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Council denies one short-term rental, approves another and OKs one-time employee supplement
Summary
At its Oct. 27 meeting the Natchitoches City Council denied a special-exception application for a short-term rental at 720 Saint Maurice Lane, approved a similar exception at 2014 Nollie Street, and adopted a one-time salary supplement for city employees funded from the workers' compensation surplus.
The Natchitoches City Council on Oct. 27 voted to deny a requested special exception to allow a short-term rental at 720 Saint Maurice Lane while approving a separate short-term rental request at 2014 Nollie Street and adopting a one-time employee salary supplement.
Councilman Harrington read Ordinance 34 of 2025, which sought to reclassify 720 Saint Maurice Lane from R-1 to R-1 special exception to permit short-term rentals. Harrington moved to deny the application, arguing that approval would set a precedent in a primarily R-1 area and could erode the residential character. Staff member Chantrell told council the planning and zoning commission had approved the application with no neighbor opposition. After debate the motion to deny carried; the clerk recorded the roll-call responses and the mayor announced that the motion to deny the application had passed.
Councilman Nielsen then read Ordinance 35 of 2025 for 2014 Nollie Street, a townhome row that staff described as a wholly rental block. That measure drew no formal opposition at the hearing and, after a motion and second, passed on roll call.
Councilwoman Smith Kuykendahl introduced Resolution 088 of 2025 to provide a one-time salary supplement paid from an accumulated surplus in the workers' compensation fund: $600 to regular full-time employees and council members, and $300 to regular part-time nonseasonal employees, prorated for service through Oct. 31, 2025. Finance Director Clarissa Brown Smith confirmed the fund balance and the cutoff date for eligibility. The council adopted the resolution by roll call.
What the votes mean: the denial of 720 Saint Maurice Lane leaves the neighborhood unchanged; approval at 2014 Nollie Street allows a short-term rental exception in that row of townhomes. The salary supplement is a one-time payment and is not intended to become part of base pay.
Provenance: The ordinance readings, debate and roll-call votes appear in the council transcript beginning with the reading of Ordinance 34 (SEG 428) through the vote on that item (SEG 731–SEG 746), the reading and vote on Ordinance 35 (SEG 747–SEG 819), and the reading and vote on Resolution 088 (SEG 1188–SEG 1283).
Next steps: Each ordinance and the resolution will be processed consistent with city procedures; there were no immediate legal challenges or follow-up directives recorded in the public meeting notes.
