[StBernard] Board of Zoning

[Westley Annis]

Deborah and All,
 
The Board of Zoning Adjustments has been advertised three times with no
success of applicants.  This has been the case for several positions.  As
far as the planning commission- I searched for several months to get any
applicants for the vacancy created when Peralta went to the administrative
position.
 
The council as a matter of due process has voted to take these issues on
until the smart code, or at least the section of the smart code that
establishes the review committee is implemented.  My hope is that we can
implement this part of the code immediately so that we can get out of the
role of the zoning adjustment, especially in an election season and leave
the adjustment issues to a committee of professionals.
 
God Bless,
Craig


-----Original Message-----
The Parish has not filled vacancies on the Zoning Advisory Board since the
storm and has taken it up as a matter for the parish council to hear and
rule on zoning variances. You'd need a council person or parish president to
explain why. The planning comm. is not authorized to hear these cases,
although we are qualified. When we feel strongly opposed  about a zoning
change, we address the council at their meeting like any other citizen. We
are thanked for our opinion, and the council votes on the matter.  There
have been a lot of variances since the storm. Read the council meeting
agenda and exercise your right to agree or disagree on any variance as you
would any important parish community issue. 
 
FYI  The planning commission had one vacancy  months after the storm when
Dave Peralta took the job with parish govt and therefore couldn't be a
District D commissioner. The planning commission made sure that the vacancy
would get filled by parish govt and it was. 
 
Under Smart Code, there would be no zoning board and the process is totally
different. 
 
Deborah Keller, Vice President Planning Commission