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Consultants outline comment opportunities, amendment rules and hearing schedule for Livingston master plan
Summary
Consultants reviewed outreach to date, polling results on how residents prefer to be notified, and the procedures for minor and major amendments to the draft master plan; they listed three remaining public hearings in October and invited written comments via project contacts.
Consultants told attendees the Livingston Parish draft master plan is a public document and described several remaining opportunities for comment and the formal processes to change the plan.
Mickie Taylor Hendricks, the project engagement lead, and Nathan Lipson of WSP described outreach to date: multiple in-person public meetings at libraries and schools, three meetings focused on the 2025 zoning update, four meetings focused on the master plan, yard signs, a project Facebook page, email notices, and a public survey that was open for roughly four months. Lipson said the team received approximately 500 survey responses and public comments.
The consultants outlined the amendment process. They said major amendments — for example ones prompted by a major economic shift, a regional transportation project that materially changes land-use needs, or other substantial drivers — must be initiated by the parish and require robust public engagement. Minor amendments (typos, map display corrections, single-parcel fixes due to assessor errors) can be handled administratively. Applicant-initiated amendments to the future land-use map or a rezoning request will be reviewed administratively by the planning department and then considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission and council if they rise to the level of map or code changes.
Upcoming hearings: consultants said the council will introduce the plan at a council meeting next Thursday, the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a special meeting on Oct. 7 dedicated to the master plan, and the council’s final consideration is scheduled for Oct. 23. The consultants encouraged attendees to submit comments by email (they provided a project contact via chat) and to attend the hearings.
The team also ran a live poll during the webinar. Respondents (13 attendees present at the time) favored weekday evenings for meetings and preferred notification by social media and email. Many respondents reported they would be very likely to attend future meetings and wanted frequent opportunities for input.
Ending: Consultants reiterated that the draft remains editable before council adoption, described how to submit comments, and urged residents to use the three scheduled hearings and email contact to review and request specific changes.
