[{"_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",6457758,"mediaKeyId","5837095-531aea699a8895697a981504cd0f4f3b","parentId",5837095,"title","Livingston Parish Council approves R‑2 rezoning for Old LA Highway 16 parcel after heated debate","audioSeconds",2661,"startMs",1502000,"endMs",4163000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837095-531aea699a8895697a981504cd0f4f3b&start=1502&end=4163","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837095-531aea699a8895697a981504cd0f4f3b/thumbnail_1502000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457758/Livingston-Parish/Louisiana/Livingston-Parish-Council-approves-R2-rezoning-for-Old-LA-Highway-16-parcel-after-heated-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457758-2bc920b9846b5c62c596ce9f437c2902/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122228&Signature=D9IlyFeRf~LcJkQhpuYOLBI02Za5zLwEcXBEmS~T7jsmujO0NziRPQuR6Rr1OFSRrI5lmziPlXdfMlBkxuOLAI97duX9vEDFiCeg67FFnUvYNr9etrZDAmSx7acXJn~kya7dR7j-1sa8qDqnU-J9Jr8X6VpA7OpUEdwTFvtv2Im~X4lniFHes1mWT2NGb8iOvi1XxiipMzN5nHT4pFcPJbSl96LlPZyUrZCRcoJsiD08FS1ZTMKwQmstQJUvnA94jVRJjOs9oBDXfYN-tgXPOUKRngYiCNrCdXg1Kr9fPhHmocID~g859iOiuM5NOZr1bSqKVCoKoslByzPVzoAl4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Livingston Parish, LA","date","2025-09-27T00:47:44.183Z","article","The Livingston Parish Council voted 5–4 on Sept. 25 to rezone a 27‑acre parcel at 35576 Old LA Highway 16 (parcel 0025494) from agriculture/commercial to R‑2 residential, allowing higher‑density housing development on the property.

Planning staff had recommended approval at the parish Planning and Zoning Commission and the item came to the council after that recommendation. The rezone request prompted a lengthy public discussion and a divided council vote. Councilman Ricky Goff moved to approve rezoning to R‑2; Councilman Watts seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 yeses and 4 nos on the final roll call.

Residents who live near the parcel urged the council to deny the R‑2 rezoning, saying the area’s roads and schools could not absorb more traffic. “We urge you to consider the long term well‑being and stability of our community and deny this rezoning request,” resident Linda Garafola told the council, citing property values and neighborhood character. Christie Guilford, another nearby resident, told council members that temporary mobile‑home waivers used after the 2016 floods should not be treated as permanent solutions: “Mobile home waivers were a good thing to do in 2016, but the flood is over,” she said.

Property owner Brian Fontenot spoke in favor of the rezoning. He said R‑2 would best suit his family’s plans and pointed to surrounding parcels he said were already zoned for higher density. He told the council he sought flexibility for his family’s future use of the land.

Council members voiced competing priorities in the debate. Opponents focused on traffic and public‑safety concerns tied to nearby schools and intersections; supporters said the property’s current designations looked inconsistent with surrounding land and that some form of residential zoning was appropriate. Legal counsel reminded the council that zoning decisions must be grounded in public‑health and safety findings and must not deprive property owners of an economic use of their land.

After discussion, the council adopted the R‑2 zoning change. The vote was close: the motion to approve R‑2 passed with five in favor and four opposed. The council did not include specific conditions in the motion; any subsequent development will be required to meet applicable subdivision, drainage and road‑access rules.

The parcel and surrounding area remained the subject of differing interpretations of the parish’s future‑land‑use maps during the hearing, and several council members expressed frustration about inconsistencies between mapped categories and on‑the‑ground lot sizes. Planning staff explained that some map categories (including a “mixed use” label discussed at the public meeting) include multiple zoning types and that applicants/owners may still need to present site plans for higher‑density development.

