALCOHOL THERE THAT IN THEIR INSTAGRAM, INSIDE OF THEIR, THEIR BUILDINGS ALREADY ALCOHOL WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.
UM, THE REASON I'M HERE IS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE FACT THAT THE AREA HAS CHANGED.
I AM PROUD THAT MURPHY'S IS POINTED TO NOW AS A BAR THAT'S DOING THINGS RIGHT.
WE WORK WITH THE A, B, C, WE WORK WITH THE LSU POLICE.
WE WORK WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE.
WE WORK WITH, UH, THE STATE POLICE TO TRAIN OUR GUYS TO DO THINGS BETTER.
UM, WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS IS BECAUSE OF LOTUS AND THE WAY THAT THE BUSINESS IS BEING OPERATED, MY FEMALE STAFF FEARS TO GO TO THEIR CAR AT NIGHT.
UM, MY MALE STAFF WILL NOT PARK DOWN THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CARS GETTING BROKEN INTO.
THERE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, CONSTANT TWERKING AGAINST MY MY STAFF'S VEHICLES.
THERE IS, UM, OUTDOOR PARTIES.
MY MANAGER HAS SENT ME VIDEOS AT THREE IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY'RE DONE CLEANING UP OF LOUD MUSIC.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I'M OLD AND I'M TIRED OF HEADACHES AND I WANT LESS HEADACHES IN MY LIFE.
AND SINCE LOTUS HAS STARTED THERE, I HAVE GOTTEN LEGAL THREATS.
I HAVE GOTTEN A B, C CALLED ON THE AREA.
I HAVE GOTTEN POLICE CALLED ON THE AREA.
UH, AND THEY ASSOCIATE THAT WITH MURPHY'S BEING AROUND THAT LIKE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
BUT IN FACT, IT'S NOT US AT ALL.
UH, IN FACT, OUR SOUND SYSTEM OUTSIDE AT MIDNIGHT IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT TO 50% OF THE VOLUME AT TWO O'CLOCK, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF.
AND SO THE COMPLAINTS FROM TWO O'CLOCK TO 4:00 AM HAPPENED TO BE POINTED AT ME, BUT IT'S IN FACT THE BUSINESS DOWN THE STREET.
SO I DON'T CARE IF YOU REZONED THE BUILDING.
IN FACT, I'M FOUR REZONING THE BUILDING BECAUSE I WILL BE ASKING YOU LATER ON TO REZONE OTHER BUILDINGS IF I CAN BUY THEM.
WHAT I'M OPPOSED TO IS THE END GAME AND THE RESULT OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S RUN THERE NOW.
WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARD, UH, FOR ADELINE ANDERSON, BUT THEY INDICATED THEY DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK AND I THINK THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR MIND.
SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I'M IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AT LSU AND I'M HONESTLY JUST SCARED FOR WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M GONNA LIVE NEXT DOOR THIS YEAR AND I SPEND HOURS OF STUDYING AND I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW HAVE COMPLAINTS.
AND I, WE HAVE ONE WE KEEP FOR OURSELF THAT I LIKE WOULD LIVE IN WHILE I STUDY FOR FINALS.
AND I'VE BEEN SCARED TO WALK BACK TO MY DORM BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE ARE GETTING CAD CALLED OR JUST HOLLERING AT PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S ALL I JUST HAVE TO SAY.
IT'S SCARED FOR WHAT IT'S GONNA DO TO THE COMMUNITY.
AT THIS TIME I'LL INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS RAISED BY NEARBY RESIDENTS REGARDING NOISE.
WE APPRECIATE THOSE CONCERNS AND ARE COMMITTED TO BEING RESPECTFUL NEIGHBORS.
WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING TO MONITOR NOISE, ENCOURAGE RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR FROM OUR GUESTS, AND OPERATE IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS BOTH OUR BUSINESS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BEYOND BUSINESS BY HOSTING EVENTS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS LSU ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE CHESS CLUB AND THE LSU COLLEGIATE RECOVERY PROGRAM.
WE ALSO PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY HEALTH AND SAFETY RESOURCES SUCH AS NARCAN, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, AND PREGNANCY TESTS FOR ANYONE WHO MAY NEED THEM.
OPENING THE LOTUS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE.
WE'VE INVESTED OUR TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES INTO CREATING A BUSINESS THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES OF COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY, INCLUSION, AND A RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF OUR APPLICATION.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE VERY
[01:15:01]
MUCH FRIENDS WITH, UM, SOME OF THE OWNERS AND WORKERS AT MURPHY'S.THE REASON THAT WE STAYED OPEN TILL 4:00 AM IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
WHEN THEY CLOSE AT TWO, THEY WANT TO COME AND HANG OUT AND DO HOOKAH.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FOR BEFORE INVITING, UH, THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE FULL COMMISSION, UH, THIS, UH, APPLICATION IS LOCATED IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SLASH COMMISSIONER COLEMAN'S DISTRICT.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR HER THOUGHTS, UH, ON THE CONCERNS RAISED AND ON THE APPLICATION AS A WHOLE.
