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Council advances package of planning-code changes: site-specific master plans, subdivision rules, mobile-home waiver removal
Summary
The council introduced several planning and zoning ordinance amendments to require site-specific master plans in some R-5 situations, revise multifamily/PUD procedures, update minor-subdivision requirements for drainage and traffic studies, and remove the parish's mobile-home waiver list. Public hearings were scheduled.
The Livingston Parish Council on Aug. 14 introduced a bundle of planning and zoning code amendments covering multifamily/PUD procedures, site-specific master plans, minor-subdivision rules and the parish's mobile-home waiver list.
Parish attorney Steve Irving explained the core elements during the meeting. On site-specific master plans he told the council the draft text is intended to "give the council the option to require a site specific master plan" in zoning circumstances where it is appropriate, and to provide a formal procedure for review. "If someone comes in with and wants to do R-5, to protect the tax base of the parish and to make best use of the economic corridor, if someone wants to rezone to R-5 in that area, they would be required to submit a site specific master plan," Irving said; the proposed procedures were introduced as proposed ordinance 25-18 (public hearing Oct. 23).
The council also introduced an ordinance to add purpose and procedural language for R-5 multifamily/PUD development (proposed ordinance 25-17), and a separate ordinance creating a procedures section for review of site-specific master plans where required (proposed ordinance 25-18). Irving and planning staff said the measures are intended to ensure large multiuse developments proceed according to an agreed master plan rather than as piecemeal rezoning.
Separately, the council introduced changes to subdivision regulations that would require a drainage and traffic impact study for minor subdivisions of seven lots or more and clarify that subsequent subdivisions of a parent tract beyond an initial approved set would trigger additional reviews (proposed ordinance 25-19; public hearing Aug. 28). Council members said the change responds to cases where multiple small subdivisions over time effectively created a major subdivision without the studies and infrastructure required for larger projects.
The council also introduced an ordinance (proposed 25-16) to remove a parish-maintained mobile-home waiver list that previously allowed some named subdivisions to accept mobile homes without case-by-case waivers. Planning staff said the waiver list has become obsolete and does not fit current zoning code structure; the introduction passed the council and a public hearing was set for Aug. 28. The motion to remove the list passed the council 7-1 (Councilman Watts voted no).
Most of the planning-related ordinances were introduced to the council and referred for public hearing and Planning & Zoning review. Council members emphasized the proposals will not automatically change existing parcel zoning; individual rezones or development applications still must come through the established public-notice and planning-review process.
