Neighbors and officials clash over rezoning and parking at 1002 Orchard Park Drive

A proposal to rezone 1002 Orchard Park Drive in Breaux Bridge from R2 (mixed residential) to C2 (general commercial) to allow additional parking for Andy’s In the Glo Club set off an extended debate at the St. Martin Parish joint committee meeting on April 21.

Planning staff told the council the petition had been denied by the Planning & Zoning Commission on April 2 because the parcel is surrounded by residences. Owner Andrew Babineaux told the council the application was intended only to provide commercial parking tied to his existing business and said the lot would not be used for outside parties or amplified activity. “It's not going to be no outside activities, no patios, no loud music ... it's just going to be for the parking,” Babineaux said.

Neighbors and several council members raised safety and quality-of-life concerns. Residents testified that event parking and trail-ride traffic had blocked driveways, led to human waste and noise, and created safety risks on the narrow dead-end streets. One resident raised the fear that escalations could lead to violence: “there's some active one thing they're worried about too, we people coming on that lot, they might start shooting,” a speaker said during public comment.

Planning staff and council members discussed possible compromises: limiting signage to short stretches adjacent to homes rather than imposing blockwide no-parking, requiring privacy fencing and stipulations that would revert zoning on ownership or use changes, and allowing private parking with conditions to prevent commercialization beyond the stated purpose. Administration reported it had issued a certified cease-and-desist to the property owner for using the residential lot for commercial parking; the owner said he had not received certified paperwork and staff said they would follow up on service records.

Why it matters: The rezoning request pits a small-business owner seeking to expand onsite parking against a largely residential neighborhood that organized a petition reportedly with roughly 40 signatures opposing commercial expansion. Planning & Zoning recommended denial; several council members urged deference to that recommendation but others sought a compromise that could reduce street parking impacts while allowing Mr. Babineaux to operate with conditions.

Next steps: The council did not vote on the rezoning at the April 21 meeting and members discussed delaying a decision to the next meeting so they could review P&Z findings, enforcement records, and options for targeted no-parking signage or stipulations tied to rezoning. Administration said it would verify service of the cease-and-desist and bring back options for limited signage and possible zoning conditions.