AND SO I, UM, I GUESS MY CONCERN AND QUESTION IS DID YOU REACH OUT TO THE CONSTITUENTS? DID YOU REACH OUT TO THE BUSINESSES? DID YOU REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND COME AND SEE ME, COME TO YOU AND TELL ME, YEAH, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM.
UH, YES, WE DID, UM, REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO YOUR OFFICE, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, REQUEST THAT WE GET THE REZONING.
UM, UM, WE SPOKE TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, TRYING TO PAINT THE STREET AS A NEIGHBORHOOD IS A STRETCH, NUMBER ONE.
BUT WE'VE, WE'VE SPOKEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO LIVE ON THE STREET AND MOST OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE PATRONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
UM, ALSO, I MEAN, THE REASON THAT WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH LSU RECOVERY PROGRAM IS BECAUSE A PERSON THAT LIVES ON THE STREET AND WORKS WITH THEM CAME TO US AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE AREA MAY NEED.
RIGHT? SO WE OPENED UP OUR DOOR STAT.
I LIKE TO ADDRESS WHAT THE FIRST, UM MM-HMM.
ALRIGHT, SO TELL ME THIS, YOU SAID YOU REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE.
WHO DID YOU TALK WITH? UM, I SPOKE WITH, UH, I SPOKE WITH YOU, UH, THROUGH EMAIL.
SOMEBODY SENT ME, UH, SOME, A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR OFFICE.
I CANT'S NAME IS, IS, IS, IS SLIPPING MY MIND.
SENT ME, SENT US AN EMAIL, AND WE SENT BASICALLY WHAT I JUST HANDED OUT TO YOU, UH, ME EMAIL.
SO LET'S, YEAH, LET'S MOVE ON.
AND SO I, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE AND THE ME.
WE'VE NOT HAD NO CONVERSATION.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING AROUND LSU RIGHT NOW ALREADY FOR THE, UH, STUDENTS.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN OF MINE.
AND THEN THE SAFETY OF IT, AND THEN THE, SEE THE, THE LOUD, THE 2, 3, 4, 5 IN THE MORNING ALL THE WAY OUT OF ORDER.
AND, AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CALLS MADE TO ME REGARDING THAT, SAYING THAT ALCOHOL IS BEING SERVED AND SOLD AND HERE IT IS.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.
WE, WE, AND THEY TALK TALKING.
THEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, THE NOISE ELEMENT THAT THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND SO, I MEAN, ALL OF THIS, AND THEN I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL EMAILS AGAINST THIS.
AND SO I ALWAYS ASK, HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE? HAVE YOU, WHAT, WHAT'S THEIR FEEDBACK? YOU KNOW, DON'T MIND ME, RIGHT? BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
HAVE YOU HAD THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS TO WITH THEM? AND SO I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE, UM, ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED.
STE CAN I, UM, ADDRESS THAT? PLEASE GO ON.
FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, WE DO NOT SELL ALCOHOL.
RIGHT? WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT UNDER THE C TWO ZONING, UH, WE COULD HAVE BYOB.
LIKE ALLOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DRINKING, COMING
[01:20:01]
FROM MURPHY'S, COMING FROM CHIMES, WALKING BACK AND FORTH IN BETWEEN AND WANTING TO COME INTO OUR ESTABLISHMENT.WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE COULD ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT WITH THEIR ALCOHOL.
WE DON'T SERVE ALCOHOL, NEVER HAVE, WE DON'T SELL ALCOHOL.
WE WON'T TAKE THEIR ALCOHOL AND THEN SERVE IT TO 'EM, ANY OF THAT IF THEY HAVE ALCOHOL IN THEIR HAND ALREADY.
WE WERE ALLOWING THEM TO COME IN UP UNTIL RECENTLY.
WE MADE, LIKE HE SAID, CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POST OUT.
WE MADE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST BECAUSE WE GOT A VISIT FROM THE A TC MM-HMM
AND THEY SAID, I SAID THE SAME THING TO THEM AS I JUST SAID TO Y'ALL.
AND THEY SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.
WE WILL MAKE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST ABOUT IT AND LET IT, IT HAS LIKE 4,000 VIEWS.
LIKE WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE TRYING TO ACTUALLY REVITALIZE THE AREA BEFORE WE WERE THERE IN THAT SAME SPACE.
