Our local volunteer fire departments have every right to be concerned about the current Patio Lots proposal.Our good firefighters like Larry Cachran and others like him are only concerned about the public safety and not themselves.
What I believe the firefighters fear is that local politicians with big bankrolls will begin buying up small clusters of lots in already established areas. They would then come into such areas with larger lots, have them re-subdivided and rezoned into patio lots, right next to larger ones and put small homes intermixed with the bigger ones. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! However…
If the patio lots proposal would be presented in the correct manner, the firemen and then the parish council should consider supporting it. (However, now that I am a proponent, it probably is doomed for failure.)
The patio lots concept should not be a part of the zoning ordinance. Patio lots should be considered in the context of the subdivision regulations and subdivision development. Let me provide an example.
First, there should be a minimum acreage to even consider patio lots, maybe 30-40 acres for the entire parcel to be developed into a subdivision, possibly more.
Second, only a portion of the developable property should be allowed to utilize patio lots, maybe 35-40% of the useable property, (and maybe not even that much).
Third, the patio lots should not be interspersed with larger lots; they should be a separate and distinct part of any new development.
Fourth, the patio lots should have the same restrictive covenants as the rest of the development, other than, naturally, the size variations.
When you look at the Ormond Development, you can envision what a proper subdivision with patio lots would be, only smaller; i.e. acre lots in the Elmwood-Hermitage area, smaller lots along Ducayet- Beauregard- Seven Oaks area. Large lots in the Belle Grove-Belle Helene area, a little smaller on Melrose and yet smaller on Dunleith.
In this case, everyone knows going in the size of the lots in the entire development and where they are located.
By using this practical approach, you provide needed affordable housing without a lot of misinformation and without the politics involved. And everyone is afforded the public hearing process along the way. Have a nice day.
Kevin M. Friloux,
Parish President 1980-1988
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