[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6672744,"mediaKeyId","2117120-4c17d598954e25dbaba6a79b50354475","parentId",2117120,"title","Council approves rezoning at 535 Saint Rose after mixed public comment","audioSeconds",614,"startMs",138000,"endMs",752000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117120-4c17d598954e25dbaba6a79b50354475&start=138&end=752","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117120-4c17d598954e25dbaba6a79b50354475/thumbnail_138000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6672744/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Council-approves-rezoning-at-535-Saint-Rose-after-mixed-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672744-b96fd78dc9d4d0c2e4ef5e3da7fa7f9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775171767&Signature=VdszetQrALZRsaGImXN7aHYP93Vv4jJZSZ4OxUjgyyDr2zzGkzcRnM3p7GwxPgzX4jgMiniBAwGpWPlAKH4bcbW~a7W7BA7-KwRwmix9teJ6yuCEgIhmJcIY1tjmYHpi7Ul4FB9~08j1d7Xfhwbj-Z9xTxkwioikX0bXk-HwKdU7liLqOnkWIMVlFMmH1UAHeYwc6G7iDkvm2hWMorijTmiRjixwp1nBtZImqHCrgrTLwoH5Tn3Up6dBYOCO9utZjUPq80fr-AfESEJ9ERlZye7nhQcAIVzB87twLwc5-QJeenTAHeC0Nmy8OoOPeP1imUDUdfWeLUHH-Tg~Mm3xjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baton Rouge","date","2025-01-15T23:09:15.13Z","article","The Baton Rouge City Council approved a rezoning of 535 Saint Rose Avenue from Single-Family Residential A2 to Neighborhood Office (NO) after public comment that split neighborhood residents and business supporters.

The rezoning, moved by Councilwoman Harris and seconded by Councilman Dunn Jr., allows parking as a principal use under the NO district; Councilwoman Coleman recorded the lone vote in opposition and the motion carried. The item had previously been considered by the Planning Commission in an earlier application that was recommended for approval but denied at a later council meeting.

The matter drew several speakers. Brett Jones, who identified himself as a tenant and operator of the adjacent Barracuda Taco Stand, told the council the lot frequently functioned as a de facto parking area after a blighted structure was removed and that designating it for parking would “alleviate a significant portion” of parking friction for the restaurant and neighborhood. “This zoning change is not just a request for a parking lot. It's an opportunity for continued growth and revitalization in this community,” Jones said.

Gene Todaro, a nearby resident, expressed support as a neighbor and said the lot’s proximity to the restaurant made it appropriate for parking use.

Opposing the rezoning, Justin Kozak, president of the Garden District Civic Association, said the association represents “hundreds of member households” and opposed the rezoning on that basis. Kozak argued the lot’s small size makes it unlikely to solve parking issues and that the property owner had not done sufficient due diligence or taken previous opportunities to improve sidewalk or curb delineation. He cited the Unified Development Code (UDC) in arguing the lot appeared smaller than minimum neighborhood-office lot requirements and noted a 15‑foot vegetated buffer requirement between parking lots and incompatible uses. Kozak said a realistic estimate for the site would be six spaces or a net gain of four spaces after losing on‑street spots for the lot entrance.

City staff clarified the request at the council table. Ryan (staff member) said this was a rezoning request—not a variance—and that Neighborhood Office is the UDC district that would, if approved, allow parking as a principal use. He said parking requirements would be determined later by the permit office based on the specific business use and square footage, and that the property lies inside an Overlay District that carries additional design standards and incentives intended to encourage redevelopment along Government Street.

Council members noted community outreach and correspondence. Ryan reported 19 messages in support and three in opposition at the Planning Commission stage and, for this council meeting, 77 comments in support and zero opposition submitted through the council’s comment portal. Councilwoman Harris said she had spoken with Fred Raiford, who she said assured her he would coordinate on sidewalk and beautification work near the site.

The council voted to approve the rezoning. No formal conditions or amendments were recorded in the meeting minutes. There was discussion about sidewalks and wayfinding as mitigation for pedestrian safety on the narrow portion of Saint Rose, but the council did not adopt a specific direction to require immediate sidewalk construction as part of the rezoning vote.