WE'RE AT IT, IT WAS VAGRANT LIVING THERE BEHIND THERE, RIGHT NEXT TO, NEXT TO, UH, THE PROPERTY THAT YOU GUYS OWN.
YOU, YOU, THERE'S IT IS, I AM VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT BECAUSE ALL OF THIS, EXCEPT FOR THE LOUD MUSIC IS, IS MADE UP.
THIS, UM, THIS LADY SAID SHE HAD NO CONTACT WITH US.
I TALKED TO HER HUSBAND MULTIPLE TIMES.
I HAVE LOTS OF TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN ME AND HIM WITH ME EXPLAINING WHAT WE PLANNED TO DO AND HIM BASICALLY DICTATING TO ME WHAT I NEED TO DO.
I DIDN'T RESPOND BACK IN KIND FOR THEM TO SAY WE WERE RUDE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE VERY APPROACHABLE PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOT OPERATING IN A BAD MANNER AS FAR AS A BUSINESS.
I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO BE SCARED, THERE'S NO CAT CALLING GOING ON.
WE'RE A SAFE SPACE FOR WOMEN, PERIOD.
THAT'S LIKE OUR NUMBER ONE THING, SAFE SPACE FOR WOMEN.
AND, AND FOR HIM TO SAY THAT, THAT THE MURPHY'S PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO WALK TO THEIR CAR, BUT THEN THEY'RE NOT SCARED TO COME IN AND SMOKE HOOKAH.
THEY'RE NOT SCARED TO COME IN HERE AND LISTEN TO MUSIC.
I MIGHT BE AGING MYSELF,
HOOKAH IS A, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST NATURALLY GROWN TOBACCO MIXED IN LIKE A FLAVORED MOLASSES AND THEN SMOKED IN A TRADITIONAL DEVICE, WHICH IS CALLED THE HOOKAH.
IT'S MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD TRADITION THAT HAS BECOME POPULAR NOW RE POPULARIZED NOW.
IT'S NOTHING ILLICIT OR, UH, NO, IT'S NOTHING ILLICIT.
IT IS, IT'S AS, IT'S ACTUALLY CLEANER THAN SMOKING A CIGARETTE.
UH, DO YOU CHARGE A COVER? SOMETIMES WE WILL CHARGE A COVER.
SO I JUST LOOKED AT YOUR INSTAGRAM RED LIGHT NIGHTS ON WEDNESDAY.
LOOKS COMPLETELY OUTTA CONTROL.
IF I WAS A NEIGHBOR OF THIS BAR, AND IF THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, I WOULD NOT BE A HAPPY PERSON.
LIKE, I MEAN, I I UNDERSTAND THAT IT SEEMS LIKE A LATE NIGHT CLUB AND YOU'RE GETTING UNDERNEATH THE RULES BY NOT SERVING ALCOHOL, CHARGING A COVER, LETTING PEOPLE DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
AND IN REALITY, YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING AFTER TWO O'CLOCK.
NO, I WOULD, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THAT'S ACCURATE.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT SOMETIMES THE CHARGE OF COVER RED LIGHT WEDNESDAYS, UM, IS A, IF YOU LOOK AT IT SAYS GAMES.
IT SAYS, UH, HOOKAH, I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, ONE THING BLACK PEOPLE LIKE TO DANCE LIKE THEY LIKE TO DANCE.
IT'S HOW YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DANCING ISN'T, YOU KNOW, OUT OF CONTROL IS ALL I'M SAYING.
I I THINK THE PERSON THAT YOU AT RED LIGHT WEDNESDAY IS NOT TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT RED LIGHT WEDNESDAY IS BASED ON A FRAT.
WELL, WHAT YOU MADE IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HERE WAS LIKE A MEETING PLACE FOR STUDENTS AND, UH, RED LIGHT WEDNESDAY DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A MEETING PLACE.
LIKE, WELL, I MEAN, THOSE ARE STUDENTS.
THEY'RE IN A PARTICULAR FRAT AND THEY'RE CELEBRATING THEMSELVES, THEIR STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE ARE ALL ENCOMPASSING AS A COMMUNITY SPACE.
LIKE SHE TRIED TO SAY, WE DON'T DO OPEN MIC, WE DON'T DO POETRY.
BUT THURSDAYS, YOU'RE ON OUR PAGE.
[01:25:01]
THURSDAYS IS OUR OPEN MIC NIGHT FOR POETRY, FOR MUSIC, FOR ART.IF YOU'VE BEEN ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE, YOU, YOU CAN SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
YOU SEE THE ART ROOM AND YOU SEE WE HAVE VENDORS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MUSICIANS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ARTISTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
LIKE THESE AREN'T PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE FROM RIGHT HERE THAT ARE LSU STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS AN LSU STUDENT.
