Zachary council introduces 12‑month moratorium on most new single‑family developments

The Zachary Mayor and Council voted Nov. 26 to introduce Ordinance 2024‑17, imposing an immediate moratorium on new applications for residential single‑family developments that would create more than five lots and on certain single‑family detached, attached and clustered developments in residential and commercial zones, excluding planned unit developments (PUD) and traditional neighborhood development (TND) overlays. The moratorium lasts 12 months or until the city adopts a master plan and clarifies the Residential Estate (RE) and Residential Rural (RR) zoning districts, whichever comes first.

The motion to introduce the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Brandy Westmoreland and seconded by Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio; the roll-call vote recorded five yeas and no nays. The motion approves introduction only—formal adoption will require future council action.

City consultants Steve Villavaso and Fred Neal of Villavaso and Associates briefed the council earlier in the meeting on the process used to update the Unified Development Code, and Councilman James Graves asked Villavaso how a moratorium would affect growth in Zachary. The council did not adopt the moratorium at this meeting; introduction moves the item into the formal ordinance process and sets the city up to analyze development standards and zoning classifications before new large subdivisions proceed.

If adopted after public notice and any required hearings, the ordinance would pause most new multi‑lot single‑family proposals while the city completes comparative analysis of construction and development standards and refines zoning district language. The council set no specific implementation tasks or deadlines beyond the 12‑month maximum stated in the introduced text.