Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning And Moratoriums topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parish council extends moratoriums in District 9, reintroduces Ward 8 moratorium amid zoning concerns
Summary
Council reintroduced and adopted multiple moratorium ordinances to pause certain planning submissions in specified areas and postponed a contested rezoning after residents questioned survey accuracy; the measures aim to allow additional review of infrastructure and map corrections.
The Saint Tammany Parish Council on Feb. 5 reintroduced and adopted moratorium ordinances aimed at pausing certain subdivision, rezoning and permitting activity while the parish reviews infrastructure and map accuracy.
Councilmember Coogel asked the council to reintroduce Ordinance calendar 8046 to extend a six‑month moratorium on planning submissions and certain permits for a defined area in Ward 8/District 9, citing continued infrastructure and drainage concerns in that area (SEG 1849–1860). The council agreed to reintroduce the ordinance for further review.
Separately, the council adopted a six‑month moratorium within Council District 9 as described in Ordinance calendar 8030. The moratorium restricts rezoning, subdivisions/resubdivisions, and certain residential density increases and related construction or placement in District 9 while staff and council members examine policy and infrastructure implications. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous with three members absent (SEG 2264–2310).
A separate zoning reclassification item for a parcel on Bennett Bridge Road in Folsom was pulled after a resident, Keith Genovon, told the council that the survey attached to the proposal was outdated and that the parcel acreage had been misstated; he asked that the council postpone action because the zoning board had acted on what he called misinformation (SEG 1877–1968). The council voted to postpone the Folsom item to allow staff and members to resolve the survey discrepancy.
Council members framed the moratoriums as a tool to allow staff time to address drainage, infrastructure and map consistency before permitting higher densities. Supporters emphasized correcting errors and avoiding unfair burdens on property owners; opponents warned about fee waivers and fiscal impacts when items are sent to planning and zoning. The council referred several parcel reclassifications to the zoning commission and discussed whether fee waivers associated with those referrals were appropriate (SEG 2462–2679).
What happens next: the moratoriums will remain in effect for six months from their effective date to allow the parish to continue reviewing planning, infrastructure and zoning details, and postponed rezoning items will return after staff verifies survey and map information.