The approval changes the parcel’s permitted use set and enables a future permit process to determine exact parking counts and site compliance with Overlay District standards. The item was discussed as part of the meeting’s land‑use agenda and followed established planning and permitting steps for redevelopment in the Government Street corridor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","EBR Metropolitan Council Meeting - January 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Baton Rouge City Council approved a rezoning of 535 Saint Rose Avenue from single‑family residential to Neighborhood Office after split public comment from neighbors and business supporters.","taxTitle","Baton Rouge City, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana","taxId",3708,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672739,"Council approves three land‑use items for Wood Dale Boulevard and Perkins Road",81,5000,86000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2117120-4c17d598954e25dbaba6a79b50354475&start=5&end=86","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2117120-4c17d598954e25dbaba6a79b50354475/thumbnail_5000.jpg","/articles/6672739/Baton-Rouge-City/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Council-approves-three-landuse-items-for-Wood-Dale-Boulevard-and-Perkins-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672739-49c85e5c7e0a525fcd1915302c31a6d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775171767&Signature=SMgATwuYSPBITrR2RDIPZvvlGAAFutQsLZsnhVpx4-zpHagM7DnGzFClLt1ebDYWCc0W5goDmDQNOXbuy~Cd71JH8Oao09WmXxOncmmUjl1Hhkfg5VHQb5HrmI7hVuhaQ0XLcrfMRpb5vS53nTtf-e9p1GuPeNkMhD7o1f5QQ5-dxTi2J~Hsz98SzOzPzTCCK~BCWCxjyNaVQ7R6WxWeWcFW-uAbphS5KPC5g1HoVu1qe11QMMMBL5BhvbEqmAhHSkbkZXGQT-HYHojvcdF3RHg9FhjQIMw--BeH18yzZw8qmhj0dpd3UNuSg9iB9ltx6-so-Qk8xwCKucBUJWTbWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Baton Rouge City Council approved three land‑use items on the meeting agenda: a comprehensive plan amendment for 1400–1500 Wood Dale Boulevard, a rezoning of a Wood Dale Boulevard parcel to allow commercial warehouse use, and a rezoning on Perkins Road to change single‑family residential to limited residential.

Item 1 (PA 724) amended the comprehensive land use plan for 1400–1500 Wood Dale Boulevard from Compact Neighborhood to Employment Center. The item was presented as located on the west side of Wood Dale Boulevard, south of Tom Drive in Council District 6; the council approved the amendment on a motion by Councilman Dunn Jr. and a second from Councilwoman Amorosa.

Item 2 (case 5324141500) requested rezoning at 1500 Wood Dale Boulevard from Light Commercial C1/LC1 to Light Commercial 3/LC3 to Commercial Warehouse 3; the council approved the rezoning after the motion by Councilman Dunn Jr. and second by Councilwoman Amorosa.

Item 3 (case 52247250) sought rezoning of a parcel on the south side of Perkins Road, west of Starring Lane in Council District 12, from Single‑Family Residential to Limited Residential. The commission recommended approval, and the council approved the item on a motion by Councilwoman Rocca with a second by Councilwoman Amorosa.

No members of the public spoke for or against Items 1–3 at the council meeting. Each item was noted as carrying on council vote. The items will proceed to permit and implementation steps as applicable under the Unified Development Code and the city’s permitting process.

Votes at a glance:
- PA 724 (1400–1500 Wood Dale Blvd): Amend comprehensive plan from Compact Neighborhood to Employment Center — Motion: approve (mover: Councilman Dunn Jr.; second: Councilwoman Amorosa) — Outcome: approved.
- Case 5324141500 (1500 Wood Dale Blvd): Rezone LC1 to LC3 / Commercial Warehouse 3 — Motion: approve (mover: Councilman Dunn Jr.; second: Councilwoman Amorosa) — Outcome: approved.
- Case 52247250 (Perkins Road): Rezone Single‑Family Residential to Limited Residential — Motion: approve (mover: Councilwoman Rocca; second: Councilwoman Amorosa) — Outcome: approved.

The council recorded these land‑use approvals on the meeting agenda; no recorded amendments, conditions, or public oppositions were noted for these three items during the meeting.","The Baton Rouge City Council approved three land‑use agenda items: a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning on Wood Dale Boulevard and a rezoning on Perkins Road. No public speakers appeared on the Wood Dale items; the Perkins Road rezoning drew no public opposition at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves rezoning at 535 Saint Rose after mixed public comment

Council approves three land‑use items for Wood Dale Boulevard and Perkins Road