Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Caddo Parish committee asks administration for master-plan cost study amid temporary housing debate
Summary
The Special Projects Committee asked administration to prepare a cost study for a master plan for the unincorporated parish to inform potential rules on temporary workforce housing; the motion passed 4–0 and members discussed enforcement, jurisdictional limits and likely costs.
The Caddo Parish Special Projects Committee unanimously asked administration to prepare a cost analysis for completing a master plan for the unincorporated parish, citing the lack of land-use rules outside city limits and concerns about how temporary workforce housing would be handled.
Commissioner John Paul Young presented a revised ordinance on temporary workforce housing that avoids zoning-style restrictions and relies on the parish's authority to enforce building and sanitary codes and to establish inspections and permits. "I've included an executive summary that describes the differences between this and the draft I submitted on Monday," Young said, adding the draft focuses on inspection timing and permit structure rather than land-use regulation.
Committee members sought clarity on enforcement responsibilities. Miss Bryant, representing administration, said the parish enforces building-code functions through a contract with the City of Shreveport and that the state health department has exclusive jurisdiction over sanitary-code enforcement. Counsel and staff explained that if large temporary facilities produced complaints, the parish would report and work with state authorities and would need a plan for on-the-ground enforcement.
Several members raised the absence of a parish master plan. Speakers estimated potential costs: one participant said the parish’s share could be near $200,000 if partnering with Shreveport; another recalled Shreveport spending "about 4 or 500,000" on previous planning. Commissioners argued the parish should analyze costs now so the 2027 budget process can reflect whether to pursue a master plan.
Commissioner Victor Thomas moved and Commissioner Lazarus seconded a request for a cost study ahead of the 2027 budget process. The motion passed with four votes in favor and one member absent. The committee directed administration to provide the analysis and to include the materials at the Aug. 3 follow-up meeting so the committee could consider next steps on temporary workforce housing.
