Livingston Parish review committee to rework proposal to restore 'economic corridor' to master plan

Members of the Livingston Parish Master Plan Review Committee discussed restoring an "economic corridor" designation to the parish's comprehensive master plan at their Oct. 6 meeting, but agreed to pare the proposal and reintroduce it to the Planning and Zoning Commission in smaller pieces.

The discussion centered on a recommendation originally drafted by the master plan that listed a wide range of preferred uses — from industrial parks and manufacturing to mixed-use development and high-density residential. "What it was was a recommendation from the master plan for the economic corridor for the comprehensive master plan, and it wanted to include but not limited to industrial parks, manufacturing, major warehouses, retail centers, training centers, mixed use development schools, and high density living," said Miss Beatrice, summarizing the earlier draft.

The committee said the Planning and Zoning Commission did not formally reject the recommendation but did not have time at an earlier marathon meeting to work through a broad, detailed proposal. "It was a big gulp of legislation ... we tried to get too big of a bite," said Mister Brian. Committee members said the presentation at the planning meeting — which coincided with busy rezoning discussions — left little appetite to take on a sweeping overlay.

Committee members proposed several specific changes before reintroducing the idea to planning. Mister Bridal said the group would "reprioritize that listing to put economic development part ahead" of other items and present the concept in "manageable slices," with a 1–5 priority ranking rather than a single long list. Committee members discussed removing or softening regulatory-sounding language to make the corridor appear as an encouragement of targeted investment rather than a restriction on other uses.

No formal action was taken at the meeting to adopt or send a revised draft back to planning. Members agreed that staff or committee volunteers would revise the draft language and prepare renditions to show "as we proceed into the first year," Bridal said. The committee also noted that the new master plan being presented to Planning and Zoning the next day did not include an economic-corridor section, which would require substantial rewriting if the committee chooses to reinstate it.

The committee did not vote on the concept at the Oct. 6 meeting but signaled it intends to continue work on a pared, prioritized proposal and resubmit it to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration.