Because of the overwhelming growth of the parish, local administrators will soon commission a comprehensive study to help the area formulate a growth management plan to direct future developmental efforts.
Parish administrators will begin searching for planners to do that study within the next 30 days.
The last “master plan,” which was done in 1990, included elements such as the ideal road system to accommodate residential, commercial and industrial areas, plans for proper parish-wide drainage, and zoning regulations to ensure that everything has a proper place.
Gregory C. Rigamer and Associates, a professional consultation firm located in Metairie, did the study creating a management plan, or a set of goals and objectives to guide the parish in the delineation of future land uses.
“What we did in 1990, is we went to each little tiny community to see what the needs of the residents were and how they wanted their community developed,” Tim Vial, a parish administrator, said. ” So, it’s going to be a long process.”
The document in 1990 included specific recommendations for each part of the parish, including general, commercial, recreational and industrial policy recommendations, all of which were open to public hearing for comments.
“The study will start in the earlier part of next year and it will take 18 months to complete,” Vial said.
Vial said the master plan has nothing to do with a land use study that will take place in Ama.
“That’s different from the study being done in Ama,” he said. “The people in Ama wanted all subdivisions stopped until the zoning could be looked at.”
A similar issue was expressed by the Bayou-Guache/Paradis area in the 90’s when both were recommended for rezoning.
“All of Bayou Gauche and Paradis should be rezoned R-1A rather than its present zoning of R-1AM, which allows mobile homes,” Vial said.
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 parish wide.
What was the plan for your community in 1990? The results are as follows:
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 overlay district along Apple Street, and more recreational areas.
New Sarpy – Promote buffer zones between incompatible land uses, such as locating a light industrial zone closer to Good Hope Refinery, then a business park, then multi-family dwellings, then single family dwellings.
Destrehan – Preserve and protect the scenic cultural and historical characteristics, promote the establishment of a Scenic Roadways Overlay District 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 Overlay Roadways District along St. Rose Avenue, from the Illnois 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.
Killona – Encourage buffer zones to protect the residential area and encourage commercial growth, promote recreational growth.
Hahnville – Maintain the rural and historical character, encourage light industrial use along Louisiana Highway 3127 and commercial use along 3160, preserve historical areas such as Homeplace and Fashion Plantation and establish River Road as part of a Scenic Roadways Overlay District, encourage recreational areas.
Luling/Mimosa – Maintain the current residential and commercial mix along River Road and Paul Maillard Road, promote commercial buffer zones between Monsanto and area residential areas, encourage light commercial expansion along River Road from the bridge to Sugar House Road as well as Paul Maillard and encourage heavier commercial along U.S. Highway 90.
Ama – Maintain the rural character of the community, consider the possible noise impact from a proposed airport expansion, encourage buffer zones and more recreation areas.
Boutte – Encourage the establishment of U.S. 90 and the Boutte segment of Paul Maillard as business corridors, promote residential and recreation development.
Paradis – Maintain the existing community land use mix, establish U.S. 90 as a business corridor, protect the residential areas from commercial and industrial encroachment, and encourage commercial development along Old Highway 90, discouraging any new industrial development.
Des Allemands – Maintain the unique fishing community character along Bayou Des Allemands, promote tourism-related activities, such as swamp tours, promote the business district along U.S. Highway 90, and promote seafood processing industry.
Bayou-Gauche – Maintain the fishing village atmosphere, encourage the subdivision of residential properties into larger lots, promote a Scenic Roadways Overlay District along Bayou Gauche Road, discourage all heavy industrial uses except oil and gas exploration, promote the area a prime hunting and fishing community while encouraging more playground areas.
This time around the study will be different and includes post-Katrina effects.
“The master plan will be different because we’ve had 17 years of growth and a major hurricane that has made some impact on our community,” Vial said.
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