Central P&Z: Different Decisions at Same Intersection

CENTRAL — An as yet unseen plan to create a City Center Overlay District is creating controversy.

Last month, the Central Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve the rezoning of the northeast corner of Hooper and Sullivan roads.  The rezoning, which was proposed by developer Brandon Dodson and Jonathan Starns, would have changed the zoning of the property from rural to light commercial, in order to permit construction of a shopping center.

However, the City Council rejected the proposed rezoning.  Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Washington said he feels the city should be consistent.  In 2010, the Central Planning & Zoning Commission deferred action on a plan by Randy Kirkendahl to rezone the southwest corner of the same intersection from rural to commercial.  At the time, members of the P&Z said they could not approve the rezoning until they had received the proposed City Center Overlay District plan, which has been in the works for the past two years by Moore Planning Group.

But Washington said it is unfair to prevent Kirkendahl from rezoning his property and yet allow Dodson and Starns to rezone the property right across the street when the City Center Overlay Plan has still not been received by the City.

Supporters of the Dodson-Starns rezoning say there is no comparison between the two.  They say Kirkendahl wanted to rezone his property for an unspecified commercial use, while Dodson and Starns had a plan for developing a specific project.

But Washington said Kirkendahl wanted the rezoning simply to conform to his existing use as a service station.

Formerly, property in East Baton Rouge Parish zoned rural could be used for a wide variety of purposes.  However, the adoption of the Horizon Plan in the 1990’s grandfathered in existing uses of rural property but limited future changes in its use.  Washington said Kirkendahl simply wanted to conform the zoning of his property to its existing use.

Councilman Wayne Messina asked, “Why would the P&Z defer the rezoning of one corner of the intersection based on waiting to see the City Center Overlay Plan but approve rezoning the other corner when we still haven’t seen the overlay plan?”

Washington said he favors having a Town Center and would like to see the development of the northeast corner of Hooper and Sullivan.  However, he said the development of that corner should conform to the City Center Overlay Plan and not get in under the wire without having to comply with the expected regulations.