Patterson council rejects rezoning

The Patterson City Council denied a request to rezone two pieces of property for commercial use and a request to expand the use of mobile homes in the city at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The council approved the planning and zoning commission recommendations to deny a variance request by Williams Inc. to rezone property at 124 Red Cypress Road and 1831 Main St. from residential to commercial use and to deny a request for an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance that would have allowed mobile homes on property not owned by residents.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan said residents presented a petition to the planning and zoning commission with over 70 signatures against allowing the variance requests.
Rudy Sparks of Williams Inc. said the company requested rezoning of the property for commercial use after realizing the land wasn’t already designated for such use. He said commercial activities take place along Red Cypress Road all the way to just short of Main Street. The company has owned the property since the 1870s, when it began operating a sawmill, he said.
Williams Inc. had no immediate plans to develop the property for which it requested rezoning, but wanted assurance that it could eventually use that property for commercial purposes, Sparks said.
Grogan suggested Sparks come back before the council with a rezoning request once the company knows what it plans to do with the property. Grogan wasn’t in favor of giving “a blind permit” without knowing what the property may be used for, he said.
Councilman Travis Darnell said he believes that people who live in the area should have a “clear understanding” of what the property will be used for.
Councilman Larry Mendoza, who was on the planning and zoning commission 25 years ago, said the commission established the section of Red Cypress Road in question to be designated for residential use.
Also at the meeting, the council voted, 3-2, to deny a request to amend a city zoning ordinance to allow mobile homes on property not owned by residents. Turner and Darnell were the dissenting votes.
Mendoza said the council had previously voted to allow residents to have mobile homes on their own lots and extended that provision to allow immediate relatives of the owners to also locate mobile homes on those lots.
Mendoza is in favor of limiting mobile homes to only trailer parks in the city, he said.
Councilwoman Sandra Turner said the ordinance as it currently stands is discriminatory because it only allows for a certain group of people to live in mobile homes.
Councilman John Rentrop said the proposed amendment to the ordinance would have pushed the government on people who own the surrounding lots and “have no say so in the possible devaluation of their property.”
At the meeting, the council approved a resolution to advertise and receive bids for the city new 3 MGD Compact Clarification System, Water Treatment Plant. The plant will be located directly behind the fire station on Main Street.
City officials are waiting on approval from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals before going to bid, Grogan said.
The new plant will be able to serve up to 25,000 people though Patterson only has 6,100 residents, Grogan said.
“We will be producing great water,” Grogan said.
The plant is projected to cost between $5.5 million and $6 million.
If everything goes according to schedule, officials plan to break ground shortly after Labor Day and complete construction within nine months of the start date, Grogan said.
In other business, the council
—Approved a Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
—Approved the appointment of Paula Dewey to the planning and zoning commission.
—Approved an engagement letter for Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company to perform the city’s annual audit.
—Approved a resolution to demolish a house at 1300 Main St.
—Accepted a proposed BP settlement from the 2010 oil spill after holding an executive session to discuss the matter.
—Approved a resolution to accept amendments to the city’s employee handbook.
—Approved two can shake requests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.