THE PEOPLE THAT I I I EVERYBODY AROUND IS A STUDENT, SO, OR LIVES ON THE STREET.
SO TO SAY THAT WE DON'T ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE NOT PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS, IS, IS JUST NOT TRUE.
UH, COMMISSIONER MAXEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THOSE, UH, QUESTIONS, SIR.
UH, COMMISSIONER COLEMAN, OR I THINK WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN SIDETRACKED ON YOURS.
DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? NO, SIR.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
THERE'S A, A MOTION, UH, TO DENY THIS ITEM FROM COMMISSIONER COLEMAN THAT THAT MOTION RECEIVES A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER MAXEY.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS DENIED AT THIS TIME.
[8. CONSENT FOR APPROVAL MCUP-1-26 7740 and 9400-9500 Pettit Road (Deferred by the Planning Director from May 18) Proposed sand and gravel mining operation located on the south and west side of Pettit Road, north of Comite Drive, on property now or formerly known as the W. Y. Pettit Tract of the Eva T. Graves Land LLC and Tract 8-B-2-A of H. B. Weiland Property. Section 33, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2 - Kenney)]
TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT M CUP 1 26 M CUP 1 26 7 7 4 0 AND 9 4 0 0 9 5 0 0.PETTED ROAD PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF PETIT ROAD, NORTH OF ADE DRIVE COUNCIL.
THE APPLICANT IS EDWARD C. BRADFORD, THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSING SAND AND GRAVEL MINING OPERATION AND A PROPOSED FUTURE POND.
FUTURE BR LAND USE IS AGRICULTURAL RURAL EMC CUP 1 2 6 7 7 4 0 AND 9 4 0 0 9 5 0 0.
STAFF CERTIFIES THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR A MAJOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UDC REQUIREMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE CUP, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK TO FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 15 MINUTES.
WHO IS THE, UH, OPERATORS OF, OF THIS CURRENT FACILITY? IT'S 177 ACRE SITE.
UH, THAT, UM, UH, IT'S BEEN IN OPERATION OR WAS IN OPERATION STARTING IN ABOUT 2007.
UH, IT'S A, UH, MINING DIRT ON THE CURRENT FACILITY.
UM, OUR PLAN SHOW THAT WE PROPOSE TWO NEW ADDITIONAL, UH, LOCATIONS TO, UH, MINE THIS MATERIAL.
UM, IT IS NOT A COMPLETE EVERY SINGLE DAY OPERATION.
IT IS A, UH, OPERATION THAT IS ON A NEED BY BASIS.
IT COMES IN AS PROJECTS OR, OR, UH, AWARD TO THE DIRT CO, UH, OWNERS.
AND, UM, AND THEY DO PERIODICALLY, UH, WORK WHEN THE PROJECTS ARE, MOST OF THE PROJECTS ARE LOCAL PROJECTS AND, UM, WE DO, UH, WE HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE PROPOSED, UH, SITES PER THE UDC WITH THE RESIDENTIAL SETBACKS, THE BUFFERS, UH, ET CETERA.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN FAVOR AND SAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IF NEEDED FOR HEATH MORRIS.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, SIR.
I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS OF DIRT COAT.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS SINCE WE, UH, PURCHASED THE RIGHTS, THE DIGGING RIGHTS ON THIS PROPERTY.
UM, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT SINCE DAY ONE OF OPERATION.
WE BID PROJECTS WHEN DIRT IS NEEDED.
WE DIG, UH, WE TRY TO BE VERY NEIGHBORLY TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE TRY TO AVOID WORKING ON SUNDAYS AT ALL, AT ALL CALLS.
UM, WE ARE VERY COGNITIVE OF HOW WE DISCHARGE OUR WATER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTAIN EROSION, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SETTLEMENT PONDS WHERE WE PUMP INTO PONDS BEFORE IT GOES INTO A DISCHARGE, UH, CANAL.
UM, I AM A, WE ARE AS A TEAM, WE'RE VERY, VERY COGNITIVE
[01:30:01]
OF THE ENVIRONMENT.I'M A FARMER AS WELL IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I OWN A DIRT FACILITY AS WELL IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I FARM THAT PROPERTY THAT IS BEING DUG IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I FARM 2,600 ACRES OF SUGAR CANE AND SOYBEANS AS WELL.
SO BEING A CONSERVATIVE AND BEING A CONSERVATIONIST TO THE PROPERTY IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME AND TO OUR OPERATION.
WE BELIEVE IN BEING VERY NEIGHBORLY TO THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE FLOOD IN 2016.
