[StBernard] an editorial: Spot Zoning leaves residentialneighborhoods unprotected

[Westley Annis]

A wise man once said if you are able to investigate and get to the bottom of
why anything is done, you will learn money and making as much of it as
possible is the core reason for all things.

It makes one wonder who, how and how much someone will profit from this.
Surely there is a financial motiviation behind it.

 

-----Original Message-----
an editorial
http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2010/03/editorial.html 
 
Instead of a recovery plan that protects our right to secure tenure, the
shift continues toward industry, undermining our health and that of our
children.
.
Spot Zoning's adverse effects and ramifications fail to preserve the
integrity of our residential neighborhoods, result in a piece meal of yet
another land use plan developed without thoughtful deliberations, and make
any assemblance of a public input process a charade from the beginning.
.
Developed as the master land use plan through the works and recommendation
of the Citizens Recovery Committee, and adopted by the Council in 2006,  the
Waggoner and Ball Plan was submitted to and accepted by the Louisiana
Recovery Authority Board as the foundation for the St Bernard Parish
Recovery Plan.
.
Subsequent zoning changes, allowed by Council Ordinance, which are
incompatible with the existing land use maps, seem to arbitrarily enforce
local code. Although recently "modernized" with the advice of Donald Poland,
a professional planner made available through a grant from the Greater New
Orleans Foundation (http://www.gnof.org/), the local Code of Ordinances:
Chapter 22 Zoning left residential properties unprotected. The minimal
allowance or required buffer between heavy industry and residential remains
unchanged at a mere 100 feet. Recently introduced dockets, if granted, will
allow industrial zoning adjacent to residential homes with even less
protective footage; not to mention the nearby churches and schools.  {Docket
7 - 10 Municipal No. 328 West St Bernard Hwy at Delille Street, Petition for
Zoning Change from C2 General Commercial to I1 Industrial -- Public Hearing
March 23rd 4pm}

St Bernard Parish needs to move away from politically motivated zoning
changes and leave that authority with the Planning Commissioners, instead of
Council Ordinance, with appeals of planning decisions heard in State Court.
 
Citizens Recovery Committee
(http://www.louisianaspeaks-parishplans.org/IndParishHomepage_CommunityInvol
vement.cfm?EntID=13  ),
the Waggoner and Ball Plan
(http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16762854/Citizens-Recovery-Committee-MasterPlan
-April-2006 )
adopted by the Council in 2006,
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/28294096/StBernardParish-LRA-Resolution-062507-to
-Accept-Waggoner-and-Ball )
submitted to and accepted by the Louisiana Recovery Authority Board
(http://www.louisianaspeaks-parishplans.org/IndParishHomepage.cfm?EntID=13
)
as the foundation for the St Bernard Parish Recovery Plan
(http://www.louisianaspeaks-parishplans.org/IndParishHomepage_RecoveryVision
.cfm?EntID=13 ).
the local Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 Zoning
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/17214549/St-Bernard-Parish-Zoning-Regulations-Dra
ft-May-26-20091 ) 

________________________________


 
 
 
--- SJK