Residents, council members spar over proposed townhome rezonings along Jubin Road; planning commission sends split recommendations to council

The Livingston Parish Planning Commission forwarded two rezonings along Jubin Road to the parish council after lengthy public comment and divided votes, leaving decisions about whether to allow townhome-style development there to the council.

The requests (case 25-18, a 1,700-foot-deep tract at 27008 Jubin Road; and case 25-20, a nearby 26844 Jubin Road parcel) would change frontage zoning from light commercial (C-1) to R-4 (residential, allowing two‑family, duplex and single‑family attached structures such as row houses or townhomes). The commission’s recommendations were split and each item will appear on the council agenda for final action.

Why it matters: Jubin Road is the site of an ongoing state roadway upgrade and a proposed hospital campus. Supporters of commercial zoning and some neighbors said the C-1 designation better matches the parish master plan and would produce more enduring tax revenue and services. Applicants and other speakers argued that the narrow, 400-foot commercial frontages with very deep lots make larger commercial development infeasible, and that R-4 townhomes are a more realistic “highest and best” use.

Owners and applicants described development plans and constraints. Johnny Lucas, who identified himself as the property owner of the 27008 Jubin Road parcel, said he and his family have been negotiating with a residential/townhome developer for about four years and asked the commission to rezone his tract to R-4 so the project could move forward. "I'm just asking y'all to please take it from the commercial status that it is now to R-4," Lucas said. His son, Olin Lucas, said the family’s frontage has been reduced by a convenience store and that a neighboring tract has already been approved for townhomes.

Residents and neighborhood representatives testified in opposition. Jonathan Davis, president of the Livingston Trace homeowners association, cited a state statute by number as he urged caution: "Revised statute 33 4 7 2 3 ... this regulation shall be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen the congestion in the public streets," Davis said, urging the commission to weigh traffic and pedestrian safety.

Council members and local officials also weighed in. Ryan Shavers, parish councilman for the Watson area, said he supports one owner's request when the road project is complete but, speaking to infrastructure concerns, Aaron Sandefer, the parish council representative for the district, told the commission that "the infrastructure cannot support multifamily" at present and said he would not support additional multifamily-type rezonings until capacity issues are addressed. Sandefer and other officials repeatedly pointed to the ongoing Jubin Road widening project and to anticipated further capacity projects in the parish master plan.

Planning staff and consultants were cited repeatedly. Commissioners referenced the parish master plan and work by consultant WSP; several speakers and commissioners said the master plan designates parts of the I-12/US-190 corridor as an economic core where a mix of commercial and higher-density residential is envisioned, while others said R-4 is medium density and may not match the master-plan commercial intent for this precise frontage.

Commission action and next steps: For case 25-18 the commission recorded a tied recommendation and the item will go to the parish council with that tie noted in the minutes. For case 25-20 the commission likewise produced a split recommendation and forwarded the item to the council. Both items will be scheduled for council consideration; the planning commission’s role at this meeting was advisory.

Concerns to watch: speakers raised traffic congestion on Jubin and Buddy Ellis roads, emergency access to the proposed hospital site across the interstate, power reliability, drainage and flood risk as development progresses, and the difference in public impact between commercial development (which can generate daytime traffic and sales tax) and medium-density residential (which can increase residential trip peaks). Planning staff noted that if rezoning is approved, subsequent site‑level planning and drainage/traffic studies would be required before building permits could be issued.

The pensioned-out developers, existing preliminary townhome project (Oakview by Tower Capital) and DOTD’s timetable for completing Jubin Road were frequently invoked during testimony; several speakers urged the commission and council to time approvals relative to road improvements. The commission’s recommendation concludes this stage of the zoning process; final decisions and any conditions will come from the parish council.