EBR Planning Approves Subdivision on Hooper

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News — CENTRAL — A controversial 185-lot development on Hooper Road west of the Comite River has been approved by the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission, despite the unanimous opposition of the Central Community School Board.  Four school board members were there to represent the board and testify against the proposal — Kim Powers, Dr. Keith Holmes, Roxanne Atkinson, and Sharon Browning.  

The development would be in an area outside the City of Central but inside the Central Community School System and is under the jurisdiction of the EBR Planning Commission rather than the City of Central Planning Commission.

School board members recounted a litany of problems with the proposed development — the high density of the lots, the history of flooding at the site, gridlock on Hooper Road at certain times of the day, and the pressure another 300 to 400 students would put on Central Community School System. However, the commission ignored the arguments from Central elected officials and other members of the Central community who were present and approved the development unanimously.

It will now go to the Metro Council where final approval can be considered.  Normally, EBR Planning Commission approval is enough, but because this project requires rezoning, it will also have to be approved by the Metro Council.

Central school board member Kim Powers said current court decisions require that when a proposed development is already zoned properly, a developer who meets all other legal qualifications  normally has the right to proceed with his plan.  However, no one has the legal right to have property rezoned, she said.  So if the subdivision or other project requires rezoning, that decision is within the discretion of the planning commission and city council.

Powers said current zoning for the area is A1, which allows 4.1 lots per area, but the developer is asking that it be rezoned to A2.7, which would allow 7.3 lots per acre.  That is too dense and creates too many problems in a rural area, she said.

School board member Sharon Browning, who has lived near the area most of her life said flooding in nearby areas has forced homeowners to abandon their homes and park their vehicles on Hooper Road.  She said this development would aggravate those problems.

Metro Councilman Aaron Moak spoke in opposition to the proposal.

Proposed developments inside the City of Central must be approved by the Central Planning Commission and the Central City Council. Because the development is outside the City of Central, residents of Central have no role in approving or disapproving the project.

Sen. Bodi White has introduced Senate Bill No. 189 in the current legislative session.  It would change the boundaries of the Central Community School District to be coextensive with the boundaries of the City of Central effective July 1, 2022.  Students currently enrolled in the Central school system would be able to stay in the system until graduation.