[00:00:02]
[ROLL CALL]
CLIFFORD GROUT: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE ROLL CALL.
MR. HOLCOMB? RYAN HOLCOMB: VICE CHAIRMAN GROUT.
RYAN HOLCOMB: COMMISSIONER ADDISON.
RYAN HOLCOMB: COMMISSIONER BATTS.
RYAN HOLCOMB: COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
RYAN HOLCOMB: COMMISSIONER ELLENDER.
RYAN HOLCOMB: COMMISSIONER FOWLER.
RYAN HOLCOMB: WE HAVE A QUORUM.
CLIFFORD GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 MEETING.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 21 MEETING? IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER BATTS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLENDER.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE, THOSE HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED.
I WILL NOW READ IN THE 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 ST. 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 ON WHICH ITEM YOU WISH TO SPEAK, AND PLACE IT IN THE DESIGNATED LOCATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
APPLICANT AND APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PROPOSAL WILL SPEAK FIRST, FOR A TOTAL 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.
APPLICANT WILL BE ALLOWED A TOTAL PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
OPPONENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REBUT.
ITEMS PLACED IN 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.
WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
MR. BALDWIN.VANCE BALDWIN: CONSENT ITEMS FOR DEFERRAL-- ITEM 12, S-1-26, LORDIA LORDIA'S GROVE SUBDIVISION, 8150 HOOPER ROAD.
PROPOSED MAJOR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH A PRIVATE STREET LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOOPER ROAD, WEST OF HICKOCK DRIVE.
DEFERRED BY COUNCILMAN HURST TO NOVEMBER 16.
CONSENT ITEMS FOR APPROVAL-- ITEM 5, CASE 37-26, 8150 PERKINS ROAD TO REZONE FROM LIGHT COMMERCIAL C1 TO COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT C-AB-1.
ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF PERKINS ROAD, SOUTH OF BLES AVENUE.
ITEM 7, CASE 39-26, 5132 OLESON STREET, TO REZONE FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL A1 TO LIGHT COMMERCIAL ONE LC1.
ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF OLESON STREET, NORTH OF BRIGHTSIDE DRIVE.
ITEM 8, CASE 40-26, 10188 HYACINTH AVENUE TO REZONE FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL A1 TO LIGHT COMMERCIAL TWO LC2.
ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF HYACINTH AVENUE, SOUTH OF PERKINS ROAD.
ITEM 9, CASE 41-26, 5762, 5862, AND 5894 HOOPER ROAD, TO REZONE FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL A2, LIGHT COMMERCIAL C1, AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL C2 INTO HEAVY COMMERCIAL ONE HC1.
ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOOPER ROAD, WEST OF MICKENS ROAD.
ITEM 10, PUD-4-08, WOMEN'S HOSPITAL PHASE I, FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVISION 04, 7000 TO 7100 STUMBERG LANE.
PROPOSED BILLBOARD ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF STUMBERG LANE, NORTH OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY.
ITEM 11, CUP-7-26, DISCOVERY BATON ROUGE PHASE III, 17255 SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD.
PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD, EAST OF O'NEAL LANE.
ITEM 12, SP-7-26, THE SPINE CENTER OF LOUISIANA, 8712 CONSTANTIN BOULEVARD.
PROPOSED MEDICAL OFFICE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CONSTANTIN BOULEVARD, EAST OF BRG WAY.
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF CERTIFIES THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
RYAN HOLCOMB: MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'VE HAD A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUEST TO PULL ITEM 11, CUP-7-26 DISCOVERY SCHOOL, BATON ROUGE, PHASE III, 17255 SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD.
THIS ITEM WILL BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND HEARD IN REGULAR AGENDA ORDER.
CLIFFORD GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE TAKEN WITH ONE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO HAVE AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND TO BE HEARD AS PART OF THE REGULAR AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN REMOVED?S SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION?
[00:05:02]
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLENDER.SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAXCY.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTING THE ITEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[Items 2 & 3]
RYAN HOLCOMB: MR. CHAIRMAN, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS MAY BE TAKEN TOGETHER-- ITEMS 2, PA-8-26, AND ITEM 3, ZONING CASE 36-26, 1850 CAROLYN SUE DRIVE.[TAPPING] - PA-8-26, 1850 CAROLYN SUE DRIVE, RELATED TO CASE 36-26.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF CAROLYN SUE DRIVE, NORTH OF OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY.
COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX-- DUNN, JR. THE APPLICANT IS MARK GAUTHIER.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A REQUESTED FUTURE BR LAND USE OF COMMERCIAL.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS TRANSITION WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL HC1.
PA-8-26, 1850 CAROLYN SUE DRIVE, RELATED TO CASE 36-26.
RYAN HOLCOMB: 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 THE CRITERIA FOR A CHANGE OF ZONING IF THE COMPANION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, BEING COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING USES AND CONFORMING TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
CLIFFORD GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. BALDWIN.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES.
PRESENTER 1: I'M MARK GAUTHIER WITH SAM.
THEY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY RECENTLY.
IT'S RIGHT ADJACENT TO THEIR EXISTING HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY JUST WANT TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO MATCH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY OWN THERE.
THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE PLANNED AT THE MOMENT.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ANYTHING MORE? PRESENTER 1: THAT'S IT.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE NO CARDS IN OPPOSITION.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC-- SPENCER MAXCY: MOTION TO APPROVE.
CLIFFORD GROUT: I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THERE IS ALREADY A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER MAXCY.
SECONDED FROM COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTION? SEEING NONE, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED.
RYAN HOLCOMB: THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 4,
[4. Case 34-26 268 and 254 West Chimes Street (Deferred by the Planning Director September 21) To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) and Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB 2) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB-2) on property located on the north side of West Chimes Street, east of Lake Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 2 and Lot 3 of the Campanile View Subdivision, Square 1. Section 54, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 10 - Coleman) ]
ZONING CASE 34-26.- CASE 34-26, 268 AND 254 WEST CHIMES STREET.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WEST CHIMES STREET, EAST OF LAKE STREET.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL C2, COMMERCIAL ALCOHOL BEVERAGE BAR AND LOUNGE, C-AB-2, WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL ALCOHOL BEVERAGE BAR AND LOUNGE, C-AB-2.
CASE 34-26, 268 AND 254 WEST CHIMES STREET.
RYAN HOLCOMB: 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.
BOARD MEMBER 1: THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE HAS RECEIVED TWO COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.
CLIFFORD GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES.
MY NAME IS TY HINGLE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE.
I AM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF MURPHY'S BAR ON WEST CHIMES STREET, IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO LSU.
I'M HERE ASKING YOUR SUPPORT IN REZONING OUR PROPERTY FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO C-AB-2, SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND MURPHY'S AND CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE LSU COMMUNITY.
I'M SORRY-- WHEN WE REOPENED MURPHY'S THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A VISION.
WE WANTED TO BRING BACK AN ICONIC LSU ESTABLISHMENT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WANTED TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS COULD HAVE A GREAT TIME AND WHERE THEIR PARENTS COULD FEEL COMFORTABLE KNOWING THEIR CHILDREN WERE BEING LOOKED AFTER.
THANK THE LORD, I BELIEVE WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.
TODAY, MURPHY'S HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS THE SAFEST BAR FOR LSU NIGHTLIFE.
IT'S A REPUTATION WE'VE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO EARN AND ONE WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
WE DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT SAFETY, WE INVEST IN IT.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH LSU POLICE, BATON ROUGE POLICE, ABC, AND ATC TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING, FAKE ID IDENTIFICATION,
[00:10:04]
OVERSERVING, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION.IN FACT, LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCTS MANDATORY STAFF TRAINING AT MURPHY'S TWICE A YEAR.
I'M TOLD WE'RE THE ONLY BAR IN THE AREA WITH THIS LEVEL OF DIRECT, ONGOING INVOLVEMENT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TRAINING OUR EMPLOYEES.
BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY DOESN'T STOP WHEN THE CUSTOMER LEAVES THE BAR.
WE OPERATE A FREE SHUTTLE THAT TAKES OUR PATRONS BACK TO THEIR RESIDENCE ON AND NEAR LSU'S CAMPUS.
WE WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE A SAFE, RELIABLE WAY HOME WITHOUT GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL.
AND WHEN WE DO IDENTIFY A PATRON HAS HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK, WE DON'T SIMPLY PUSH THEM OUT THE DOOR AND MAKE THEM SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A DESIGNATED AREA INSIDE OUR COURTYARD WHERE THAT INDIVIDUAL IS REQUIRED TO REMAIN UNDER STAFF SUPERVISION.
THEY ARE PROVIDED WATER, AND WE ASSIGN A FLOOR STAFF MEMBER TO PERSONALLY OVERSEE THEIR SAFETY AND MAKE SURE THEY GET INTO AN UBER FOR A SAFE RIDE HOME.
THAT'S A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY WE BELIEVE EVERY COLLEGE BAR SHOULD TAKE.
WE WANT MURPHY'S TO BE THE STANDARD OF HOW A COLLEGE BAR SHOULD OPERATE.
AND THAT COMMITMENT TO DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY EXTENDS BEYOND THE WALLS OF OUR BUSINESS.
LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND ARE CURRENTLY VERY POPULAR, SOMETIMES SO POPULAR THAT WE HAVE A LINE TO GET IN THAT EXTENDS FAR DOWN THE SIDEWALK.
WE NEED MORE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT CROWD AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET.
WE'RE PURCHASING THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY NEXT DOOR AND WOULD LIKE BOTH PROPERTIES TO HAVE THE SAME C-AB-2 ZONING.
