By james art The city of St. George will tackle one of its first development proposals after Baton Rouge said the University Club Plantation proposal was the responsibility of the new city.
A plan to build 113 single-family homes in the University Club Wetlands has raised eyebrows among some neighborhood residents who worry about losing the wetlands on which the proposed homes would be built. They are concerned about flooding and traffic issues, as well as the scenery and wildlife that wetlands provide.
Residents previously said they hoped the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning and Zoning Commission would reject the proposal. But residents focused on the wrong commission because the commission sent it to the city of St. George.
The Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Commission was scheduled to discuss the proposal at its Oct. 21 meeting after it was first postponed in September.
The newly formed St. George’s Planning Commission held its first and second meetings in September and October. The commission delayed a decision on the University Club’s proposal at both meetings because the project engineer requested a delay, according to Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) director Chris Miller.
The development proposal will be included in the agenda of the committee meeting on December 2.
The City of St. George partners with IBTS, a non-profit professional services organization, to provide select municipal services such as building permits, financial services, and planning and zoning to those within city limits.
Baton Rouge issued a public notice saying that as of October 16, all planning and zoning applications within the City of St. George must be submitted to the St. George Government.