With the council’s vote, the ordinance amending the zoning for parcel 0025494 will proceed under the council’s normal ordinance process. Council members suggested there may be additional follow‑up between the property owner, planning staff and the affected neighborhoods to address traffic, drainage and school access questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Livingston Parish Council 9 25 25","oneSentenceSummary","On Sept. 25 the Livingston Parish Council voted 5–4 to rezone a parcel on Old LA Highway 16 (parcel 0025494) from agricultural/commercial designations to R‑2 residential, a decision that residents opposed over traffic and neighborhood character concerns.","taxTitle","Livingston Parish, Louisiana","taxId",12941,"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},6457753,"Livingston Parish Council introduces $91.29 million bond ordinance, approves hazard‑mitigation property acquisitions and adopts telecom and subdivision rule‑amx",3748,716000,4464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837095-531aea699a8895697a981504cd0f4f3b&start=716&end=4464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837095-531aea699a8895697a981504cd0f4f3b/thumbnail_716000.jpg","/articles/6457753/Livingston-Parish/Louisiana/Livingston-Parish-Council-introduces-9129-million-bond-ordinance-approves-hazardmitigation-property-acquisitions-and-adopts-telecom-and-subdivision-ruleamx","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457753-73ceb5beeabb25ebf8b310eb85d4ed1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122228&Signature=E0a-REwOtp~1uH95LolkVJAXM4gyDidB9C-Ihbiu5wsmPdHjwEJ7DCv1RBCnND3ZXysnIG21-uOGINVCKq5vWBvD0XaeqTfnwJPU0Aeo1FbcqpLzMArayZytwlDoEYnTTalWDZlEVPv37UNCs7sv2sPmk61wktG0Y8~gXU4kqhwXYPwYAibBmLm9X4rtZtHMP6cqErrkOh54lVjszZVQDPqGZtRrDXLNp506sL8uBnY0KrAWWqYhiyS1H-ebPTjoctHbXdyCryhqO3ER7COPDSfCxQRVda6yzgga8QQih3quDR9Sbc3l54iN8MMtbn919KagG8VnphVZEFtu7SutxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Sept. 25 meeting the Livingston Parish Council moved several administrative, funding and regulatory items forward.

Introduction of bond ordinance: The council introduced proposed ordinance 25‑22, which would authorize the issuance of sales‑tax revenue bonds not to exceed $91,290,000. The measure was presented as an introduction; a public hearing on the ordinance was scheduled for Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. and no final sale or adoption occurred at the Sept. 25 meeting.

Waivers and resolutions: The council adopted a resolution authorizing a waiver of a building‑line requirement for Creekstone Juban 1 LLC (Juban Crossing Boulevard, Council District 4). Council members said the development will be served by a future four‑lane highway and the waiver was approved unanimously.

Hazard Mitigation Grant property acquisitions: The council introduced and, in some cases, adopted multiple ordinances to acquire movable property under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (project FEMA‑4277‑DR‑LA‑0131 for Livingston Parish). The clerk read several proposed ordinances listing homeowners and addresses; the council noted that the buyouts were 100% FEMA funded with no local match required. Several of those items passed unanimously or were introduced with public hearings set for Oct. 9 at 6 p.m.

Telecommunications ordinance: The council held a public hearing and adopted LP Ordinance 25‑20 to amend chapter 130 of the parish code regulating telecommunication towers. AT&T and other carriers had urged the council to preserve a process to seek variances if strict checklist criteria cannot be met. Parish legal counsel explained the ordinance was drafted to minimize council involvement in waiver decisions because federal law creates an expedited judicial process for tower‑related disputes; the ordinance instead establishes objective standards and narrow exceptions that rely on landowner or road‑authority consent when safety/road setbacks are implicated. The ordinance passed (eight in favor, one abstention).

Planning and subdivision rules: The council introduced the 2025 master plan (proposed ordinance 25‑26) for public hearing on Oct. 23, and adopted multiple amendments to minor subdivision procedures and drainage review timelines. The planning code amendments increased certain review windows and adjusted signage/submittal rules for minor subdivisions; council members voted to amend and adopt the changes at this meeting.

Other routine votes: The council ratified an appointment to the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, adopted minutes and approved several other waivers, including a 575‑square‑foot addition to the St. Joseph Catholic Church mausoleum (Council District 8) and a three‑acre subdivision waiver for a family lot in a named subdivision.

Many of the bond and ordinance introductions were marked as introductions only, with public hearings scheduled at future meetings. Several items that required council action on the night of Sept. 25 passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Introduction: Proposed ordinance 25‑22 — sales tax revenue bonds, up to $91,290,000; public hearing Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. (introduction only)
- Resolution: Waiver of building line for Creekstone Juban 1 LLC (Juban Crossing Blvd., District 4) — adopted unanimously
- Ordinances (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program acquisitions) — proposed ordinances read for multiple properties under FEMA‑4277‑DR‑LA‑0131; council noted 100% FEMA funding and no local match; multiple passed or scheduled for Oct. 9 public hearing
- LP Ordinance 25‑20 — telecom code amendments; adopted (8 yes, 1 abstain)
- Minor subdivision amendments — amended and adopted (unanimous)
- St. Joseph Catholic Church mausoleum addition waiver — adopted unanimously

Clerks and staff noted public‑hearing dates and that items introduced will return for final adoption or additional review as required.","At its Sept. 25 meeting the Livingston Parish Council introduced a proposed $91,290,000 sales‑tax revenue bond ordinance, approved several hazard‑mitigation property acquisitions (100% FEMA funding) and adopted a revised telecommunications ordinance and minor‑subdivision amendments; several administrative waivers also passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

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Livingston Parish Council approves R‑2 rezoning for Old LA Highway 16 parcel after heated debate

Livingston Parish Council introduces $91.29 million bond ordinance, approves hazard‑mitigation property acquisitions and adopts telecom and subdivision rule‑amx