2011 Proposed Redistricting Maps

These three proposed maps related to redistricting were presented to the Parish Council at their regularly scheduled meeting on May 19th.

The Council has scheduled two public hearings for the public to review these maps and make public comment. The first will be held in the Donaldsonville Courthouse at 300 Houmas Street on Thursday, May 26th at 6:00 p.m. The second hearing will be held on May 31 at 6:00 p.m. in the Gonzales Courthouse at 828 S. Irma Blvd-2nd Floor.

Read the presentations which were given at the May 5 and May 19 council meetings to look at statistics and demographics related to redistricting.

Present Councilmen and their Districts:

District #1 Oliver Joseph

District #2 Kent Schexnaydre

District #3 Adrian Thompson

District #4 Pat Bell

District #5 Dempsey Lambert

District #6 Randy Clouatre

District #7 Chris Loar

District #8 George Valentine

District #9 Todd Lambert

District#10 Dennis Cullen

District #11 Benny Johnson

Council Rejects Recommendations of Commission

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.

Council Refuses to Fund Master Plan Efforts

At their regular meeting of April 19th, the Ascension Parish Council in a five to four vote refused to fund the Master Plan Subcommittee budget of $28,000 to review and revise the current Master Plan. The budget primarily included funds for meeting rooms, clerical staff, and photocopying of documents which are charged to the Commission by the parish administration.

Councilman George Valentine made a motion to provide the funding with a second from Councilman Todd Lambert. Councilman Loar immediately made a substitute motion to deny funding with a second from Dennis Cullen. With Councilman Clouatre absent, Councilmen Kent Schexnaydre, Dempsey Lambert, Chris Loar, Dennis Cullen and Benny Johnson voted for the substitute motion denying the request of the subcommittee. Councilman Oliver Joseph, Adrian Thompson, George Valentine and Todd Lambert voted against the motion which denied funding. Chairman Pat Bell chose not to vote. Had he voted with the four councilmen he would have created a tie vote. The substitute motion would have failed and opened the door for a vote on the previous motion which would have funded the committee. It was obvious that Bell did not favor funding the efforts of the Planning Commission. These six councilmen (Pat Bell, Kent Schexnaydre, Dempsey Lambert, Chris Loar, Dennis Cullen and Benny Johnson) demonstrated by their actions that they are unwilling to harness the uncontrolled growth in Ascension and address our infrastructure needs. Citizens need to remember councilmen's voting record on important issues such as this when casting their vote in the upcoming October elections.

The Master Plan Subcommittee then met on April 25th and made the decision not to hold regular meetings for now. They are considering looking at firms located in the state to assist the Subcommittee. As dictated by the Parish Council's motion, the steering committee will work on finances for review and revision of the Master Plan for the 2012 budget.

Though efforts have been put on hold, the subcommittee will remain intact. When further decisions are made, we will inform citizens.

Meetings for Master Plan Revision Begin

The first meeting of the Master Plan Subcommittee to review and revise the Ascension Parish Master Plan was held on April 11th at 6:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Works Auditorium on Churchpoint Road.  All appointees from business, government and the public sectors were present as well as six Commissioners.  Rules for public comment were adopted. Any citizen wishing to address the Subcommittee will be given three minutes at the beginning of a meeting prior to discussion. 


Good progress from the diverse group was made reviewing the purpose and guiding principles with all members participating. Discussion for the next meeting will begin on page eight of the present document and proceed as time permits.
  
Review and Revision Meeting Schedule


Monday, April 25, 2011  6:00 p.m. at DPW Auditorium 
Monday, May 9, 2011 6:00 p.m. at DPW Auditorium
Monday May 23, 2011 6:00 p.m. at DPW Auditorium  


All Ascension residents are welcome to attend. The current thirty-nine page Master Plan is placed here for your reference and review.  

Public Hearing to Consider Abolishing PUD & TND Ordinances

The Planning & Zoning Commissions will meet and have a public hearing on Wednesday, April 13th at 6:00 p.m. at the Gonzales Courthouse.  Up for consideration will be recommendations to the Parish Council for the PUD & TND ordinances to be abolished. Changes in the zoning tables will also be considered. The Commission is proposing lowering the present twenty units allowed per acre in Mixed Use to ten.


The clip below is from the April 7th Ascension Parish Council meeting held in Donaldsonville.  Ascension Parish Planning Director, Ricky Compton, is giving the definition of what a PUD is.  After listening to his description you will understand how the PUD is a loophole that circumvents current parish Zoning Codes and Subdivision regulations. 


Citizens are encouraged to attend.  

Budget for Master Plan To Be Discussed

On Monday, April 4th at the Gonzales Courthouse the Planning Commission will meet after the 6:00 p.m. Drainage Board meeting. Their discussion will center around the proposed budget of $28,000 for the Master Plan review and revision.


Councilman Chris Loar has refused to place the budget for the Master Plan on the Finance agenda later this month. All items requiring appropriation of funds must go to the Finance Committee first before being considered by the Parish Council.  By State law, the Council is responsible to provide all assistance necessary for the updating of the Master Plan.  Commission Chairman Michael Marchand is hoping to clear up any confusion on Monday, asking the Council to consider the Master Plan Budget this month as meetings for review begin on April 11th. 


Read the recent Advocate article.

Master Plan Subcommittee Formed

On March 23rd representatives where chosen from business, government and the public to work with the Planning Commission on a review and revision of the current thirty-nine page Master Plan.  These representatives will take part in discussion, but will not vote.  Only the nine appointed Commissioners on the Planning Commission will vote.  The following were chosen by citizens who attended meetings from those nominated:


Business Sector: Wes Ashworth, Clint Cointment, Roy Domangue, Mike Eades and Gary Fontenot


Government Sector: Scott Duplechin and Brad Walker


Public Sector:  Kathryn Goppelt, Cindy Quick, John M. Robert Sr., Tim Theriot and Samantha Thibodeaux  


The first meeting is set for April 11, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the DPW Auditorium.  Citizens are welcome to attend and make public comment while monitoring the progress of the subcommittee.