WE HAVE RETAINED BURNS CONSTRUCTION AS OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR, AND OUR PLAN IS TO CONSTRUCT A LARGE OUTDOOR PAVILION WITH SEATING, TELEVISIONS, AND BAR SERVICE, GIVING OUR CUSTOMERS ADDITIONAL SPACE IN A CONTROLLED AND PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED ENVIRONMENT.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IVAR'S BACK PATIO, WE ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
YOU CAN SEE A RENDERING IN THE PACKET YOU WERE HANDED.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A TENANT OPERATING THE ADJACENT BUILDING.
WE INTEND TO HONOR THAT LEASE, WHICH EXPIRES IN MAY OF 2027.
AFTERWARDS, WE ARE UTILIZING THAT EXISTING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN TO BEGIN SERVING FOOD TO MURPHY'S CUSTOMERS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BEING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS SURROUNDING MURPHY'S AND DISCUSSING THEIR CONCERNS.
ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORS IS BRYAN ANDERSON, WHO OWNS THE APARTMENTS IMMEDIATELY TO OUR EAST.
BRYAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT THAT GOES WELL BEYOND WHAT WOULD ORDINARILY BE EXPECTED.
WE'VE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A SOUND BARRIER BETWEEN OUR PROPERTIES, REPLACING HIS WINDOWS IN HIS APARTMENTS WITH SOUNDPROOF GLASS, AND WORKING WITH SOUND PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE SURE OUR NEW SPEAKER PLACEMENT AND SOUND DESIGN MINIMIZE NOISE TRAVELING TOWARD HIS TENANTS.
WE'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO LIMITING OUTDOOR MUSIC TO OCCASIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LSU-SANCTIONED EVENTS.
OUR EXISTING OUTDOOR SOUND SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES ITS VOLUME TO 60% AT MIDNIGHT AND SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AT 2:00 AM.
WE'LL CARRY THOSE SAME RESTRICTIONS INTO THE EXPANSION, WITH AN ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION THAT THE SPEAKERS CLOSEST TO BRYAN'S PROPERTY ARE LIMITED AT 50%.
WE'RE NOT SIMPLY ASKING OUR NEIGHBORS TO TOLERATE OUR BUSINESS.
WE'RE MAKING REAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
WE'VE ALSO ESTABLISHED STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LSU AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH LSU TO UTILIZE SPACE FOR OUR DUMPSTERS AND EMERGENCY EGRESS.
WE ALSO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH PMC FOR PARKING ACROSS THE STREET.
AND AS PART OF OUR CLOSING PROCEDURES, OUR EMPLOYEES CLEAN UP THE SURROUNDING STREETS, PARKING LOTS, AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THOSE BELONGING TO LSU, PMC, AND THE ANDERSONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU OPERATE A BUSINESS IN A COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT EXTEND BEYOND YOUR PROPERTY LINES.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH PATRICK MARTIN, WHO HEADS LSU FACILITIES, AND LSU POLICE CHIEF MARSHALL WALTERS, WHO BOTH HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEIR ACTIONS, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO REACH OUT TO OUR COUNCILWOMAN TO TELL HER OF THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE METRO COUNCIL-- I MEAN, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE-- AND RECEIVED ENCOURAGING FEEDBACK.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND A BUSINESS THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, COOPERATION, AND RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE CONCERNS ANYTIME A BAR WANTS TO EXPAND.
I RESPECT THOSE CONCERNS, AND I BELIEVE WE'VE SHOWN WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN, WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, AND INVEST OUR OWN MONEY TO ADDRESS THEM.
MURPHY'S IS A PART OF LSU'S HISTORY.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK AND WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT IT HAS BECOME.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER, EVEN SAFER, AND EVEN MORE POSITIVE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
[00:15:01]
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
CLIFFORD GROUT: OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE OPPONENTS.
I APOLOGIZE ABOUT MESSING UP THE NAME.
HANNAH ORDEA: NO, THAT WAS GOOD.
CLIFFORD GROUT: YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. HINGLE HAS GIVEN A VERY NOBLE ACCOUNT OF THE DETAILS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF WHAT HE MENTIONED IS NOT TRUE IN PRACTICE.
MUSIC IS LOUD UNTIL 2:00 AM AND EVEN BEYOND 2:00 AM VERY OFTEN.
AND AFTER 2:00 AM, THERE'S ALSO HIS STAFF, WHICH KEEPS MAKING REALLY LOUD NOISE CLEANING.
IT LOOKS LIKE BOURBON STREET AFTER MARDI GRAS EVENING EVERY TIME THERE'S A PARTY AT MURPHY'S.
THE BUS HE MENTIONS IS SIMPLY TOO SMALL TO CARRY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CLIENTS.
THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ARE OUT IN THE STREET UNTIL 3:00, 4:00 AM SCREAMING, SOMETIMES SCREAMING WORDS THAT I WILL NOT UTTER IN THIS MEETING OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK SAFELY ON THE STREET AT NIGHT.
WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE ASKED THE POLICE HELP.
POLICE, INSTEAD OF HELPING, IS BULLYING THOSE WHO CALL IN TO COMPLAIN.
IT'S JUST NOT HELPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LESS CLEAN.
IT'S DIRTIER THAN IT HAS BEEN.
THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC STUDENTS ARE AFRAID TO GO TO PRACTICE OR TO LATE-NIGHT REHEARSALS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WALK AROUND DRUNK PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
THEY ALSO BLOCK THE STREET WITH THEIR CARS, PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF CLIENTS FOR MURPHY'S.
THE CLIENTS FROM MURPHY'S ALSO COME ONTO THE PROPERTY OF 244 THAT MR. BRYAN ANDERSON OWNS.
WE DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING OUT IN OUR OWN PARKING LOT.
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO LET THIS EXPAND.
IF YOU LET IT EXPAND, YOU ARE DENYING THE TENANTS OF 244 WEST CHIMES STREET, 240 WEST CHIMES STREET, AND 236 WEST CHIMES STREET THE LOUISIANA LAW-MANDATED PEACEFUL USE OF THE RENTED PROPERTY.
IF THE COUNCIL WISHES TO DO THAT, GOOD LUCK, BUT IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
NEXT CARD IS FOR KWAN-- KWANE DOUGLAS? AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE ABOUT MESSING UP YOUR NAME.
KWANE DOUGLAS: THAT'S FINE, THAT'S FINE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M KWANE DOUGLAS.
YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH ME FROM MY OWN REZONING CASE.
I AM THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR THE LOTUS, 228 WEST CHIMES STREET, AND A NEIGHBOR OF MURPHY'S.
AS HANNAH SAID, MOST OF WHAT HE SAID IS NOT TRUE.
SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE CLEANED UP BEAT-UP AND BLOODIED PATRONS FROM MURPHY'S.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD TO STOP MURPHY'S PEOPLE FROM FIGHTING IN FRONT OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT.
WE HAVE A STREET TEAM THAT CLEANS THE STREET FOR REAL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN MURPHY'S PEOPLE CLEANING THE WHOLE STREET.
SIMILARLY TO HOW THE THINGS THAT WERE PORTRAYED ABOUT US WERE UNTRUE, HE WAS REALLY PROJECTING BECAUSE VIOLENCE, ROWDINESS, TRASH-- TERRIBLE NEIGHBOR.
SO TO LET HIM EXPAND WOULD BE A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE JUST OUTRIGHT.
IT'D BE VERY IRRESPONSIBLE IN MY OPINION.
WE JUST ARE LOOKING FOR EQUAL TREATMENT.
[00:20:01]
WE ATTEMPTED TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH A BETTER RECORD OF SAFETY, AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE.SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THINGS TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
OUR COMMUNITY IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO GET AWAY FROM THE CRAZINESS OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO LET THEM EXPAND AND REZONE AND BE ABLE TO SELL MORE ALCOHOL.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WHAT HE'S DOING IS BEING OPERATED SAFELY, SO HE DEFINITELY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO DO MORE.
WE HAD A LATE SPEAKER CARD FOR JOSHUA STEARNS, WHO WAS IN SUPPORT.
DOES HE-- IS HE HERE? JOSHUA? JOSHUA: YES, HOW YOU DOING? ACTUALLY, I WASN'T IN SUPPORT, ACTUALLY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL SPEAK ON THINGS THAT ARE TRUE AND THINGS THAT ARE UNTRUE.
THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THE LOTUS.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAS BEEN-- WHAT'S IT CALLED-- TRUE, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT MURPHY'S BASICALLY BEING-- THERE'S A LOT OF DRUNK PEOPLE THAT DOES COME FROM MURPHY'S INTO THE LOTUS.
AND WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, TRY TO CATER TO THEM.
THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO CAME-- RIBS BROKEN AND EVERYTHING, NOSE BLEEDING.
HE WAS VERY MESSED UP, HONESTLY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THINGS ARE NOT BEING HANDLED THE CORRECT WAY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, US AS THE LOTUS, WE TRY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IN OUR POWER.
NEXT CARD IS FOR ATTORNEY HILLARY ROBERTSON.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
- GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ATTORNEY HILLARY ROBINSON.
I SERVE AS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE LOTUS.
I AM THE TYPE OF ATTORNEY THAT TAKES SERIOUSLY MY DUTY AS AN ATTORNEY TO EXPRESS CANDOR AND TRUTHFULNESS AT ALL TIMES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I GAVE MY CLIENT THE RIGHT TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME, WHETHER IT'S 2:00 AM OR 6:00 AM, IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH HIS ESTABLISHMENT.
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY MY CLIENT WITH VIDEOS OF THE PATRONS FROM MURPHY'S, AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING IS CORRECT.
THEY ARE EITHER OVERLY INTOXICATED OR INJURED.
YES, BRPD HAS COMMUNICATED WITH BOTH ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT FOR MURPHY'S, IT'S BEEN IN RESPONSE TO EITHER ASSAULT OR BATTERY OR OVER-INTOXICATION.
AS FAR AS BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, I WOULD SAY THAT IS INACCURATE BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO MURPHY'S AND TY HINGLE VIA LETTER AND THEY REJECTED THE LETTERS.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING OUT.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO COLLABORATE.
