Growing by leaps and bounds

• By JAMES MINTON
• Baker-Zachary bureau
• Published: Dec 30, 2005

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ZACHARY -- With a school system rising toward the top in Louisiana's accountability program, residential growth and accompanying commercial development continue in East Baton Rouge's northernmost municipality.

During the 1990s, Zachary's population grew nearly 25 percent to 11,275 and the growth has continued.

The Zachary Community School District, organized in 2000, last month finished its second year of operating city schools independently of the East Baton Rouge Parish system. Scores posted by Zachary's students earlier this year put the district in position to be rated among the top districts in the state.

To keep pace with the influx of students, Zachary voters approved a $39 million bond issue last year for construction and renovation of school facilities, including the construction of a new elementary school on property donated in the Copper Mill residential-golf development.

The existing schools are getting major renovations and new facilities in some cases.

The School Board opened its first new facility, an early learning center, this year.

In addition to quality schools, Zachary's affordable housing, employment opportunities and access to transportation arteries continue to attract many newcomers.

The city issued 181 building permits for new homes in 2003 and 144 last year, while 63 have been issued through April of this year.

The city issued seven permits for new commercial buildings in 2003 and 12 in 2004. Through April of this year, four permits for new commercial buildings have been issued.

The new commercial construction finished or started last year include a Home Depot store, a motel, two credit unions and a branch of Hancock Bank.

Zachary residents are eligible for most of the services provided by the city-parish government but they also enjoy the added benefits of local police and fire protection, street maintenance, local ambulance service, concentrated business clusters, cultural and recreational activities and utility services.

The city operates under a home rule charter with a mayor, five at-large City Council members and an elected police chief, but the council is seeking U.S. Justice Department approval to begin electing its five members from geographical districts in the 2006 elections.

The city also has a municipal court with an elected judge. Most of the city government's offices -- city hall, fire station, police station, museums and court -- are located within walking distance of each other on Main Street at the railroad tracks.