WE, UH, WE WERE REALLY A RETENTION AREA FOR THE FLOOD.
ALL THE HOUSES AROUND PETIT ROAD DID NOT FLOOD.
NOW AS YOU GET CLOSER TO
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR HOLES THAT WE DUG SERVED AS RETENTION THAT KEPT THOSE HOUSES HIGH AND DRY DURING THE FLOOD.
I SAW PERSONALLY WHAT A FLASH FLOOD WAS TO WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO SAVE EQUIPMENT AND MOVE EQUIPMENT TO HIGH GROUND.
UH, WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HOPED TO CONTINUE TO BE THERE, BUT THIS IS NOT A FIVE DAY A WEEK OPERATION.
THIS IS AN AS NEEDED OPERATION.
UM, IN 2025, I THINK WE WERE OPEN A TOTAL OF MAYBE 40 DAYS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
AND THAT IS HOW WE INTEND TO PROCEED GOING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, IF, UH, ANY OF THE COUNCILMEN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER CORE THAT IS IN OPPOSITION FOR ANGELA CREEL, THE OTHER FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.
UH, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PIT AS ALONG COM MEET DRIVE AND PETIT ROAD.
THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE PITS IS THAT THEY WERE UNDER PERMITTED.
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE A COMMERCIAL DIRT PIT, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE.
I'VE RESEARCHED ALL OF THE PERMITS, I'VE WENT ALL THE WAY BACK.
THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A MAJOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, WHICH THEY DID NOT HAVE.
THEY APPLIED IN 2015 FOR A STORM WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT THAT GAVE THEM, UM, THEY WERE GONNA BUILD A SUBDIVISION GRAVE SUBDIVISION AND THAT THEY WERE GONNA DIG PONDS FOR THE PROPERTY TO LEVEL IT OUT.
IT TURNED INTO THEM PUTTING A SIGN IN THE FRONT THAT SAID DIRT CO IN IT BECAME A COMMERCIAL DIRT PIT OPERATION.
THE MOMENT THEY DROVE OFF OF THAT PROPERTY AND THEY SOLD THAT DIRT, IT BECAME A COMMERCIAL DIRT PIT OPERATION THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT.
WE'VE CALLED, WE'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DIRT PITS IN THESE AREAS.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DIG THIS DIRT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, AND I'VE WENT THROUGH GOOGLE EARTH AND I, UM, SENT IT TO OUR COUNCILMEN.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY DUG IN 2015, THEY HAD A ONE YEAR PERMIT TO DIG UPON FOR THEIR SUBDIVISION TO WHAT THEY'VE DONE THROUGH 25.
WHAT I'M ASKING IS, AT LEAST TO DEFER THIS SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN THERE TO SEE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT BECAUSE METRO COUNCIL JUST APPROVED 166 HOME SUBDIVISION RIGHT BEHIND THIS AREA.
SO YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS LAND BEING CLEARED, YOU HAVE NEW HOMES GOING UP, CONCRETE, YOU'RE HAVING THIS WATER, WE DON'T KNOW, THEY'VE ALREADY DUG.
YOU CAN'T EVEN CALL IT A POND.
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO MOVE INTO A SUBDIVISION AND PURCHASE A NEW HOUSE IF THEY KNEW A COMMERCIAL DIRT PIT OPERATION IS HAPPENING BEHIND THEM.
I ASKED, VERY LEAST I'M ASKING IS IF WE CAN GET ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES, THE CU ATIVE IMPACT FROM THESE TWO.
YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE DIRT PIT AS ONE AND THEN THE HOUSING IS ONE.
THEY'RE GOING TO IMPACT EACH OTHER AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A STUDY ON THAT TO SEE WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN.
I LIVE ON COME DRIVE, FLOODING IS A NIGHTMARE.
MA'AM, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING IS IF YOU DON'T DENY IF WE CAN DEFER THIS FROM MORE INFORMATION.
AT THIS TIME I'LL INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK FOR A FIVE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
UM, WHEN WE TOOK THIS FACILITY OVER,
[01:35:01]
WE HAD A SWIFT PERMIT IN PLAN.WE MET WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, IT WAS TO THEIR LIKING BACK IN 2012.
UM, THAT WAS, THIS IS ALL PRE-FLOOD.
EVERYTHING POST-FLOOD CHANGED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO BECOME, TO GET CURRENT WITH THE RULES.
WE HAVE HAD DEQ COME OUT TO THE SITE MULTIPLE TIMES.
THE DEQ ENFORCEMENT AGENT TOLD ME, HE SAID, THIS IS THE, WELL, THE BEST RUN FACILITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
HE SAID, THE WAY YOU ARE HANDLING WATER RUNOFF, YOUR EROSION CONTROL, YOUR SEDIMENT TRAPS.
