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Council grants temporary residential exception for 3417 Maplewood Drive limited to named occupant
Summary
The Sulphur City Council approved an exception allowing a single-family residence at 3417 Maplewood Drive in a business district for the named occupant, with a stipulation that the property will revert to business use if the occupant moves out.
The Sulphur City Council voted Oct. 14 to grant an exception allowing residential occupancy at 3417 Maplewood Drive, a property located in a business zoning corridor, limited to the named occupant, Jessica Cart.
Why it matters: The council said the exception is narrowly tailored to the present circumstance — to permit the property owner’s daughter to live in the building — and that it will not change the underlying zoning for the parcel. If the named occupant moves out, the exception will not remain in force and the property will be returned to business designation unless the owner requests and the council grants a separate exception or a rezoning.
Council discussion and public comment
Ron Cart, who identified himself as a Sulphur resident since 1968, told the council he previously operated two small businesses from the building at Maplewood Drive and that he has since converted the space back to a single residence to house his daughter. He said utility billing will be consolidated to a single residential meter. Cart said his daughter is in “desperate need of a place to live” and that he prefers the property be used as a residence.
City staff and council members clarified the scope of the exception. “If we allow this exception … it’s not a continuous exception. It’s for this particular property,” City staff explained during the hearing. Council members confirmed the language will be amended to name the occupant and to state that the property will revert to business use if the named occupant moves out. The petitioner acknowledged that to make the property a permanent residence would require rezoning.
Vote and outcome
The council approved the motion, as amended, to limit the exception to allow Jessica Cart to reside at 3417 Maplewood Drive; if she moves out the property will revert to business use absent a new exception or rezoning. The approval followed a motion, a second and a roll-call vote recorded by the clerk.
What remains
The council directed that the ordinance language be amended to reflect the stipulation naming the occupant and the reversion clause. Council members and staff said any future request to change the property's zoning status would require a separate application and council action.
Ending
The approval grants a short-term solution for the named occupant while preserving the city's long-term zoning objectives along the business corridor.
