[StBernard] St. Bernard council may reinstate less restrictive rules on post-Katrina home rebuilding

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard council may reinstate less restrictive rules on post-Katrina
home rebuilding

Published: Thursday, February 23, 2012, 11:30 PM

 By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune 

During a specially scheduled St. Bernard Parish Council meeting -- the
normal session fell on Mardi Gras -- the council Thursday introduced an
ordinance to rescind a 2007 provision that required homes built where a
Hurricane Katrina-destroyed home once stood to have equal or greater square
footage than the one it replaced. At the last council meeting, Councilman
Nathan Gorbaty reminded the public of that 2007 ordinance, which also states
that post-Katrina home rebuilding must use similar external materials "to
make the structure consistent with existing and previously standing
structure," and "conform to all subdivision or neighborhood covenants in
existence at the time of the issuance of the permit."

If officially rescinded after a public hearing at the March 6 council
meeting, a less restrictive ordinance passed in the months immediately after
Katrina instead would be reinstated. That ordinance, passed Nov. 1, 2005,
simply states that all residences must "follow the building standards as
administered by the Office of Community Development prior to Hurricane
Katrina in order to maintain the integrity of the subdivision or
neighborhood in which the residence is located."

The council also introduced an ordinance amendment that would change the
size limitations for residential units, which is currently set at 400 square
feet.

In another issue related to Katrina recovery, Parish President Dave Peralta
announced at the council meeting that the Federal Emergency Management
Agency officially approved an extension on funding demolition work through
June 30, and that the parish intends to use that additional time to continue
targeting blighted properties "that pose threats to health and safety."

Meanwhile, the Parish Council and the parish's Housing, Redevelopment and
Quality of Life Authority Commission have agreed to conduct district-level
public workshops from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 3 to discuss the future use
of Louisiana Land Trust properties. The Louisiana Land Trust is the
nonprofit holding company for properties acquired under the Road Home
program.

The HRQL commission, which approves any LLT sale, is reviewing proposals to
use remaining lots to create pocket parks or in Lake Borgne drainage
improvement programs, along with several other options, including targeted
auctions.

The parish hired the New Orleans planning firm Waggonner & Ball Architects
to make recommendations for potential uses of the lots that aren't sold
through the program. The firm will attend the meetings to present its
suggestions.

The parish will host a full-day series of district-level workshops at the
Parish Council Chambers, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, with members
of District A invited between 8 and 10 a.m.; District B between 10:15 a.m.
and 12:15 p.m.; District E between 1 and 3 p.m.; District C between 3:15 and
5:15 p.m. and District D between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

District D Councilman Casey Hunnicutt will host a similar town hall meeting
7 p.m. Wednesday at the Joe Davies Elementary School, 4101 Mistrot St.,
Meraux, to receive input and discuss LLT proposals. District A Councilman
Ray Lauga also will host one specifically for his district's residents at 7
p.m. Thursday at the Council Chambers.

Benjamin Alexander-Bloch can be reached at bbloch at timespicayune.com or
504.826.3321.



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