HE SAID, THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH YOU IS THAT YOUR PERMIT IS EXPIRED.
AND HE'S, AND THAT'S WHY WE GOT THAT FIXED.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF EVERYTHING FIXED.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE ENGINEERING RIGHT TO GET UP TO THE CODES AND THE STANDARDS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WE TRY TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON WEEKENDS WHEN PEOPLE ARE HOME.
AND AS I SAID, OVER 12 YEARS, I THINK WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD RECORD ON WHAT WE'VE DONE.
UM, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH A NEIGHBOR.
WE HAD WIND SHIFTED ONE DAY WITH TRUCKS AND WE HAD A LOT OF DUST GOING OUR HOUSE.
WE WENT TO THE LADY, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE AIR, WE SENT A WHOLE HOUSE WASHING TEAM, WE SENT AN AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY OUT THERE.
WE WASHED HER AIR CONDITIONING.
WE SAID, WE'RE SORRY, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO LIMIT THIS GOING FORWARD.
AND WE MADE OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND WE DID THAT.
SO THE, THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE IN THE AREA, WE'RE VERY COGNITIVE OF THEM, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO DO THINGS RIGHT GOING FORWARD.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORRECT PERMITS ARE IN PLACE GOING FORWARD BECAUSE SINCE THE FLOOD OF 2016, THE RULES HAVE CHANGED VERY DRAMATICALLY FOR AN OPERATION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THIS IS, AS I SAID, WE'RE NOT A FIVE DAY A WEEK, 40 HOUR A WEEK OPERATION.
SO IF THE WEATHER ALLOWS US TO OPERATE AND IF WE, WHEN WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT, WE GO TO WORK, BUT WE TRY TO SHUT DOWN ON SUNDAYS, ESPECIALLY FOR WHEN PEOPLE ARE AT HOME.
SO, UM, AND ALSO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'VE STILL GOT TWO, TWO AND A HALF MINUTES LEFT.
COMMISSIONER MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM.
COMMISSIONER ADDISON, IF YOU COULD COME BACK UP, SIR.
YOU SAID YOU MADE SOME CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE, IT'S BEEN THE, SINCE 2016 YOU OPERATED PRIOR TO THAT UP UNTIL NOW.
UH, AND YOU NOW GETTING BACK IN COMPLIANCE BASED ON THE NEW REGULATIONS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR.
THE US BEING OUTSIDE OF THE REGULATIONS, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND SINCE, AND IT IS BEEN, IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT SINCE 2016 THAT THESE NEW REGULATIONS HAVE COME INTO PLACE.
SO AFTER WE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY WORK OUT THERE.
SO, AND WE, IT WAS I THINK OCTOBER, I'M SORRY, OCTOBER IS WHEN WE AGREED WITH CITY EAST BATON ROUGE.
WE ASKED, WE SAID, LOOK, INSTEAD OF SHUTTING US DOWN, LET US, LET US FINISH THE CONTRACT.
LET, LET'S GET OUT WHEN WE ARE DONE, WE'RE DONE.
WE'LL STOP, WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET THIS INTO COMPLIANCE, TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE, THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON E WELL, THAT EAST BATON RIDGE HAS IMPOSED AND SAID THAT WE WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
SO THIS IS THE FINAL STEP WE HAVE GOTTEN, UH, OUR DEQ PERMIT.
UM, WE'VE GOT, THEY'RE GOOD, THEY'RE GOOD TO GO.
UH, WITH OUR SWIFT PLAN AS WELL FOR STORM WATER POLLUTION AND PREVENTION.
UM, WE HAVE DONE AND CHECKED EVERY BOX THAT I KNOW OF COURT CAN MAYBE, UM, UM, I GUESS EXPAND ON EVERYTHING, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
SO I, THIS THE LADY IS ASKING FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY.
UH, I I'M NOT, I'M I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT LATER RIGHT NOW.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT COMPLIANCE.
AND, AND, AND I DO WANNA FOLLOW BACK UP RIGHT QUICK ON THAT PART THAT YOU, YOU, YOU WERE OPERATING SINCE 2012, CORRECT? 2016.
SOME THINGS CHANGED AFTER THE FLOOD AS YOU INDICATED IT WAS YES, SIR.
[01:40:01]
CITY OF BATON ROUGE DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE WORKING OUT COMPLIANCE FROM 2016 TO 2026.CLEARLY THEY DID NOT IT EITHER.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE, THERE'S A PART THAT SHE RAISED REGARDING THE SUBDIVISION.
I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION.
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU GUYS TO THE SUBDIVISION THAT'S GONNA BE PROPOSED? OH, I, I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION.
