Tangipahoa Parish Council on Dec. 8 introduced a proposed ordinance that would impose a temporary moratorium of up to 120 days on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications under Article 9 of Chapter 26 of the Tangipahoa Parish Code related to halfway houses, addictive disorder treatment facilities, juvenile detention facilities, live-in mental health facilities, sober living homes and homeless shelters.

The sponsor said the item was placed on the agenda after a number of inquiries and noted similar action under consideration in the city of Hammond. The sponsor said the parish attorney and a named consultant (Desire Line) are reviewing ordinances used in other parishes and that the DRC will consider the matter; council introduced the ordinance at the request of the sponsor and voted to introduce the moratorium ordinance (roll call passed 10–0).

Council explicitly characterized this action as an introduction to allow time for staff and counsel to review and for the DRC to consider ordinance language; the council did not adopt a moratorium policy on the floor during this meeting. Implementation, scope, and any exceptions would be determined through subsequent DRC review and future council action if the moratorium is adopted.