SO I'M NOT HERE TO CHOOSE SIDES.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE WEIGHT BE PLACED EQUITABLY WHEN LOOKING AT WHETHER THIS BUSINESS SHOULD BE REZONED OR NOT.
NEXT CARD IS FOR PRESTON PEREZ.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I'M ONE OF THE DOORMEN AT THE LOTUS, AND I'M ALSO A STUDENT AT LSU.
THE INCIDENT THAT JOSH SPOKE ABOUT WHERE A CLIENT FROM MURPHY'S CAME DOWN TO OUR ESTABLISHMENT, BEATEN, BROKEN RIBS, AND BLOODIED-- ON THAT SAME VERY NIGHT WHEN SOME OF US ATTEMPTED TO HELP THIS MAN, WE HAD FIREARMS PULLED ON US ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY PEOPLE THAT WERE AT MURPHY'S AS CUSTOMERS.
THEY ARE OPENLY SELLING DRUGS.
ON FOUR OCCASIONS OVER THE SUMMER, I HAD TO APPLY NARCAN TO PEOPLE OVERDOSING ON WEED THAT WAS LACED WITH FENTANYL.
ON TOP OF THAT, DUE TO MY DATING PREFERENCES, I HAVE HAD CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES THERE OPENLY CALL ME A RACE TRAITOR AND PULL NOOSES OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES AS I'M RIDING MY BIKE BACK TO MY APARTMENT AND SAY THAT I'M GOING TO HANG WITH THE REST OF THEM.
MY GIRLFRIEND AND ME SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY AS STUDENTS AT LSU DUE TO THE ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT.
IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I FEAR WORKING AT MY JOB
[00:25:02]
AND WALKING TO MY CLASSES BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE ME.I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD FAMILY OFFERED TO ARM ME TO DEFEND MYSELF BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE FAMILIES OF THESE PEOPLE, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO IF I RETALIATE.
SO IF YOU CONTINUE TO LET THIS MAN EXPAND HIS BUSINESS, THERE WILL BE MORE OVERDOSES, MORE DRUNK INCIDENTS, AND MORE INCIDENTS OF MINORS BEING SERVED.
WE HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF MINORS OPENLY ADMITTED TO BEING 16 AND 17 YEARS OLD BEING SERVED BY MURPHY'S.
SO LET THIS MAN DO WHAT HE WANTS, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED, MORE PEOPLE BEING HURT, MORE OVERDOSES, MORE ISSUES OF ALL KIND.
NEXT CARD IS FOR LANDON SMITH.
LANDON SMITH: HEY, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAVING A GOOD DAY.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY SAID PRETTY MUCH WHAT I WAS THINKING.
I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE FAIR SHARE AT THE SHOT.
REZONING-- I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THEY EITHER GET REJECTED BY MURPHY'S OR- THEY-- I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
IT'S JUST A LOT BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HATE ON NOBODY.
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD GET REZONED.
BECAUSE LIKE THEY SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPANSION OF MORE JUST CHAOS, AND I JUST LIKE PEACE, QUIET.
AS A LOTUS PATRON, I DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TRIED TO TIGHTEN UP AND BE MORE PEACEFUL SINCE ALL THE CHAOS AND WHATEVER.
BUT I JUST REALLY WANT JUST MORE PEACE ON THE STREET.
AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO STICK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE AFTER ALL OF THIS ANYWAY.
BECAUSE WE ARE NEIGHBORS AND IT SHOULD BE NO CHAOS, YOU SEE.
NEXT CARD IS FOR TERENCE COSBAN.
TERENCE COSBAN: HELLO, MY NAME IS TERRY.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A CONDO ACROSS THE STREET FROM MURPHY'S.
THE AREA HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN RESIDENTIAL WITH A MIXED LIGHT COMMERCIAL, BUSINESSES ALL RESPECTING EACH OTHER.
MURPHY'S DOES NOT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXPAND THEIR NUISANCE ACTIVITY.
WITHIN EARSHOT OF MURPHY'S LOUNGE ARE FOUR CONDO COMPLEXES, THREE FRESHMAN DORMS, AND OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT HOUSING BUILDING.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 2,000 BEDS IMMEDIATELY IN THE AREA.
02,000 PEOPLE SLEEPING, STUDYING, WATCHING TV, ALL IMPACTED BY THE NUISANCE ACTIVITIES FROM MURPHY'S BAR.
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS OF ALLOWING MURPHY'S TO EXPAND, LET US REVISIT THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE RESIDENTS AT THE ALCOHOL PERMIT MEETING-- THE SOLUTIONS TY HINGLE PROMISED UNDER OATH AT THE MEETING AND THE ACTUAL ACTIONS TY HINGLE HAS DONE SINCE.
THE PROBLEM OF NOISE GENERATED BY THE BAR ACTIVITIES WAS AN OBVIOUS CONCERN.
TY HINGLE SAID THE BUILDING HAD NEW THERMAL INSULATION, THE WINDOWS WERE BOARDED OVER, AND WE WOULD ONLY HEAR NOISE WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOORS, OR OCCASIONALLY ON BIG EVENTS LIKE GAMES.
HOWEVER, AFTER GETTING THE ALCOHOL PERMIT, TY BUILT OUT A LARGE OUTDOOR PATIO, A BALCONY.
THIS, OF COURSE, BRINGS ALL THE NOISE OUTSIDE AND INTO OUR BACKYARDS.
MUSIC IS PLAYED VERY LOUD AND THE CROWD NOISE IS VERY HIGH.
I'VE HEARD THEIR MUSIC TWO BLOCKS AWAY IN THE GREEK AMPHITHEATER AS I WALK BACK FROM BASKETBALL GAMES.
THE NOISE GOES ON FROM 8 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING TILL 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
IN ADDITION TO THE EXTERNAL NOISE, THEY PLAY THE MAIN SOUND SYSTEM FROM THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING SO LOUD THE LOW FREQUENCIES CAUSE PICTURES ON MY WALL TO VIBRATE IN MY CONDO.
I HAVE TO TURN UP MY TV TO WATCH THE NEWS, AND I NOW SLEEP WITH EARPLUGS.
PROMISES MADE BY TY, PROMISES BROKEN BY TY.
A SECOND CONCERN WAS THE INCREASE IN THE TRAFFIC AND THE CROWDS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
TY HINGLE INTRODUCED MIKE EDMONDSON, FORMER HEAD STATE POLICE, AND SAID HE WAS A SECURITY SPECIALIST HANDLING SAFETY AND CROWD MANAGEMENT.
WELL, TO BE BLUNT, THERE JUST SIMPLY IS NO ACTION INVOLVED IN MANAGING DISRUPTIVE CRIMINAL NOISE VIOLATIONS FROM THE PATRONS THAT HE BROUGHT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MURPHY'S HAS NO PARKING, SO THE PATRONS DRIVING MUST USE COMMERCIAL LOTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
THE RESULT IS THAT PATRONS CONGREGATE IN THE PARKING LOTS USING THE LOTS AS EXTENDED STREET PARTY LOCATIONS TO DRINK, SMOKE WEED, PLAY CAR STEREOS VERY LOUD, YELL, SCREAM WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY URINATE BEHIND SPICY RICO'S DUMPSTER.
THEY URINATE ALL OVER OUR CORNERS OF OUR CONDO COMPLEX BUILDINGS.
THEY THROW UP BEHIND OUR FENCE.
AGAIN, PROMISES MADE BY TY, PROMISES BROKEN.
ANOTHER CONCERN WAS THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL THE TRASH PRODUCED FROM THE BUSINESS AND THE PATRONS.
TY HINGLE INFORMED US HE HAD 10-FEET STRIP OF LAND ON THE SIDE OF HIS BUILDING, AND HE'D BE MANAGING HIS TRASH BINS BACK THERE.
[00:30:01]
ADDITIONALLY, HE WOULD HAVE STAFF WALK AROUND AFTER CLOSING AND PICK UP THE TRASH PRODUCED BY HIS PATRONS.WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
TRASH BINS WERE ORIGINALLY STORED ON A SIDEWALK, BUT THEY WERE QUICKLY MOVED AND ARE NOW PLACED ONTO THE TWO LARGE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTERS PLACED IN THE CITY STREET IN A FIRE ZONE.
IT BLOCKS AN ENTIRE LANE, CAUSING A DRIVING HAZARD AND LITERALLY TRASHING OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
TY ADDITIONALLY HAS INSTALLED PERMANENT POSTS IN THE SIDEWALK WITH SIGNS FOR RESERVED PARKING IN FRONT OF HIS BUSINESS, WHERE HE STORES HIS SHUTTLE VAN 24/7.
YOU CAN'T STORE AN RV ON A CITY STREET.
HE HAS BROUGHT IN PORTABLE TOILETS AND PUTS THEM ALL IN FRONT OF THE LSU PARKING LOT-- LSU LOT NEXT TO HIS BUILDING ON THE SIDEWALK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, TY HINGLE HAS NO RESPECT FOR HIS NEIGHBORS, NO COMMUNITY PRIDE AND A-- CLIFFORD GROUT: SIR, SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.
TERENCE COSBAN: --VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE BY LAW.
CLIFFORD GROUT: YOUR TIME IS UP, SIR.
THE NEXT SPEAKER CARD IS FOR ANNETTE COSBAN.
NANETTE COSBAN: I AM-- CLIFFORD GROUT: YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I'M SURE TY WILL REBUT AND MAKE PROMISES HE BELIEVES YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT THIS TIME YOU DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON FUTURE PROMISES.
YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF HOW HE WILL OPERATE HIS BUSINESS AND ITS NEGATIVE AND UNLAWFUL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS.
THIS AREA IS RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL.
IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO HAVE SOMEONE COME IN AND TRY TO BUILD A TEAM OF FRIENDS.
AND I WILL NOW GO ON TO WHAT I HAD PREPARED.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW WITH A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REPRESENTING MYSELF AS AN OWNER OF MULTIPLE UNITS, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION OF GRAND CYPRESS CONDOMINIUMS AS A WHOLE, AN ENTITY WITH 5 TO $5.5 MILLION CUMULATIVE VALUE, NOT COUNTING THE LAND.
WE EXISTED MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE MURPHY'S BEGAN NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHEN DENYING THE LICENSE A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR LOTUS LOUNGE A FEW YARDS DOWN THE BLOCK FROM MURPHY'S, MR. BATTS, YOU ARE QUOTED AFTER THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY DENIED THAT REZONING REQUEST, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS STATING ON TESTAMENTS FROM NEARBY NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING MURPHY'S OWNERSHIP, THAT LOTUS HAD DEMONSTRATED, QUOTE, "THE CURRENT OPERATION WAS ALREADY PRODUCING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND DISTURBANCES UNTIL AS LATE AS 4:00 TO 5:00 IN THE MORNING THAT INTERFERED WITH THEIR ABILITY TO SLEEP, STUDY, AND FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD." MR. BATTS ALSO REFERENCED TESTIMONY ABOUT PATRONS OF LOTUS SPILLING OUT ONTO THE STREETS AND SURROUNDING AREA BEING A FACTOR DENYING LOTUS'S REQUEST TO REZONE.
WHILE MURPHY'S DISTURBANCES MAY NOT LAST UNTIL 4:00 OR 5:00, THEY DO LAST UNTIL 2:00 AM, AND FREQUENTLY AS LATE AS 3:00 AM WHEN THEIR PATRONS REMAIN IN PARKING LOTS, INCLUDING THE ONE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF GRAND CYPRESS THAT HE REFERENCED EARLIER, DRUNK AND LOUD, BLASTING MUSIC FROM THEIR VEHICLES, REVVING ENGINES.
WE CALL POLICE WHO NEVER SHOW UP MR. HINGLE WILL NO DOUBT SAY HE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HIS PATIENTS DO ONCE THEY LEAVE HIS PROPERTY, AND THIS IS PRECISELY THE PROBLEM.
I WOULD ASK YOU, MR. BATTS, AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU BASED ON DENYING LOTUS'S ZONING? OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN MADE HELL BY THIS.
YOU DENIED LOTUS'S ZONING BASED ON A FEW MONTHS OF DEMONSTRATED BEHAVIOR.
WE HAVE PRESENTED YOU WITH YEARS OF BEHAVIOR BY MURPHY.
WHAT BASIS WOULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE TO JUSTIFY-- CLIFFORD GROUT: YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING.
NANETTE COSBAN: --ALLOWING MURPHY'S TO EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE WHEN YOU DIDN'T ALLOW IT TO LOTUS.
I WOULD BEG YOU, BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU DENIED LOTUS ON AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU AND WHAT THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED.
NEXT CARD IS FOR ANGEL HOLLOMAN.
ANGEL HOLLOMAN: GOOD EVENING, YOU ALL.
MY NAME IS ANGEL HOLLOMAN, AND I'M A MINORITY STUDENT AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE REZONING OF MURPHY'S TO OPERATE AS A LOUNGE AND BAR.
I DO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHY, BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP YET, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT STANDARDS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HOLD BUSINESSES ON THIS STREET TO A STANDARD, THEN THE STANDARD SHOULD APPLY TO EVERYONE.
SO ON SEPTEMBER 21, THE LOTUS WAS SCHEDULED FOR A REZONING HEARING TO PURSUE THIS EXACT OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE AS THIS LOUNGE AND BAR.
YET JUST HOURS BEFORE THE HEARING WAS SET TO BEGIN, THE OWNER PULLED THE CASE AFTER PRESSURES FROM SURROUNDING BUSINESSES.
THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THE LOTUS WAS TOO MUCH HEAT.
SO HOW DO WE RECONCILE THAT CONCERN WITH MURPHY'S OWN RECENT CONTROVERSY IN THE MEDIA, INVOLVING A SHIRT FEATURING SLURS AGAINST THE LGBT COMMUNITY? THIS WAS A CONTROVERSY THAT STRETCHED TO A HUGE AUDIENCE, NOT JUST LSU STUDENTS OR NEWS NETWORKS THROUGHOUT BATON ROUGE.
SO WHEN ONE BUSINESS IS PORTRAYED AS A THREAT
[00:35:01]
TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WHILE OTHERS PURSUE SOME OF THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, THEN WE HAVE TO QUESTION WHY THE SAME STANDARDS ARE NOT BEING TRULY APPLIED.SO THE LOTUS COMMUNITY HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS LOUD, DANGEROUS, AND A DISTURBANCE TO THE SURROUNDING AREA.
WE'VE BEEN MADE OUT TO BE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT'S COMING FROM THE OTHER END OF THE STREET.
WHEN A COMMUNITY REPEATEDLY PORTRAYS AS A THREAT, PEOPLE STOP ASKING WHETHER THE THREAT IS BEING TREATED FAIRLY.
THEY SIMPLY ACCEPT THE NARRATIVE BEING TOLD ABOUT IT.
AND MURPHY'S JUMPED ON BOARD WITH THIS NARRATIVE AND USED THAT AS THEIR DRIVING FACTOR AS TO WHY THE LOTUS SHOULD NOT BE REZONED.
SO, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THESE BUSINESS PRACTICES ARE NASTY.
WORKING AGAINST ANOTHER BUSINESS WHILE STANDING TO BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THE OUTCOME IS NOT THE KIND OF CONDUCT THAT DESERVES SCRUTINY.
IT DESERVES SCRUTINY AND NOT A FREE PASS.
WE CAN'T CLAIM TO SUPPORT A THRIVING COMMUNITY WHILE ALLOWING UNEQUAL STANDARDS TO DETERMINE WHO GETS TO THRIVE.
IF THE FAIRNESS IS THE STANDARD, THEN IT MUST APPLY TO EVERYONE.
MURPHY'S REPRESENTS THE EXACT HEAT THAT THEY SAY THAT THE LOTUS HAS.
NEXT CARD IS FOR JEREMY CHAVIS.
JEREMY CHAVIS: HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO MURPHY'S EXPANSION.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TOUCHED ON DIFFERENT ISSUES OF DRUGS AND PEOPLE BEING OVERSERVED, UNDERAGE DRINKING, AS WELL AS THE TRAFFIC ISSUES.
I HAVE A VIDEO ON MY PHONE OF A TRUCK DRIVING THE WRONG WAY DOWN THE ONE-WAY STREET.
BUT I THINK ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED ON IS THAT MURPHY'S HAS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR OF NOT ALLOWING BLACK-AMERICAN PATRONS TO ENTER BY USING FAKE DRESS CODES AND OTHER MEANS TO EXCLUDE THEM FROM ENTERING, WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
SO IF YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS, YOU WOULD BE COMPLICIT IN THAT VIOLATION.
SO I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOUCHED ON, I'VE SEEN IT.
I'VE SEEN GUNS PULLED OUT, VIOLENCE, FIGHTS, PEOPLE THROWING UP, PISS AND ALL THAT.
SO I DON'T WANT TO REALLY REHASH THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THAT NEW TOPIC.
AND I'M ALL FOR TREATING EVERYBODY FAIRLY, SO THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ONE MORE CARD IN OPPOSITION THAT DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK FOR BRIELLE JAMES.
AND I WILL ALLOW MR. HINGLE HIS FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
TY HINGLE: SO I RESPECT THAT NEIGHBORS HAVE CONCERNS, AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.
I THINK I'VE ADDRESSED SEVERAL OF THEM IN THERE, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THEM ONE BY ONE.
I FIRST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, I DON'T KNOW, SEVEN PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE LOTUS CAME UP HERE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF THE LOTUS AND IN OPPOSITION TO MURPHY'S.
I WAS NOT IN OPPOSITION TO THE LOTUS, FOR THE RECORD.
I WAS IN OPPOSITION TO-- NOT THE REZONING, I WAS IN OPPOSITION TO THE BUSINESS BEING RAN POORLY.
ALL I CAN SPEAK FOR IS THE RECORD.
AND THE RECORD IS, IS THAT IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS, NEITHER THE ABC NOR BATON ROUGE POLICE WHO GOVERNS OUR AREA THERE, NOR LSU POLICE WHO'S ACROSS THE STREET, HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES WHATSOEVER.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE INCIDENT THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THE RECORD AT MURPHY'S.
AND THAT'S THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
I CAN'T SPEAK THE SAME FOR THE OTHER BUSINESSES, BUT I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CALLED ME ABOUT THEM.
THE POLICE HAVE CALLED ME ABOUT THEM.
LSU HAS CALLED ME ABOUT THEM BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD BEEN HAVING.
SO I COULD JUST SPEAK FOR THE RECORDS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM LSU, AND FROM OUR NEIGHBORS.
AS FAR AS THE NOISE, WE ARE A COLLEGE BAR AND WE DO HAVE PATRONS THAT COME.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANT TO HAVE THE EXPANSION IS BECAUSE THE PATRONS ARE OUT IN THE STREET, BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME POPULAR ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY ARE WAITING IN LINE.
BY ALLOWING THE EXPANSION, WE CAN GET THEM INSIDE SO THAT THE NOISE IS NOT OUT ON THE STREET.
THE OTHER IS THE TRASH, AND WE DO HAVE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE FOR TRASH.
WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH LSU.
WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS-- A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT WITH BRYAN ANDERSON NEXT DOOR.
ON ALL FOUR SIDES, OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS ARE IN FAVOR OF OUR EXPANSION.
LSU IS IN FAVOR OF OUR EXPANSION.