THAT'S NOT NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
CAN YOU COME BACK IF YOU DON'T MIND, MA'AM? HOW CLOSE ARE THEY TO THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION? THEY'RE VERY CLOSE.
THIS, SOMEBODY KNOW I CLOSED THE OTHER SUBDIVISION OBVIOUSLY.
'CAUSE I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE, THE SUBDIVISION.
THIS GOES INTO, I MEAN, I COULD SHOW YOU ON A MAP.
THIS GOES INTO EE DRIVE, WHICH THE NEW SUBDIVISION IS ON COM MEET DRIVE.
AND THE WATER SOURCES, UH, WHITES VALUE, WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE BOTH OF THESE DIRT PITS THAT THEY'VE HAD AND THE NEW SUBDIVISION.
SEE, THE NEW SUBDIVISION WAS A DIRT PIT, ALSO ILLEGAL DIRT PIT.
AND NOW THAT DIRT PIT IS GOING TO BE A RETAINAGE POND.
PLUS YOU HAVE THIS OTHER NETWORK OF PONDS AND THEN THE MORE DIGGING THEY WANT TO DIG, IT'S IN THE SAME FLOOD PLAIN.
SO IT'S, IT IS JUST, YES, SIR.
THANK YOU MIKE RYAN, ACCORDING TO HOW CLOSE IS THIS TO THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND THAT'S HIS, THIS COUNCIL, I MEAN THE COUNCIL AND HIS BODY APPROVED AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE, THE PIT, UH, THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THE CUP RIGHT NOW, HOW CLOSE IS THE SUBDIVISION THAT IS BEING APPROVED THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BUY THESE PROPERTIES AND BUY THESE HOMES? IS THIS THE NEW SUBDIVISION THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED? UH, MAY, MAYBE SHE CAN ANSWER.
I, I CAN TELL YOU THE COMMITTEE, THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE REQUIRE ALL MINING AND EXCAVATION PORTIONS OF THIS OPERATION TO BE, UH, AT LEAST 1000 FEET FROM AN ANY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING.
AND I CAN CONFIRM THAT HAS BEEN VERIFIED.
I IS THAT THE CASE? THIS THE MAP HERE, THIS POND COME OUT SO IT COULD COME OUT DOWN AND THEN TOWARDS THE BACK, WHICH IS, MA'AM, COULD YOU, I WANNA I UNDERSTAND.
I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE WE SEEM TO GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION.
MY STAFF HERE, THEY CAN'T GIMME ANY DIRECTIONS ON THAT PART.
AND, AND I DON'T WANT THE LADY TRYING TO DETECT ME WHERE THE, THE DISTANCE IS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE WHAT WE DO, I'M ASKING ANYBODY'S OPINION RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO, I RESERVE THIS RIGHT NOW, SIR.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T, I CALL YOU BACK IF YOU COULD HAVE A SEAT IN THE FRONT.
IF SOMEONE CALLS ON YOU BECAUSE, 'CAUSE AGAIN, I MEAN WE GOT A DIRT PIT MOVING FOR A CUP.
WE GOT A, A MULTI MASS OF HOMES THAT WE'VE APPROVED FOR A FUTURE SUBDIVISION.
AND I NEED SOMEBODY TO TELL ME HOW FAR THIS PIT IS FROM THE APPROVED SUBDIVISION.
IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, I AM GONNA ASK FOR A DEFERRAL SO WE CAN GET INFORMATION FOR HIM.
'CAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE WE BUILT, WE DIG A DIRT PIT.
WE GIVE APPROVAL FOR A DIRT PIT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE SUBDIVISION THAT WE LOOKING FOR THE FAMILIES TO BE SAFE DOWN THE ROAD.
DO WE KNOW WHEN THE SUBDIVISION WAS APPROVED? ADVANCE IS PULLING THAT UP RIGHT NOW.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS NO HARD AND FAST BLACK AND WHITE REQUIREMENT FROM A SETBACK OF A PROPOSED SUBDIVISION.
THE WAY THE LANGUAGE READS, IT'S A SETBACK REQUIREMENT FROM EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS OF A THOUSAND FEET AND THEY WITHOUT A DOUBT MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER ADDISON AT THIS TIME? OKAY, THAT'S STILL LOOKING.
SO FROM EXIST WHERE THE LAST PROPOSED LOTS WERE IN THE SUBDIVISION FOR STILLWATER THAT WAS APPROVED TO THE EXISTING PONDS WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,700 FEET TO THE EXPANSION OF THE POND THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
DO A NEW, YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT ABOUT 2000 FEET.
