Central Community School Board Opposes New 185-Lot Development on Hooper Road

The Central Community School Board last week voted unanimously to oppose a 185-lot development proposed for Hooper Road. The proposed subdivision would be located west of the Comite River outside the City of Central but inside the Central Community School District.  

It would feature 50×120 lots.  Because it is located outside the City of Central, the proposal will be heard by the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning & Zoning Commission instead of the City of Central Planning Commission.  A hearing is planned for March.  

Board opposition to the proposal began last week when Central School Board member Kim Powers came out against the development.  She said the area is flood proned, and the development could make flooding worse.  

She also said the development would bring 300-400 additional students to the school system without sufficient revenue to pay the costs, because of the lack of commercial and retail properties in the area.  

During debate, board member Sharon Browning said the development would adversely affect the school system by producing an overwhelming number of students.  

Ms. Browning also discussed the flooding issue.  She said, “If you are familiar with the area, you know that the slightest rain forces residents of nearby Comite Estates to move their cars onto Hooper Road.  You can imagine what a 12-foot moat [detention pond] around the development would cause!”  

Board member Dr. David Walker said the proposed rezoning would reduce lot sizes from “decent” to “extremely small.”  

Board member Roxanne Atkinson said, “I’m glad we’re taking a stand, and I appreciate the wording of the resolution.”  

Board member Dr. Keith Holmes said the board and members of the public need to show up at the EBR Planning Commission to make their voices heard at the hearing in March.  

The proposal adopted by the board included language by board member Kim Powers that asked the EBR Planning Commission to adopt a policy that would notify the Central School Board when it receives applications for new developments in the area outside the City of Central but inside the Central school district.  

Then the school board would have 15 days to express their recommendations on the proposal.  

During the public hearing on the resolution, a resident asked why any part of the Central school district would be outside the City of Central.  Dr. Holmes said that at the time the Central school system was being created, residents of nearby areas with large minority populations were given the opportunity to be included in the school district, and the area west of the Comite River desired to be included.  

All board members voted for the resolution, which will be sent to the members of the EBR Planning Commission.  To read the resolution adopted by the Central Community School Board, go to https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Mee…/Attachment.aspx…