THE ABC IS IN FAVOR OF OUR EXPANSION.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A FEW NEIGHBORS THAT ARE NOT HAPPY, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT NOISE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH AUTOMATIC REDUCTIONS
[00:40:01]
OF NOISE AT MIDNIGHT ON EXTERNAL SPEAKERS, AUTOMATIC TURNING OFF OF EXTERNAL SPEAKERS AT 2:00 AM.THAT IS NOT IN ANYONE'S CONTROL.
IT'S AN AUTOMATIC THING, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE RACISM ISSUE THAT I THINK WAS BROUGHT UP AS KIND OF AN UNDERTONE.
I AM THE ONLY COLLEGE BAR THAT HAS-- 10% OF MY EMPLOYEES ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
MY SON IS-- [INAUDIBLE] ON THE NEWS-- BUT MY SON IS CURRENTLY TALKING TO A GIRL WHO'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
MY LEADERSHIP TEAM-- WITH MY OTHER COMPANY, I'M THE ONLY WHITE PERSON ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF FIVE PEOPLE.
SO TO IMPLY THAT I'M RACIST IS JUST A FALLACY THAT IS MADE UP SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BUSINESS DOWN THE STREET THAT GOT DENIED FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AND NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.
IN FACT, I DIDN'T DENY THEIR ACTIONS.
THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING CAME FROM EGYPT TO WITNESS THEM FOR A WEEK, AND HE'S THE ONE THAT PULLED THEIR APPLICATION, NOT ME.
SO AS MUCH AS I RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS, THE NOISE IS ADDRESSED, THE TRASH IS ADDRESSED, THE PARKING IS ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE RENTED OUT THE PARKING SPACE NEXT TO US.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OTHER THAN SAY OUR RECORD IS VERY CLEAN WITH ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH ALL OF OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF OUR EXPANSION.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR MOTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
[INAUDIBLE] ANY MOTIONS, COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER ADDISON? ULYSSES ADDISON JR: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
TERRY COSBAN-- I THINK YOU SAID THAT'S YOUR NAME.
CAN YOU COME BACK UP FOR A MOMENT, MR. COSBAN? YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE AFFECTING FROM MURPHY'S AND THE OTHER BARS AROUND YOUR AREA.
HOW FAR DO YOU LIVE FROM THE PARK FOR THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT? TERRY COSBAN: ACROSS THE STREET.
AND I'M ON THE CONDO COMPLEX AT THE VERY END OF THE STREET-- I'D SAY 200 FEET, 300 FEET.
THE BUILDING NEXT TO HIM IS OWNED BY LSU.
THE LOT NEXT TO HIM IS OWNED BY LSU, AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET, THAT IS OUR CONDO COMPLEX.
SO WE'RE AT THE-- [DRONING] --WHERE THE CORNER IS FROM-- ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OK, THANK YOU.
NANETTE COSBAN: [INAUDIBLE] ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I'M TRYING TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE'S TELLING ME.
SO YOU'RE ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY FROM THE FACILITY.
TERRY COSBAN: YEAH, 200 TO 300 FEET.
TERRY COSBAN: I HAVEN'T MEASURED IT.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE NOISE.
I LISTENED TO WHAT SHE JUST PLAYED ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS OR WHAT NIGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
TERRY COSBAN: THAT WAS MY RING CAMERA FROM MY FRONT DOOR.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I UNDERSTAND.
TERRY COSBAN: [INAUDIBLE] ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I APPRECIATE IT.
OK, SO YOU'RE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE FACILITY AS IT STANDS.
AND WHAT TIME DO YOU NORMALLY SAY THAT THE NOISE AND THE MUSIC FROM THE MURPHY FACILITY STOPS? NOT IN THE AREA-- NOT GENERAL AREA.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT-- TERRY COSBAN: I'LL BE REAL BLUNT WITH YOU, I DON'T HEAR NOISE FROM ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR IT OVER MURPHY'S NOISE.
SO THE WAY IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS AT 8 O'CLOCK, THEY OPEN UP THEIR BAR.
THEY LIKE TO CRANK THE RADIO UP REALLY LOUD TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS THAT THEY ARE NOW OPEN.
THEY PUT THEIR OUTDOOR SPEAKER MUSIC UP AT 8 O'CLOCK.
TYPICALLY AROUND 10 O'CLOCK IS WHEN THEY REALLY CRANK IT UP.
IF THEY BRING A BAND IN, THAT'S WHEN THE BAND COMES IN.
THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THEM TO HAVE SOCIALS WITH THE SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES AROUND.
SOME OF THEM STOP AT 10:00, SOME OF THEM START AT 10:00.
SO 10 O'CLOCK, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR ANOTHER NOTCH TO GO UP.
SO IT GOES UP SO 10 O'CLOCK IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ANOTHER NOTCH.
I'M SITTING ON MY SOFA IN MY ROOM WATCHING TV, AND I HAVE TO TURN MY VOLUME UP.
I'VE MOVED MY BED AWAY FROM THE WALL BECAUSE IT VIBRATES AT 2 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
MY BED IS VIBRATING BECAUSE OF THE NOISE.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK YOU'RE PAINT A PICTURE FOR ME, BUT REALLY, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAR ARE YOU AWAY FROM MURPHY'S AND WHEN DOES THE MUSIC STOP, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
I DON'T NEED ALL THE REST-- TERRY COSBAN: [INAUDIBLE] ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I APPRECIATE IT.
WHEN DOES IT STOP-- TERRY COSBAN: IT STOPS-- ULYSSES ADDISON JR: FOR YOU.
TERRY COSBAN: IT WILL STOP AT 2 O'CLOCK, 2:15, WHEN THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN THE BAR.
SOMETIMES IT GOES ON A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IN FAIRNESS, 2 O'CLOCK TO 2:15, IT PRETTY WELL-- I WON'T HEAR IT AFTER 2:30.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.
THE APPLICANT-- I NEED THE APPLICANT BACK UP, PLEASE.
TERRY COSBAN: YOU DONE WITH ME, SIR? ULYSSES ADDISON JR: YES, SIR, I AM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[00:45:04]
A COUPLE OTHER OPPONENTS-- I MIGHT-- FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THOSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO YOUR REQUEST TONIGHT-- THEY TALK ABOUT THE UNDERAGE DRINKING.THEY TALK ABOUT, OF COURSE, THE NORMAL ASPECTS OF SECURITY OF THE FACILITY, THE TRASH THAT IS ACCUMULATED BY PATRONS, WHETHER IT'S YOURS OR OTHERS IN THE AREA.
THAT THEY HAVE A CHALLENGE IN ENJOYING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CERTAINLY WOULD CONCERN ME IF I LIVED CLOSE TO IT.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I'D LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE-- WHAT DO YOU DO IN REGARDS TO SECURITY? YOU HAVE PRIVATE SECURITY, YOU HAVE CITY GOVERNMENT SECURITY, YOU HAVE SECURITY BY THE LSU POLICE? WHO PROVIDES YOUR SECURITY? TY HINGLE: SURE, SO WE HIRE THREE SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SECURITY TO BE THERE EVERY NIGHT.
WE HAVE HIRED, ALONG WITH BRYAN ANDERSON-- WE ACTUALLY PARTNER TO PARK A BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER DOWN THE STREET FROM US, IN BETWEEN US AND HIS PROPERTY.
AND THEN OUR GUYS, OUR FLOOR GUYS, WHICH WE HAVE 15 AT ALL TIMES, ARE TRAINED BY THE BATON ROUGE POLICE ON HOW TO HANDLE ADVERSE SITUATIONS.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OK, SO YOU'RE USING PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES TO PROVIDE YOUR SERVICE.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE A COLLABORATION WITH SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES THE CITY POLICE.
HOW FAR ARE THE CITY POLICE TO-- LITERALLY CITY POLICE OFFICERS FROM YOUR FACILITY WHEN IT COMES TO-- IS IT PERIODICALLY? ARE THEY EVER AT NIGHT? HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? BECAUSE THAT'S NOT-- YOUR OPERATION IS PRIVATE SECURITY.
YOUR OPERATION IS NOT PUBLIC SECURITY OR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WITHIN OUR PROPERTY IS PRIVATE SECURITY AND TRAINED EMPLOYEES.
THE POLICE COME ON WEEKENDS ONLY, SO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, BECAUSE THEY ARE AN EXPENSE TO THAT.
AND THEY SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OK, AND I'LL ASK A QUESTION-- ONLY I WOULDN'T EXPECT YOU TO TELL ME YES, BUT I EXPECT-- UNDERAGE DRINKING.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CITED FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING BY ANY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE ABC BOARD FOR ANY UNDERAGE DRINKING OF MINORS PERTAINING TO YOUR FACILITIES? TY HINGLE: NO, SIR, MR. ADDISON.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN CITED FOR ANYTHING.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OK, FINAL QUESTION FOR ME.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU TAKE GREAT LIBERTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NOISE IS HELD TO A MINIMUM.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OF COURSE MR. COSBAN MAKES ANOTHER SIDE OF THAT BECAUSE HE SAYS RIGHT DOWN FROM HIM-- WHATEVER.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO MOVE TO AN OUTDOOR PATIO, TO WHICH YOU REFERENCED ANOTHER ORGANIZATION-- HOW THEIRS LOOKED.
THAT'S WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, TO HAVE AN OUTDOOR PATIO SYSTEM NOW THAT IS GOING TO, THEN AGAIN, PROVIDE NOISE ON THE EXTERIOR FACILITY.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE ELABORATION OF HOW THE AUTOMATION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND ALL THAT.
BUT IF THE FACILITY IS BEING MAINTAINED ON THE OUTSIDE, HOW DO YOU FIX THAT? IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO AN OUTSIDE PATIO SYSTEM, THEN HOW DO YOU FIX THE IDEA OF THE NOISE BEING CONTROLLED IF THE NOISE IS FOR OUTDOORS? TY HINGLE: SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A SOUND ENGINEER CALLED INNOVATIVE SOUND.
