[StBernard] Home-elevation rules up for vote

[Westley Annis]

Home-elevation rules up for vote
St. Bernard weighs strict new guidelines 
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
By Karen Turni Bazile
St. Bernard/Plaquemines bureau 

The St. Bernard Parish Council could pass a law at today's meeting setting
strict guidelines for residents building elevated homes in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina. 

 
"I think we have to be proactive in establishing some criteria," said Parish
Councilman Craig Taffaro, who sponsored the measure that drew spirited
debate at a public hearing last month. 

Taffaro said the final measure to be voted on at today's 10 a.m. meeting in
the council office in Chalmette "represents a reasonable compromise that
satisfies the aesthetics and safety issues while addressing a reasonable
cost-effectiveness for homeowners." 

The council also discussed the issue at last week's Executive-Finance
Committee meeting and decided that the homes that owners choose to raise by
more than 5 feet should be enclosed on all sides. 

The measure also outlines various types of materials that owners can use to
enclose either the pilings or the entire ground-level floor. 

Taffaro said the range of options would make it more affordable for owners
wanting to elevate, while maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods of
mostly slab houses that weren't originally built with the camp-style look of
exposed wooden piers. 

After parish officials issued about a half-dozen permits for homes to be
elevated more than 8 feet on exposed pilings, Chalmette attorney V.J.
Dauterive filed a lawsuit in state court last month saying the issuance of
those permits had damaged the value of neighboring property by not retaining
the neighborhood's integrity. District Judge Manny Fernandez issued a
restraining order at Dauterive's request May 12, stopping the parish from
issuing any permits for elevated homes until the Parish Council could craft
specific requirements. 

The council last fall amended the parish's building code -- while offering
no specifics -- to require that houses be rebuilt to at least pre-Katrina
standards to maintain the integrity of neighborhoods. But at the public
hearing last month, several residents said they are afraid of any costly
requirements. 

The new law would require the columns or pilings to be covered with a finish
such as brick, stucco or siding. 

As requested by some residents, the law would allow the homeowner to enclose
the remaining ground level with latticework, using an older home on
Riverland Drive in Chalmette as a model, Taffaro said. 

Taffaro said Monday that he also plans to amend the law to require vented
skirting on homes raised less than 5 feet. 

Councilman Lynn Dean -- the only council member to oppose any additional
requirements for elevated homes -- said dictating such specifics to property
owners is wrong. 

"Where is your freedom when you have to start dictating how a house has to
look?" he asked. 

But Taffaro told Dean that the measure applies only to people who want to
elevate their homes and that there are separate laws on the books about
specific requirements for slab homes as well. 

. . . . . . . 

Karen Turni Bazile can be reached at kturni at timespicayune or (504) 826-3335.