By james art Livingston Parish is moving forward in its attempt to slow development in the parish before the zoning plan goes into effect.
Councilman Ryan Chavers proposed an ordinance to adopt a six-month moratorium (temporary suspension) on the review or submission of a preliminary plan for residential projects that create more than five lots in District 2. The Livingston Parish Council approved the ordinance at its meeting Thursday night.
That means developers cannot submit plans for projects that would divide the land into more than five lots during the moratorium. Parish residents have expressed concern about the new development in recent years. Among their fears are drainage and flood mitigation resulting from the catastrophic flood of 2016.
District 2 is in the northwest part of the parish and includes Denham Springs, Watson and Live Oak. Chavers said people have called him with messages about people buying properties and subdividing them.
“Intermediate zoning should begin in December. So I really don’t even want the full six months,” he said.
Livingston Parish government is developing a new interim zoning code to govern new developments and has an existing moratorium. However, the moratorium will expire soon.
Chavers has been adamant about that proposal in the last few ordinance committee meetings this year and initially proposed a one-year moratorium.
Parish resident Joel Rushing asked the council not to adopt the ordinance. He pointed out how there are numerous land and development ordinances and asked what issues were not yet addressed in those ordinances.
“The question remains, what is the purpose of this moratorium? he asked. “These sweeping regulations have an impact that is probably not fully understood.”