INNOVATIVE SOUND IS THE FOREMOST EXPERT HERE IN TOWN.
THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY ONE OTHER THAT RIVALS IT, WHICH WOULD BE ACADIAN.
BUT REGARDLESS, IF WE GET CERTAIN TYPES OF SPEAKERS THAT ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, THEY WILL NOT BROADCAST SOUND OUT SIDEWAYS.
WE'RE GOING TO POINT THOSE DOWN STRAIGHT AT THE FLOOR, RATHER THAN LIKE A TYPICAL SPEAKER WOULD BE POINTED TOWARDS THE CROWD.
WE'RE PLANNING ON POINTING THEM STRAIGHT DOWN SO THAT THE SOUND WAVES BOUNCE STRAIGHT BACK UP.
AND SO THEY WILL NOT BE BOUNCING OFF OF OUR BUILDING.
FOR MR. COSBAN, THEY WILL HAVE MY BUILDING IN BETWEEN THAT.
FOR MR. ANDERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE, I AM BUILDING A SOUND BARRIER WALL AT MY EXPENSE IN BETWEEN OUR PROPERTIES, AND I'M REPLACING THE CLOSEST WINDOWS WITH-- WINDOW WORLDS HAS ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAVE WINDOWS THAT ARE SOUNDPROOF.
AND SO I'M ADDRESSING AS BEST I CAN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING AS FAR AS SOUND MITIGATION GOES.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OK, BUT REGARDING MISTER-- HE SAYS HE'S 200 FEET AWAY FROM YOU.
HAVE YOU ADDRESSED ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE 200 FEET AWAY FROM YOU? TY HINGLE: SO IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE HAS AN ISSUE WHEN THE NEIGHBORS IMMEDIATELY NEXT DOOR THAT ARE TOUCHING US DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT EITHER.
I MEAN, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I KNOW IF HE HAS AN ISSUE.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THE NEIGHBOR RIGHT NEXT TO YOU DON'T HAVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE YOU'RE REPLACING HIS WINDOWS AND WHATEVER.
TY HINGLE: IF I'M BEING SINCERE, I THINK WHAT HE IS HEARING IS-- GENERALLY SPEAKING, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE ARE VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT
[00:50:01]
THAT I RENT FOR PARKING, WHICH IS THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO HIS PROPERTY.SO IT'S OUR BUILDING, AN EMPTY LOT, A STREET, A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER BUILDING, AND THEN HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: ALL THAT WITHIN 200 FEET? TY HINGLE: IT'S NOT 200 FEET, SIR.
TERRY COSBAN: [INAUDIBLE] TY HINGLE: IT'S NOT 200 FEET.
OK, I THINK I'M ABOUT DONE WITH MY QUESTIONS.
I DON'T-- I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A DISPARAGING WHAT YOU CONSIDER AS A VIEWPOINT.
BUT WE HAD THE SAME KIND OF ISSUES OUT WITH MR. LOTUS AND THE LOTUS ORGANIZATION.
NOW AGAIN, HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP TONIGHT IN OPPOSITION TO YOUR APPLICATION, IT COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH MR. LOTUS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS BY THE RESIDENTS, A LOT OF CONCERNS BY PATRONS IN THE AREA OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THAT WAS ONE THING THAT THE LAWYER MADE A COMMENT ABOUT IT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE FAIR, WE GOT TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OPPOSITION TO SOMETHING, IT DON'T CHANGE ABOUT WHO THE OWNER IS.
IF THERE'S A NOISE ISSUE, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH PATRONS, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH PROBLEMS, THAT ISSUE STILL EXISTS.
AND IF THAT ISSUE EXISTS, IT CARRIES FORWARD TO WHOEVER WANTS TO DO IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD-- NOT BY NAME, NOT BY THE LOTUS VERSUS MURPHY.
I GAVE YOU A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON THE PHONE.
I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS IN THE AREA THAT OWN THE FACILITY.
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT WINDOWS IN FOR THEM.
AND I SAID TO YOU, THAT'S VERY NOBLE OF YOU.
I SAID, THAT'S VERY NOBLE OF YOU.
BECAUSE IF YOU SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY TO FIX SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY, I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT DO THAT.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, BUT I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FAR FOR US TO GO TELLING PEOPLE TO FIX OTHER PEOPLE'S WINDOWS AND MAKING THEM SOUNDPROOF.
BUT THE QUESTION GOES BACK, WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO THAT WITH MR. COSBAN IF YOU DID IT WITH-- TY HINGLE: YES.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I'M JUST ASKING.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU GAVE THAT AS A GREAT POINT OF WHY YOU WERE DOING IT-- TO BE A GREAT NEIGHBOR, TO BE A GREAT BUSINESS OWNER IN THE AREA.
AND I SAID, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 38 YEARS MYSELF, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER FIXED ANYBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY FOR ME TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU DID IT WITH THEM, WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO IT WITH HIM? TY HINGLE: I DON'T MIND DOING IT.
I'VE NOT HEARD MR. COSBAN'S NAME IN FOUR YEARS.
SO UNTIL THIS WEEK, IT'S THE FIRST TIME HIS NAME HAS COME UP IN MY-- WELL, I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT HIM SINCE HE OPPOSED OPENING MURPHY'S FOUR YEARS AGO WITH THE ABC.
SO AS MUCH AS I RESPECT HIM AS A PERSON, HE QUITE FRANKLY WASN'T ON THE RADAR, WHERE BRYAN ANDERSON AND I SPEAK QUITE OFTEN AND FREQUENTLY.
SO IF HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DISCUSS THAT.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: OH, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT.
BECAUSE I SAID, AGAIN, THAT WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR THAT I WOULD USE.
TY HINGLE: HE HAS MY PHONE NUMBER, HE JUST HAS NEVER CALLED.
ULYSSES ADDISON JR: I JUST SAID-- AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND.
CLIFFORD GROUT: OK, THANK YOU, SIR.
TY HINGLE: THAT IT? CLIFFORD GROUT: THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? MASON BATTS: I'VE GOT A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WOULD THE APPLICANT COME BACK UP, PLEASE? THERE'S BEEN SOME CLAIMS MADE THAT A DECISION THAT THIS BOARD MADE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IS PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME AS THE ONE WE SHOULD MAKE TODAY.
SO I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
HAS MURPHY'S EVER OPERATED WITHOUT A LIQUOR LICENSE? TY HINGLE: NO, SIR, NEVER.
HAVE THERE EVER BEEN ANY STAMPEDES STARTED OUTSIDE OF MURPHY'S THAT HAVE TRAVELED DOWN INTO THE STREETS? TY HINGLE: NO, SIR.
HAS MURPHY'S EVER DISTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF FLYERS FOR A PARTY AT AN EVENT WHERE THE MAX OCCUPANCY IS LESS THAN 15? TY HINGLE: NO, SIR.
MASON BATTS: NO, OK, THANK YOU.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? CAROLYN COLEMAN: STATEMENT HERE, YEAH.
CAROLYN COLEMAN: BOTH OF THESE PLACES-- CLIFFORD GROUT: COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
BOTH OF THESE PLACES ARE IN TOWN, AND THE POINTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MADE-- THE QUESTIONS, GOOD QUESTIONS.
THE POINTS WERE POINTS THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT-- NO PERMITS OPERATING, ALCOHOL, FLYERS OUT, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
AND EQUITY-- EQUITY AND FAIR SHARE IS IMPORTANT.
AND THEN 2:00 AM VERSUS 4:00 TO 5:00 AM.
AND SO THE OWNER OF LOTUS-- NOT THE RENTER, THE OWNER OF LOTUS-- WAS THE ONE THAT CAME DOWN AND SAID THAT THIS WAS TOO MUCH HEAT.
AND WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WAS TO LEAVE IT ALONE.
AND YES, COLLEGE-- COLLEGE BARS AND--
[00:55:03]
BOTH, I GUESS.AND SO WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN DO-- BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS AIN'T CHURCH, NEITHER ONE OF THEM.
AND SO WHEN YOU'VE DONE ALL THAT YOU CAN DO-- AND THEN THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.
WAS THOSE OF YOU THAT HAD AN ISSUE, HAD THEY EVER HAD A CONVERSATION? AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS.
AND THAT IS AS OPPOSED TO JUST BELLY-ACHING AND THEN MAKING THIS A UNEQUITABLE PLACE.
HAD YOU ALL HAD CONVERSATION WITH MR. HINGLE HERE ABOUT MURPHY'S? AND THEN I COULD-- YEAH, I COULD REALLY-- IF YOU TELL ME THAT YOU HAD AND WHAT WAS AND ALL OF THIS.
AND THEN TO EVEN GO BACK WITH LOTUS-- AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION BEFORE ABOUT LOTUS NOT HAVING A CONVERSATION.
REALLY HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE US THAT THEY WERE ALLOWING FOLKS TO COME IN WITH ALCOHOL WITH NO PERMIT.
AND THEN ACKNOWLEDGED ALL OF THAT ERROR AND ACKNOWLEDGED ABOUT STAYING OPEN AFTER THAT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS, BEFORE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EQUITABLY AND FAIR SHARE AND GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HE IS.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT, WHAT THE OWNER OF LOTUS DID.
AND SO HERE IT IS, THAT MURPHY'S-- AND LET ME TELL YOU, I RIDE MY DISTRICT.
AT SOME TIMES WHEN YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE IN THE BED, MAYBE, I RIDE MY DISTRICT, EVEN IF IT MEANS I GO TO BED EARLY AND GET UP AND RIDE.
AND SO WHY DO I DO THAT? OR I SEND FOLK.
SO WHY DO I DO THAT? SO I CAN BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT I NEED TO SAY SITTING RIGHT HERE AND REPRESENTING A DISTRICT-- AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH BLACK, WHITE, BLUE OR GREEN.
AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.
AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER YOU'RE LIVING AT-- AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH NONE OF THAT BECAUSE I GOT SOME OF ALL OF THAT.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I'M MAKING A MOTION THAT IT BE EXPANDED.
CLIFFORD GROUT: [INAUDIBLE] IT'S A MOTION TO APPROVE? CAROLYN COLEMAN: YES.
CLIFFORD GROUT: THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER FOWLER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OPPOSED? AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE] CLIFFORD GROUT: SEEING NONE, SEEING NONE, SEEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE] RYAN HOLCOMB: MR. CHAIRMAN, WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 6,
[6. Case 38-26 8401 Greenwell Springs Road To rezone from Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (restaurant)(C-AB-1) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB-2) on property located on the north side of Greenwell Springs Road, east of Greentree Drive, on property now or formerly known as a portion of Lot A-1 of Sunny Brook Farms. Section 49, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 5 - Hurst) ]
ZONING CASE 38-26, 8401 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.- CASE 38-26, 8401 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD, EAST OF GREENTREE DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURTS.
THE APPLICANT IS JOSHUA LANDRY.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS COMMERCIAL.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RESTAURANT C-AB-1, WITH A REQUESTED ZONING OF COMMERCIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BAR AND LOUNGE, C-AB-2.
CASE 38-26, 8401 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD.
RYAN HOLCOMB: 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 THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD.
DO WE HAVE AN APPLICANT? RYAN HOLCOMB: WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS-- [INAUDIBLE] CLIFFORD GROUT: NO SPEAKER CARDS, NO APPLICANT? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR MOTIONS OR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
MASON BATTS: MR. HOLCOMB, DID THE APPLICANT COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AS TO WHETHER HE WOULD BE HERE OR NOT, OR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? RYAN HOLCOMB: THEY DID NOT INDICATE THERE WAS A CONFLICT OR THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE.
I DO NEED TO ADD, I DID SPEAK TO COUNCILMAN HURST.
HE TOLD ME HE IS IN OPPOSITION OF THIS C-AB-2 AND ANY OTHER C-AB-2S IN DISTRICT 5.
MASON BATTS: REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL.
[01:00:01]
CLIFFORD GROUT: THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL.HOW MANY DAYS, COMMISSIONER BATTS? MASON BATTS: TO THE NEXT MEETING, 30 DAYS.
THERE'S A REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL FOR 30 DAYS ON THE FLOOR.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER FOWLER.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, THAT DEFERRAL IS GRANTED.
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM 11.
RYAN HOLCOMB: MR. CHAIRMAN, WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 11.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA-- CUP-7-26, DISCOVERY, BATON ROUGE, PHASE III.
- 7-26 DISCOVERY, BATON ROUGE, PHASE III, 17255 SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD, EAST OF O'NEAL LANE, COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE, HUDSON.
THE APPLICANT IS ALFREDO PORTILLO.
FUTURE BR LAND USE DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW 20,861-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING FOR AN EXISTING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
THE EXISTING ZONING IS RURAL WITH NO REQUESTING ZONING CHANGE.
CUP-7-26, DISCOVERY, BATON ROUGE, PHASE III, 17255 SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD.
RYAN HOLCOMB: 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.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT FORWARD FOR 15 MINUTES.
MY NAME IS ALFREDO, AND I'M HERE WITH FOX-NESBIT ENGINEERING, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DISCOVERY BATON ROUGE SCHOOL.
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATELY 20,000-SQUARE-FOOT NEW BUILDING.
IT'S GOING TO SERVE AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM FOR DISCOVERY SCHOOL.
THIS IS AN EXISTING SCHOOL THAT OPERATES IN 17255 SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD.
AND THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE THE CLASSROOM BUILDING AND SOME ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES, DINING AND COMMONS, FOOD, AND A KITCHEN AREA.
AND THERE WILL BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS UTILITIES, DRAINAGE AND FLOODPLAIN MITIGATION, AND OTHERS.
THIS WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS USED TO BE THE REYNOLDS SCHOOL, WHICH USED TO OPERATE AT ABOUT A CAPACITY OF 800 STUDENTS.
THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT FOR THE DISCOVERY SCHOOL IS A LITTLE OVER 400 STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON INCREASING THAT CAPACITY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE APPLIED THROUGH THE CUP PERMITTING PROCEDURES, AND THE OWNER HAS AGREED TO INSTALL FLASHERS IN THE ROAD AT THEIR EXPENSE.
AND-- UH, YEP, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
YOU'RE ALEX PORTILLO, RIGHT? ALFREDO PORTILLO: ALFREDO.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THREE CARDS FOR OPPOSITION WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS BRUCE RAY.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES.
I LIVE ON SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD DIRECTLY TO THE EAST, ADJOINING THE DISCOVERY SCHOOL.
WE, ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER PROPERTIES, ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE ALL ARE ALONG SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE NO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR GROUP TO REPRESENT US, AND BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY JUST INDIVIDUAL VOICES, IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE OUR CONCERNS AREN'T HEARD.
THAT BEING SAID, WE ACTUALLY LIKE HAVING A SCHOOL AS OUR NEIGHBOR.
BUT WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE ARE ADDRESSED WITH RESPECT TO ANY EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL.
FIRST OF ALL, DISCOVERY IS A CARPOOL SCHOOL, AND AS SUCH, CAUSES QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC IN THE MORNINGS AND THE AFTERNOONS.
AT PEAK TIMES, IT'S OFTEN VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT OR ENTER OUR DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC,
[01:05:03]
SOMETIMES TAKING FIVE OR MORE MINUTES JUST TO GET OUT ONTO THE STREET FROM OUR OWN DRIVEWAYS.THE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES.
THE NEIGHBORS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH IS MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW, HAVE EVEN BIGGER PROBLEMS. AND THEY ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW I WAS REPRESENTING THEM AS WELL HERE TONIGHT.
ADDING ADDITIONAL CARS TO FILL UP THESE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS IS JUST GOING TO MAKE A BAD PROBLEM EVEN WORSE.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE EAST SIDE FIRE STATION IS A MERE 500 FEET DOWN THE ROAD TO THE EAST.
BLOCKING THE ROAD FOR ADDITIONAL TIME WITH ADDITIONAL CARS IS GOING TO CAUSE A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD.
AND I SEE NOTHING IN THE PLANS WITH RESPECT TO ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE ROAD, THE ENTRANCES, THE EXITS, OR PARKING AREAS OF THE SCHOOL.
HOW WILL INCREASED TRAFFIC BE ADDRESSED? SECONDLY, WHILE THE PROPOSED BUILDING WILL BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY, ANYTHING THAT RAISES THE ELEVATION OF THAT PROPERTY WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT THE DRAINAGE ON BOTH THE EAST AND WEST SIDES.
WE ALREADY HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES DUE TO THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD.
HOW HAS THE DRAINAGE PLAN BEEN UPDATED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING? THESE ARE TWO THINGS THAT DEFINITELY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN GREAT DETAIL BEFORE ANY PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL IS PERMITTED.
OUR NEXT CARD IS FOR KIMMY CAPSO? KERRY KOPCSO: [INAUDIBLE] CLIFFORD GROUT: OK, I'M HORRIBLE WITH NAMES.
I HAVE 50 ACRES NEXT DOOR TO THE SCHOOL.
WE'VE HAD A-- I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING UP.
HORRIBLE DRAINAGE-- TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC.
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY IS JUST TRAFFIC.
IT'S SO BAD, THEY'RE LINING UP IN MY FRONT YARD.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET OUT THE DRIVEWAY.
THE SCHOOL WILL NOT LET THE PARENTS IN BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE A PROBLEM.
SO IF YOU CAN'T LET THE PARENTS IN, THEY LOCK THE GATE.
TRAFFIC DOWN HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD IS QUARTER-MILE ONE WAY, HALF A MILE THE OTHER WAY TOWARDS O'NEAL LANE.
8 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, 3 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST FORGET IT.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN DRIVEWAY.
I'VE HAD CONFRONTATIONS WITH PARENTS BLOCKING MY DRIVEWAY SO I CANNOT GET OUT.
I DON'T SEE AN EXPANSION AREA THERE BECAUSE IT'S TWO OPEN DITCHES.
I ACTUALLY PUT A CULVERT IN, COVERED UP MY DITCH THEY'RE PARKING IN MY FRONT YARD.
THEY BACKED UP IN THE EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO TO REITERATE-- TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC.
IT TOOK US SEVEN YEARS TO GET A CULVERT REPLACED IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH KEPT PUSHING IT OFF ON THE WATER COMPANY, BLAH BLAH BLAH.
AM I CORRECT-- SEVEN YEARS? YES, SO BACKWATER FLOODING IS AN ISSUE.
SO IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING EVEN LIKE A TURN LANE OR SOMETHING JUST TO HELP US WITH THE TRAFFIC, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
WORKING OUT OF THE HOUSE, I'M ALWAYS IN AND OUT, ALWAYS IN AND OUT.
SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO FOR US, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
THE LAST SPEAKER CARD IS FOR MAURICE VELAZQUEZ.
MAURICE VELAZQUEZ: [INAUDIBLE] YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY NAME.
MAURICE VELAZQUEZ: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN, I LIVE ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND PRIMARILY THE CONCERNS REGARDING THE TRAFFIC ARE VERY REAL.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT THE PLANS ARE TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
I DON'T THINK, PER SE, THAT WE'RE AGAINST THE GROWTH OR THE NEED FOR THE BUILDING.
BUT WE'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY DO THAT IS IF WE HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE OURSELVES AND OTHER NEIGHBORS COULD COME AND TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS, AND THEY COULD EDUCATE US ON IT AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT PER SE AGAINST IT, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND IF THAT MEANS PUSHING IT BACK FOR 30 DAYS, I'D BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR US TO HAVE AN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM RATHER THAN JUST OPPOSING IT FOR OPPOSING'S SAKE.
I'LL LET THE APPLICANT COME BACK FOR FIVE MINUTES.
ALFREDO PORTILLO: YES SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALFREDO PORTILLO: I'LL TRY TO ADDRESS JUST A FEW THINGS.
I HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ISSUES,
[01:10:03]
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN A FLOOD ZONE.AND I'M THE CIVIL ENGINEER IN THE PROJECT, AND WE FOLLOW ALL THE ORDINANCES AND CODES ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND AS A PART OF IT, WE HAVE SUBMITTED A DRAINAGE IMPACT STUDY.
IN THIS CASE, THIS PROPERTY IS NOT ADDING MORE THAN 10% IMPERVIOUS AREA TO THE EXISTING SITE, WHICH IS-- ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR DETENTION.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THERE IS FILL BEING PLACED HAVING TO RAISE THE BUILDING UP BECAUSE OF IT BEING IN THE FLOOD ZONE, WE ARE PROVIDING FOR FLOODPLAIN MITIGATION.
SO THERE WILL BE AN EXPANDED AREA OF SOME EARTHWORK AND GRADING THAT WILL ACCOUNT FOR THAT.
AND THAT HAS ALL BEEN REVIEWED BY THE SUBDIVISION ENGINEERING.
WITH REGARDS OF TRAFFIC-- LIKE I SAID, I DID MENTION EARLIER THAT THIS USED TO BE A SCHOOL WITH ABOUT 800 STUDENTS, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE OPERATING AT ABOUT HALF CAPACITY WITH THE HOPES OF BRINGING THAT BACK TO FULL CAPACITY.
ALSO, WE ARE WORKING WITH A PRIVATE THIRD-PARTY TRAFFIC CONSULTANT THAT IS HELPING US WITH TRAFFIC CALCULATIONS.
AND WE HAVE ALSO SET UP A MEETING WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERS IN THE PENNINGTON FOR THIS WEEK JUST TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AND WHAT EXACTLY WE NEED TO DO TO ADHERE TO ANY REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE COMMISSIONERS FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR FOR-- COMMISSIONER BATTS? MASON BATTS: YEAH, WHOEVER SPOKE SECOND, COULD YOU COME BACK UP? TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NOT ALLOWING THE CARPOOLERS TO LINE UP AND HAVE TO LINE UP ON THE STREET.
KERRY KOPCSO: SO THEY HAVE GATES OUT FRONT.
RUNNELS USED TO LET THE PARENTS IN, AND THEY WOULD CARPOOL ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK INTO A BIG, HUGE PARKING LOT.
SO THEY CLOSED THE GATES AND THEY WOULD NOT LET THE PARENTS IN.
SO THE PARENTS WOULD PHYSICALLY LINE UP DOWN HARRELL'S FERRY ROAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD, AND THEN THEY START ALL THE WAY AT THE FIRE STATION.
MASON BATTS: IS IT STILL ONGOING THAT WAY? KERRY KOPCSO: NO SO THEY OPENED THE GATES AND THEY'RE ALLOWING THEM IN-- TRICKLING IN A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME NOW.
MASON BATTS: HAS THAT HELPED WITH YOUR TRAFFIC? KERRY KOPCSO: TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YES.
IT KEEPS THEM OUT OF THE FRONT YARD AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY NOW.
MASON BATTS: SO-- OK, ALL RIGHT.
COULD THE APPLICANT COME BACK UP? SO I MEAN, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? WHAT IS THE REASON, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THAT THEY WOULDN'T LET THE CARPOOLERS? BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE AN EASY FIX TO THESE GUYS' PROBLEMS AND KIND OF HELP Y'ALL GET THIS DONE.
SO I AM NOT AWARE OF THAT SITUATION.
HOWEVER, FOR THE CUP APPLICATION, WE DID SUBMIT A CARPOOL PLAN THAT WAS REVIEWED BY PLANNING AND ZONING-- THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND SUBDIVISION ENGINEERING.
SO THE CARPOOL PLAN SHOULD BE IN THERE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE CARS COMING THROUGH.
THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THEM GO AROUND THE BACK PARKING LOT AND THEN COMING BACK OUT THE OTHER WAY.
HOWEVER, LIKE I SAID, THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING TO DETERMINE-- MASON BATTS: SO YOU'RE SAYING TODAY THAT THEY WON'T BE LINING UP IN THE STREET ANYMORE, NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN THE PROPERTY UNTIL 3 O'CLOCK ACCORDING TO THAT PLAN? ALFREDO PORTILLO: WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T SPEAK EXACTLY FOR THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE TIME.
BUT THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE CURRENT CARPOOL LANES THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF THEY HAD ANY COMMENTS, WE WOULD HEAR FROM THEM AND WE WOULD ADDRESS THOSE COMMENTS.
MASON BATTS: OK, WHAT ABOUT THE-- I THINK ONE OF THEM ASKED FOR-- AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ASKING FOR MUCH.
ONE OF THEM-- COMMUNITY MEETING.
WOULD YOU GUYS BE OPEN TO THAT? ALFREDO PORTILLO: WE CAN CERTAINLY ADDRESS THIS WITH THE OWNER.
MASON BATTS: YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY PRETTY HELPFUL.
I THINK ON OUR SIDE, I'M GOING TO CALL FRED RAIFORD.
SEEMS LIKE Y'ALL MIGHT NEED A TURN LANE TO HELP Y'ALL OUT.
I THINK Y'ALL CAN PROBABLY COME TO A GOOD RESOLUTION ON THIS.
JUST MAYBE WAIT 30 DAYS, I THINK.
[01:15:02]
WOULD YOU GUYS-- IS THAT GOING TO PUT Y'ALL REALLY BEHIND SCHEDULE IF WE WAIT 30 DAYS? ALFREDO PORTILLO: NOT REALLY.I THINK WE CAN-- YEAH, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
MASON BATTS: ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THAT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
RYAN HOLCOMB: SO I WILL ADD COMMUNITY MEETING IS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO ALLEVIATE SOME CONCERNS.
BUT THERE ARE DETAILED STIPULATIONS, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT ARE TIED TO THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO HEAR THIS TONIGHT OR DEFER IT IN 30 DAYS, ONE SUCH STIPULATION IS A REQUIRED TURN LANE ON SOUTH HARRELL'S FERRY PER SPECIFIC DETAILED STIPULATIONS BY FRED'S OFFICE AND CINDY.
THEY ALSO ARE REQUIRING A DETAILED CARPOOL PLAN THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT.
AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A PHONE CALL TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE GATE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE PAST.
SO THAT CAN VERY MUCH BE TIED TO ANY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN THE FUTURE IF THESE ISSUES AREN'T WORKED OUT.
ALFREDO PORTILLO: AND I HAVE A QUESTION.
WOULD I GET ANY NOTES ON THIS OR ANY KIND OF FOLLOW-UP JUST SO I CAN KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR-- MASON BATTS: WELL, I THINK IF YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE FOLKS WHO SPOKE, I THINK YOU-- I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANYTHING TOO MUCH.
I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY IN A GOOD SPOT.
JUST, I THINK HE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS RIGHT THERE.
HE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU-- MR. HOLCOMB-- GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP THOSE GENTLEMEN OUT.
IF YOU CONTACT OUR OFFICE, I'LL HAVE MY STAFF GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU, AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP TOMORROW.
ALFREDO PORTILLO: OK, THANK YOU.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR A DEFERRAL FOR 30 DAYS FOR THIS ITEM.
SECOND? SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER COLEMAN.
DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR OPPOSITION? CAROLYN COLEMAN: I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU MAKE SURE-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE THE PERSON, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE CIVIL ENGINEER.
CAROLYN COLEMAN: YEAH, LET'S JUST BE REAL HERE.
AND SO-- AND THE TRAFFIC CONSULTANTS AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THEY ARE THE CONSTITUENTS.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT'S REQUESTING THE MEETING.
AND SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO BACK AND YOU TELL THE FOLKS AT THE SCHOOL THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITH THEM.
AND THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WITHIN THE 30 DAYS, SO THAT WHEN YOU ALL COME BACK HERE, THEN ALL OF THIS GONNA BE SETTLED AND EVERYTHING GONNA BE GOOD.
RYAN HOLCOMB: AND THE DATE OF THAT MEETING IN 30 DAYS OR NEXT MONTH IS NOVEMBER 16.
CLIFFORD GROUT: SO THE MOTION IS STILL ON THE FLOOR.
ANY OBJECTION? SEEING NONE, THAT MOTION FOR DEFERMENT CARRIES.
RYAN HOLCOMB: MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, JUST A FEW THINGS
[DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS ]
TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.FIRST AND FOREMOST, A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER FOWLER, WHO I BELIEVE CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY LATER THIS MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR.
NEXT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 11 FOR VETERANS DAY.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16.
CLIFFORD GROUT: ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS.
[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS ]
FIRST COMMENT IS, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANNETTE CHAMBLISS, THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT WHO WAS SELECTED AS OUR LATEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.ANNETTE WORKS TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION WHILE ALSO FUNCTIONING AS THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE.
SHE HANDLES THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, INCLUDING PAYROLL AND PURCHASING.
ANNETTE GIVES FREQUENT UPDATES TO STAFF REGARDING CITY PARISH PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE PLANNING STAFF STAY CURRENT AS THINGS CHANGE.
HER ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN DEALING WITH THOSE INTERNAL POLICIES.
SHE IS ALSO A LEAD STAFF MEMBER WHO ANNUALLY UPDATES THE OFFICE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.
FOR HER EFFORTS TO KEEP ALL STAFF ON TRACK, CONGRATULATIONS, ANNETTE.
[APPLAUSE] ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? COMMISSIONER BATTS, AND COMMISSIONER ADDISON SECOND.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.