Council approves rezoning at 535 Saint Rose after mixed public comment

The Baton Rouge City Council approved a rezoning of 535 Saint Rose Avenue from Single-Family Residential A2 to Neighborhood Office (NO) after public comment that split neighborhood residents and business supporters.

The rezoning, moved by Councilwoman Harris and seconded by Councilman Dunn Jr., allows parking as a principal use under the NO district; Councilwoman Coleman recorded the lone vote in opposition and the motion carried. The item had previously been considered by the Planning Commission in an earlier application that was recommended for approval but denied at a later council meeting.

The matter drew several speakers. Brett Jones, who identified himself as a tenant and operator of the adjacent Barracuda Taco Stand, told the council the lot frequently functioned as a de facto parking area after a blighted structure was removed and that designating it for parking would “alleviate a significant portion” of parking friction for the restaurant and neighborhood. “This zoning change is not just a request for a parking lot. It's an opportunity for continued growth and revitalization in this community,” Jones said.

Gene Todaro, a nearby resident, expressed support as a neighbor and said the lot’s proximity to the restaurant made it appropriate for parking use.

Opposing the rezoning, Justin Kozak, president of the Garden District Civic Association, said the association represents “hundreds of member households” and opposed the rezoning on that basis. Kozak argued the lot’s small size makes it unlikely to solve parking issues and that the property owner had not done sufficient due diligence or taken previous opportunities to improve sidewalk or curb delineation. He cited the Unified Development Code (UDC) in arguing the lot appeared smaller than minimum neighborhood-office lot requirements and noted a 15‑foot vegetated buffer requirement between parking lots and incompatible uses. Kozak said a realistic estimate for the site would be six spaces or a net gain of four spaces after losing on‑street spots for the lot entrance.

City staff clarified the request at the council table. Ryan (staff member) said this was a rezoning request—not a variance—and that Neighborhood Office is the UDC district that would, if approved, allow parking as a principal use. He said parking requirements would be determined later by the permit office based on the specific business use and square footage, and that the property lies inside an Overlay District that carries additional design standards and incentives intended to encourage redevelopment along Government Street.

Council members noted community outreach and correspondence. Ryan reported 19 messages in support and three in opposition at the Planning Commission stage and, for this council meeting, 77 comments in support and zero opposition submitted through the council’s comment portal. Councilwoman Harris said she had spoken with Fred Raiford, who she said assured her he would coordinate on sidewalk and beautification work near the site.

The council voted to approve the rezoning. No formal conditions or amendments were recorded in the meeting minutes. There was discussion about sidewalks and wayfinding as mitigation for pedestrian safety on the narrow portion of Saint Rose, but the council did not adopt a specific direction to require immediate sidewalk construction as part of the rezoning vote.

The approval changes the parcel’s permitted use set and enables a future permit process to determine exact parking counts and site compliance with Overlay District standards. The item was discussed as part of the meeting’s land‑use agenda and followed established planning and permitting steps for redevelopment in the Government Street corridor.