Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Home Occupation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves notary home‑occupation at 421 Douglas Drive with driveway‑only parking
Summary
The Terrebonne Parish Zoning and Land Use Commission narrowly approved a conditional home‑occupation permit for a notary at 421 Douglas Drive after hearing neighbors’ complaints about traffic and strangers; conditions include driveway‑only parking, staggered appointments and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. operation, with enforcement complaint‑driven.
David Kaufman, who identified himself in the hearing as the applicant, asked the commission to permit a notary office at his home, 421 Douglas Drive, stressing that services would be by appointment only and that he would remove signs and limit foot traffic.
His presentation focused on maintaining the residential character of the street while providing access to a state‑commissioned notary public. Kaufman told the commission he can currently park about four vehicles on the property, plans to widen the driveway if approved and said his clients are typically seen two to four at a time, with a rare maximum of six for particular transactions.
Neighbors told a different story. Marilyn Bro, a longtime resident, said her family has invested decades in the neighborhood and urged the commission to deny the request because a regular stream of unfamiliar visitors would harm a quiet, single‑family area. Russell Gillot and other neighbors described vehicles stopping in the middle of the street, visitors loitering and vulgar language audible from adjacent homes. Bruce Thorp and at least one other neighbor spoke in support of Kaufman, saying they had not observed problematic behavior.
Staff said the home‑occupation application fits the zoning framework provided in parish code (section 28‑1 and chapter 16 were cited in the hearing) and recommended conditional approval with specific limits: clients park in the driveway only (no street parking), stagger appointments so only one client is present at a time, and operating hours be set from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Staff explained enforcement for conditional approvals is complaint‑driven and that violation of conditions can lead to revocation.
Commission discussion centered on enforceability and equitable hours. Some commissioners favored narrower business hours (for example, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.), but others said limiting days would burden residents who work standard hours. The motion the body adopted — moved by Commissioner Terry Gold and seconded by Commissioner Wayne Tibido — granted conditional approval allowing operation seven days a week, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., with driveway‑only client parking and staggered appointments. The motion passed on a voice vote; the record did not include a roll‑call tally.
The approval is conditional and revocable if neighbors file verified complaints and staff finds the conditions were violated. The commission also noted that neighborhood covenant disputes remain a civil matter between neighbors and are not enforced by the zoning office.
The commission closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items following the vote.
