Council OKs lot changes in Berwick

BERWICK — The Berwick City Council approved Southern Equestrian Stables’ application for re-division of residential and business lots in Berwick at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The large portion of property “creates three lots of record,” said Berwick Planning and Zoning Director Gary Beadle.
The business lot lies along La. 182. The two residential lots are along Old Spanish Trail.
The public hearing for subdividing the property was held during October’s city council meeting. Tuesday’s city council meeting approved the re-division of the lots.
Re-division was approved for one business lot and two residential lots.
“The prospective owner intends on building a single family residential structure converting that lot to residential use at the time he applies for the permit for his home,” Beadle said.
The re-division application is for conditional use approval. The Planning Commission just steers the case making sure everything meets minimum requirements.
Once that is met, the planning and zoning commission recommends it to the mayor and council to call for a public hearing.
At that point, the mayor and council can put conditions on the application.
Up for December’s council meeting is a public hearing for construction of a pond on La. 182 under Ordinance No. 612.
The current site for the pond is approved for business. But with the prospective owner planning to change the lot to residential, there are property limitations for pond placement.
The current pond excavation addresses ponds in general, Beadle said.
“Adjacent properties belonging to residential districts do not address commercial properties,” Beadle said. “And the setbacks usually on a residential or when a pond is placed close to a residential property line is 25 feet minimum.
“This pond was placed at 15 feet because the adjacent property is a commercial piece of property.
“It kind of sparked the planning commission to do a little investigation and possibly seek some third party input if this should create any issues.
“So, that’s where we are right now. We should have that information for the mayor and council for the meeting in December,” Beadle said.