At the May 5th meeting in Donaldsonville, the Ascension Parish Council rejected the unanimous recommendations of the Planning & Zoning Commissions to repeal the Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) ordinances. These ordinances along with changes to the zoning tables which would have reduced density from 20 to 10 units per acre and removed future residential development in the crossroads commercial category were sent back to the Council's Strategic Planning Committee. The vote to allow PUDs to continue was 7 to 3 on all three recommendations with Councilmen George Valentine, Todd Lambert and Randy Clouatre voting no. The Chairman, Pat Bell, did not vote. Councilman Valentine had made the original motion which was seconded by Todd Lambert for an up or down vote on these recommendations. However, the substitute motion made by Kent Schexnaydre and seconded by Dennis Cullen prevailed to send these recommendations back to the Strategic Planning Committee which Schexnaydre chairs. Voting to continue PUDs, TNDs and high density were Councilmen Joseph, Schexnaydre, Thompson, Dempsey Lambert, Loar, Cullen and Johnson. Although voting with Valentine and Lambert, Clouatre's comments during discussion were not favorable for the repeal of the PUD & TND ordinances or reducing density.
Citizens will continue to watch the Strategic Planning committee and any discussion related to these issues in the months to come. Strategic Planning meets the fourth Monday of each month at the Gonzales Courthouse at 6:00 p.m.