YOU GOOD? UH, COMMISSIONER ADDISON, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? COMMISSIONER COLEMAN, THE QUESTION IS, DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCILMAN BECAUSE HE SAID TO ME THAT HE WAS AGAINST THIS QUICK ANSWER.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ANY MOTIONS? I MOVE FOR DI
[01:45:05]
UH, COMMISSIONER ADDISON.UH, WOULD YOU CONSIDER A DEFERRAL FOR THIS ITEM? UH, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE CON CONSIDERED? YEAH, I WOULD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO AMEND, AMEND YOUR MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER 30 DAYS.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR, UH, DEFERRING THIS ITEM FOR 30 DAYS AND THAT THAT MOTION IS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO DEFERRING THIS ITEM FOR 30 DAYS? SEEING NONE, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
[13. WT-3-26 Verizon Wireless Facility (1210 South Acadian Thruway) Proposed wireless communication tower on property located on the west side of South Acadian Thruway, north of Broussard Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 7-A-2 of Cleon Place Subdivision. Section 96, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 7 - Harris)]
ITEM NUMBER 13.WT 3 26 WT 3 26 VERIZON WIRELESS FACILITY 1210 SOUTH ACADIAN THROUGHWAY PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SOUTH ACADIAN THROUGHWAY NORTH OF BROUSSARD STREET COUNCIL.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A 120 FOOT WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS MIXED USE WT 3 26 VERIZON WIRELESS FACILITY 1210 SOUTH ARCADIAN THROUGHWAY STAFF CERTIFIES THAT THE PROPOSED REQUEST MEETS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERATION 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, LAURA CARL ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD REQUEST.
IT'S THE PROPOSED TOWER IS A 120 FOOT MONOPOLE.
IT WOULD REPLACE AN EXISTING WOODEN POLE, 60 FOOT POLE THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
THAT, UM, I BELIEVE THE EQUIPMENT ON IT IS ALL FAIR RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE NEED IS DOCUMENT NEED FOR THE TOWER IS DOCUMENTED IN THE PACKET THAT WE SUBMITTED WITH THE PROPAGATION MAP SHOWING THE IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERAGE.
UM, THIS IS C ONE ZONED, SO IT IS PERMITTED AS OF RIGHT.
BUT WE ARE REQUESTING A WAIVER OF SOME SETBACK REQUIREMENTS TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY LINES.
HOWEVER, UM, WE'VE OBTAINED LETTERS OF OBJE OBJECTION FOR ALL AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND THE NEAREST RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE IS WELL OVER 200 FEET AWAY TO THE NORTHWEST THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CARD THAT IS IN FAVOR, UH, FOR DARREN JOHNSON.
MARKED, UH, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IF NEEDED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YOU'RE THE, YOU'RE THE ONLY OTHER SPEAKER CORPS, SO YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO IF YOU'D LIKE.
WELL, I OWN THE ADJACENT PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY.
COULD YOU STEP TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? YES, SIR.
I, I OWN THE ADJACENT PROPERTY AND I ALSO OWN THE PROPERTY WHERE THE TOWER, EXISTING TOWER IS AND WHERE THE PROPOSED UPGRADE IS.
AND, UH, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.
AT THIS TIME I'LL, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE, UH, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
I BELIEVE I FIRST FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GR THE, UM, THE APPLICANT.
CAN YOU COME FORWARD FOR A SECOND? I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MISSPOKE, BUT WHEN YOU SAID LETTERS, I, I MAY HAVE MISHEARD.
YOU SAID LETTERS OF OBJECTION.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.
IF I MISSPOKE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MOVE.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ADDISON TO APPROVE SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BATS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THAT ITEM IS APPROVED AND WE'LL
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS]
NOW MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS BEGINNING WITH DIRECTOR'S.START OFF FIRST BY WISHING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER MAXEY WHO HAS A BIRTHDAY LATER THIS MONTH.
AND THEN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18TH.
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]
NOW MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS.UH, OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH IS YOLANDA DEREK FROM THE CURRENT PLANNING DIVISION.
YOLANDA'S EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE HER AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM IN HER ROLE, YOLANDA EXPERTLY HANDLES THE REVIEW OF REZONING APPLICATIONS AND PREPARES ZONING LETTERS WITH PRECISION.
HER CONSISTENT DEPENDABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OPERATES EFFICIENTLY.
YOLANDA'S OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE SETS HER APART.
SHE APPROACHES EVERY INTERACTION WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO ASSIST EARNING THE RESPECT AND APPRECIATION OF BOTH COLLEAGUES AND APPLICANTS.
HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES,
[01:50:01]
MAKE HER A TRUE ROLE MODEL FOR ALL STAFF.PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING YOLANDA ON THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER COLEMAN? SECOND FOR VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.