On January 12th the Planning & Zoning Commissions had announced that their subcommittees would be meeting the third Wednesday of the month back to back at 5 and 6 p.m. at the Department of Public Works on Churchpoint Road. Previously these committees had met at 8 and 9 a.m. on Friday. At their first meeting they were informed by planning staff director, Ricky Compton, that he had not been authorized by the administration to give them a meeting room or staff after 5:00 p.m.
After a month of delay, Parish President Martinez finally agreed to give the Planning and Zoning Commissions a room to meet at the DPW Building on Churchpoint Road for their subcommittees. The committees met on February 16th and discussed topics related to both planning (5:00 p.m.) and zoning (6:00) p.m.
This an opportunity for public input that is essential in making our community better. Citizens are encouraged to attend.
The P & Z Commission has placed the formation of a subcommittee to address possible revisions of the present 39 page Master Plan on their February 9th agenda. Citizens are encouraged to attend and support the formation of this committee and the inclusion of citizens in the process. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Gonzales Courthouse.
The Parish Council meeting of February 3rd was cancelled due to inclement weather and rescheduled for Wednesday, February 9th at 6:00 p.m. in Donaldsonville. The agenda for this meeting includes four ordinances to amend the current PUD ordinance. The Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Councilman Schexnaydre, has not consulted the Planning Commission in these recommendations.
The Zoning Subcommittee of the P & Z Commission met on January 26th and is recommending that the PUD/SPUD ordinance be repealed. The Full Commission will address this item under subcommittee reports at their meeting on February 9th.
Although neighborhood residents surrounding the proposed Mossy Oaks development on Babin Road hired legal counsel to represent their interests, they never had their day in court. The developer, Mr. Kevin Nguyen, chose to drop his litigation against the Planning Commission as of Tuesday, February 1st. The Postponed hearing of January 31st was not held on February 2nd. Ms. Lindsey Manda, represented Michael Marchand, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Ricky Compton, Director of Ascension Parish Planning & Zoning Department.
The developer essentially accepted the vote of the January 12th Planning & Zoning Commission with an approval including the two conditions: 1) two entrances onto Babin Road and 2) no lots accessing directly onto Babin Road. Ms. Manda included in the agreement removal of the reconsideration of Mossy Oak from the Commission's published February 9th agenda. Mr. Marchand recently quoted in The Advocate that he had not agreed to this stipulation of removing the reconsideration of Mossy Oaks from the agenda. Does Ms. Manda as the defendant's attorney have authority to negotiate stipulations without approval from her client, Chairman Marchand? Citizens encourage Chairman Marchand to file a complaint with the Disciplinary Board.
The Planning Commission's next meeting is Wednesday February 9th at 6:00 p.m. at the Gonzales Courthouse.
The hearing to determine if the plat for Mossy Oaks must be certified/signed by the Planning Commission Chairman has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 2nd, at 9:00 a.m. at the Gonzales Courthouse in Judge Holdridge's court.
