Zoning Revisions Update May 2015

UNO Division of Planning Project Team:•Wendel Dufour, Director, Division of Planning•Tim Jackson, AICP Senior Research Associate•Peter Bennett Research Associate•Vivek Shah Research Assistant

Supported By St. John Parish Government:•Parish President and Administration•Parish Council•Planning and Zoning Commission•Planning Department

Who We Are…

UNO Division of Planning Project Team:•Wendel Dufour, Director, Division of Planning•Tim Jackson, AICP Senior Research Associate•Peter Bennett Research Associate•Vivek Shah Research Assistant

Supported By St. John Parish Government:•Parish President and Administration•Parish Council•Planning and Zoning Commission•Planning Department

Who We Are…

Phase IV: St. John Parish Comprehensive Resilience Plan• Funded by Ike/Gustav Recovery Grant• Incorporated post-Isaac activities and issues – FEMA NDRF• Incorporated Disaster/Community Resilience Into the Plan• Expanded Parish’s Comprehensive Plan to Include:

• Resilience, Housing, Hazard Mitigation, Natural Environment, Historic Preservation

• ADOPTED BY ST. JOHN PLANNING COMMISSION September 15, 2014

Phase IV Update• Made the Parks and Recreation and Economic Development

elements consistent with adopted plan.• Storm Water Regulations (Zoning) and Review of Flood Plain regulations.

What We’re Doing…

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Phase IV UpdateParks and Recreation• Parks Master Plan 2013 – Meyer Engineers• Inventory of all Parks and Rec facilities• Public input/analysis of physical facilities• Recommended facility improvements to various

parks• Element updated to reflect the Comprehensive Plan• Need for considering a Regional Recreation Complex• Economic Development – dining/lodging/tourism

• Need for incorporating more adult/elderly activities• Expand development of neighborhood playgrounds• Ensure new developments include land for

parks/playgrounds

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Phase IV UpdateEconomic Development• Updated Comm. and Industrial land use inventory• Developed commercial space adequate / Excess zoned

commercial vs. current need• Excess industrial zoned land – allows future expansion –

particularly on Westbank• Recommended facility improvements to various parks

• Element updated to reflect the Comprehensive Plan• Need for considering mixed use as an economic

engine• Expand industrial development where appropriate• Possible port/airport expanded development• Utilize historical/natural assets for economic dev.• Eco-tourism• Historic preservation – Mainstreet/Historic Districts

Resilience Grant•Ike/Gustav CDBG Funds

•Designed to Help Communities Implement Resilience Into their Development Management Plans and Policies

•St. John Revised Development Regulations to Support Implementation of the Comprehensive Resilience Plan

• Updated Zoning Regulations, Landscaping Regulations, Sign Regulations, Storm Water Management Regulations.

What We’re Doing…

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Next Steps

• Public Hearing • Planning and Zoning Commission• Adoption by the Commission

Tools to Implement The

PlanSt. John the Baptist ParishCOMPREHENSIVE PLAN:

First Second

Tool Box

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What is Zoning?

• Most common tool used to implement the comprehensive plan• Regulates a variety of physical items:• Land use• Density and intensity,

including lot sizes• Yard areas and setbacks• Building and lot coverage• Zoning districts

Image: Sarah Lutz, used with permission

Zoning – Two PartsZoning – Two Parts

Map Applies to: Individual Property

TextApplies to: All Property in Category

Zoning Ordinance

Zoning – Revisions

•Article I• Division 1 – General Provisions

• Division 2 – Definitions• Updated some, • Added some, • Eliminated some• Illustrations

•Article II• Administration and

Enforcement• Updated criteria for non-

conformities, rezoning requests, variance requests

Zoning – Revisions

•Article III• Special Exception - added• Permitted Uses by District – table instead of list• Mixed Uses - added

• Area Requirements - table instead of list• Major Corridor Overlay District - streamlined• Industrial District Buffering – added provisions

Zoning – Revisions

•Article IV – Supplementary Regs• Mobile Home Placement – Old process eliminated.

Either permitted in zoning district or not.• Parking – updated criteria• Signs – Clarifications, updating, sign definitions• Landscaping – added new section, Parish-wide• Stormwater Management recommendations

• Mobile Home Park Regs – updated placement and siting requirements

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Next Steps - Zoning

• Public Hearing • Planning and Zoning Commission• Recommendation to Parish Council

• Public Hearing – Parish Council• Adoption by Ordinance

Project Team Contact Information

Wendel P. Dufour Jr.504.280.5475

wdufour@uno.edu

Tim Jackson, AICP504.280.6515

thjacks3@uno.edu