Council reviews rezoning for proposed mobile-home park; site plan deferred for staff review

The New Iberia City Council took up an ordinance to rezone a parcel at the corner of West Pershing Street and South LaSalle Street to R-6 Mobile Home Park District, heard public opposition and a developer presentation, and deferred the formal site-plan decision to allow staff review.

The rezoning request from Edmond Construction Company LLC was the subject of public comment, longtime resident Benjamin Myers, who told the council he and several neighbors opposed mobile homes on the property, saying the project would be “a shanty town” and would “depreciate the value of our properties” in the vicinity. Myers said residents had taken the matter to the planning and zoning commission, which did not record a recommendation on the request.

Supporters of the project, including the applicant, described design and tenant controls they said would make the proposed community different from older trailer parks. The applicant told the council that the $500-per-month rent figure circulated at a prior meeting was inaccurate and that the developer expects to retain ownership of the 20 units in the first phase. The applicant said the units and skirting would be selected to give a…