For Immediate Release, Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Timeline for New Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance Announced
Drafts will be released to the public for comment on August 16th
St. Tammany Parish government will brief members of the Parish Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission on proposed comprehensive amendments to parish zoning districts and regulations at a special meeting at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, August 15th. The proposed amendments will be available to the public for review and comment on August 16th on the St. Tammany Parish website, www.stpgov.org. Printed copies will be for sale, to cover duplication costs, in the Parish Planning Department.
The last comprehensive parish rezoning took place in the mid 1980s. The parish has experienced unprecedented growth over the past twenty years. From the 1990 census count of 144,508 to the current estimate of 250,000 to 270,000, population has boomed creating an inordinate number of cases for zoning review.
“The purpose of the new comprehensive zoning ordinance is to establish a consistency of zoning to increase land owner’s level of confidence about the current and future use of their property,” said Parish President Kevin Davis. “From new home sites to commercial development, we want to make the process simpler and clearer for all parties.”
“In the rewrite, I attempted to address issues that have arisen over the years,” said Parish Planning Director Sidney Fontenot. “More categories are being proposed and fewer conditional uses allowed. This will streamline the process for all parties.”
A public hearing on the proposed new zoning ordinance will be held September 19th by the Planning & Zoning Commission at 6:00 PM in the Parish Council Chambers, St. Tammany Parish Administrative Complex, 21490 Koop Drive. Koop Drive is just north of I-12 off Exit # 65. The Zoning Commission will consider any amendments at its October 17th meeting. The ordinance will then move to the Parish Council for consideration.
After the zoning ordinance is adopted by the Parish Council, the ordinance must be applied to current St. Tammany zoning maps. That process is scheduled to begin in early 2007. There will be numerous opportunities for public input on this process.
###