Rezoning request will get a second look by parish council

A Franklin area landowner denied a rezoning request may get a second chance after addressing the St. Mary Parish Council Wednesday on the ruling by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The council heard from Emory Morgan who co-owns the lot with James Beranek at 911 Joel Fletcher St. located just outside the city limits west of Chatsworth Road.
In a July 20 meeting, the parish Planning and Zoning Commission denied the request to rezone the property from single family residential to existing neighborhood which would have allowed a mobile home to be placed on the lot. The board’s rulings are subject to final approval by the parish council.
Morgan said plans for his daughter to move into a mobile home on the lot fell through and now there is a potential buyer, Eric Bolland, who would like to do the same.
Planning and Zoning Director Tammy Luke told the council that a mobile home with grandfather status previously on the lot had been removed more than a year ago. In such an instance, the grandfather status is lost after six months.
She added that she believed there was one resident who expressed opposition to the rezoning request before the P&Z board.
The council agreed to place the item on its Aug. 26 meeting agenda after attending the next planning board meeting on Monday.
The council did approve the planning board’s ruling to grant a specific use various to Victor Perez and Hugo Perez to operate a church in a general commercial zone at 10107 La. 182 in Amelia. An ordinance to amend the zoning map indicating the permit also was introduced.
In other business the council:
—Adopted proposed ordinances on a lease agreement with the state on the Grand Avoille Cove Boat Landing; and creation of a regional planning area and commission.
—Introduced ordinances declaring a solid waste shredder system as surplus and authorizing the sale of same; and amending the 2015 fiscal year budget.
—Passed resolutions awarding a contract to the lowest bidder, Coastal Dredging Co. of Slidell, on the Deer Island Pass Channel dredging project; and agreements with Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC and Amerihealth Caritas Louisiana Inc. for services at Fairview Treatment Center.
—Heard from election candidates Eddie Guidry, running for district judge, 16th Judicial District, Division D; and Toney Wade and Lou Pearl Washington, both seeking the District 1 seat on the parish council.
—Told Judith Allain, chairman of Techeland Arts Council, that her request of $4,000 to fund a story gathering workshop would be taken up during future budget workshops. Allain said the workshop would be concentrated on gathering oral histories from the eastern part of the parish.
—Heard from Marine Corps League members Alan Pellerin and Richard LaCoste on the success of a recent Fishing for Heroes Tournament hosted by Trinity Oaks.
—Approved an $8,000 allocation from Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax funds to purchase three defibrillators for Fire Protection District 1.
—Approved requests by Councilman Lionel “Butch” Metz to transfer Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax funds in the amounts of $4,000 to the Bayou Teche Pee Wee Football League, and $1,886 to the Town of Baldwin to pay for baseball equipment purchased for a previous season.
—Referred to finance committee a pre-application request from St. Mary Community Action Agency for its annual $69,500 allocation.
—Approved requests by Councilman David Hanagriff to transfer Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax funds in the amounts of $25,000 to the Town of Baldwin for water and sewer system repairs, renovations and improvements; and $6,000 to St. Mary Community Action Agency for renovations to the Snow White Head Start Center in Centerville.