Residents asked to help

Parish cracking down on debris, plans study this year to see if community long-range plans being followed

St. Charles Parish residents living on the east bank are upset about debris. It's a problem that Planning and Zoning Director Kim Marousek has been addressing on a regular basis. And with a master plan on the drawing board for the parish this year, Marousek says residents will be able to air grievances and be a vital part of the planning process to improve their community.

"There are two code enforcement officers assigned to the east bank communities," she said. "Code enforcement issues are very frustrating to surrounding property owners." 

Marousek says that although the two code enforcement officers are very active, they cannot see every violation. 
"I would encourage individuals to notify the department if there is a concern in their neighborhood so we can investigate," she said.

The east bank residents have other concerns too. Marousek says traffic, drainage, population density and dust are some of the main issues facing east bankers.

"The parish will be initiating a Comprehensive Land Use Plan in the coming months," she said.  "This will be for the entire parish so all communities will be evaluated together."

Marousek says some areas of the parish have development constraints due to wetlands.

"However, there are developable areas in all of the east bank communities," she said. "A more complete analysis of the developable areas will be forthcoming with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan."

The study will also determine whether the initial recommendations were followed.

In 1990, the parish set up a 21-member steering committee to review each community and develop the plan. The committee represented a cross section of groups parishwide.

Communities on the east bank met with public officials 18 years ago to do the study the first time around. The decade old report recommended the following for communities on the east bank.

Montz - Maintain the rural and agricultural character and encourage controlled residential growth while encouraging commercial development along Airline Highway and more recreational spaces.

Norco - Encourage buffer zones between incompatible land uses, beautify more publicly visible corridors, promote the establishment of business corridor along Apple Street, and more recreational areas.

New Sarpy - Promote buffer zones between incompatible land uses. Locate a light industrial zone closer to Good Hope Refinery than to residents.

Destrehan - Preserve and protect the scenic cultural and historical characteristics, promote the establishment of a scenic roadway along  River Road, promote tourism-related activities such as restaurants, antique shops and accommodations.

St. Rose - Encourage service overlay land uses, implement a business corridor along Airline Highway, promote a Scenic Roadway District along St. Rose Avenue, from the Illinois Central tracks to Airline, closely consider possible displacement by the airport expansion plans, encourage industrial uses on Airline and commercial to locate closer to River Road.