Denham Springs defers zoning issue
Print
Email
Save
Twitter
Social Media
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
DENHAM SPRINGS — The City Council chose not to make a decision Thursday night regarding a controversial zoning change that would affect one of Denham Springs’ oldest residential neighborhoods.
The decision to defer a final ruling on the issue, which has apparently divided residents of the Shelly Homesites area of the city, came after property owners spoke on the issue and council members discussed the situation.
Several months ago, one group of property owners living on Pin Oak Street, Wanda Avenue, Pecan Drive, Hickory Street, Don Avenue and Beech Drive, collectively known as Shelly Homesites, petitioned the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to change the zoning designation of the area from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial).
Fred Banks, chairman of the commission, told the council that the Planning and Zoning Commission turned down the petition for the commercial zoning. At issue Thursday was whether the council would overturn the commission’s opinion and grant the change to the commercial zoning.
Ultimately, the council decided to defer making a decision on the matter until the next public meeting set for 6 p.m. March 24. The council also agreed that a second public hearing on the matter would not be held because of the length of Thursday’s hearing.
Beverly Quezada said that she favored rezoning because change is coming to the neighborhood anyway and that residents should have the opportunity to see their property values rise with the change in zoning classification.
But Denise Brown, who said she has lived in the neighborhood since 1977, said it was her intention to retire in the home that she “loves,” and did not want to see her zoning classification change.
Mayor James E. Durbin told the crowd the average size of the 73 lots in the area is about 60 feet by 150 feet, and homes sell for about $104,000.
“It hardly seems to me that commercial interests will be tripping over themselves to move into that neighborhood, Durbin said, “and besides, no one says that anybody has to sell if they don’t want to.”
The decision to defer a final ruling on the issue, which has apparently divided residents of the Shelly Homesites area of the city, came after property owners spoke on the issue and council members discussed the situation.
Several months ago, one group of property owners living on Pin Oak Street, Wanda Avenue, Pecan Drive, Hickory Street, Don Avenue and Beech Drive, collectively known as Shelly Homesites, petitioned the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to change the zoning designation of the area from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial).
Fred Banks, chairman of the commission, told the council that the Planning and Zoning Commission turned down the petition for the commercial zoning. At issue Thursday was whether the council would overturn the commission’s opinion and grant the change to the commercial zoning.
Ultimately, the council decided to defer making a decision on the matter until the next public meeting set for 6 p.m. March 24. The council also agreed that a second public hearing on the matter would not be held because of the length of Thursday’s hearing.
Beverly Quezada said that she favored rezoning because change is coming to the neighborhood anyway and that residents should have the opportunity to see their property values rise with the change in zoning classification.
But Denise Brown, who said she has lived in the neighborhood since 1977, said it was her intention to retire in the home that she “loves,” and did not want to see her zoning classification change.
Mayor James E. Durbin told the crowd the average size of the 73 lots in the area is about 60 feet by 150 feet, and homes sell for about $104,000.
“It hardly seems to me that commercial interests will be tripping over themselves to move into that neighborhood, Durbin said, “and besides, no one says that anybody has to sell if they don’t want to.”
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
