Developers of new subdivisions, along with those already approved, will have to follow a timeline if Calcasieu Parish police jurors approve a set of proposed changes to planning and development ordinances.

The Police Jury’s Public Works Committee reviewed the proposed changes Thursday. If approved by the full Police Jury Sept. 4, the changes would take effect Oct. 1.

Clair Forbes, a senior planner with the parish, said developers who have submitted a complete plat application before the October date could proceed under the standards that were in effect at the time.

Wes Crain, parish planning and zoning director, said the changes are being proposed because some subdivisions have received preliminary approval over the years, but haven’t moved forward with development.

“So, they sit there,” Crain said. “And they were approved under a different standard than the standard today. We’re trying to set a time frame for those developers to move forward with their projects.”

New development

Forbes said new developers could have their preliminary plat approval valid for four years from the date of zoning board action. The planning director could grant a one-year extension after reviewing a written request.

For development done in phases, the preliminary plat approval would expire within eight years of board action. That can be extended by the director for two years.

Forbes said the timeline is “very generous compared to other communities.”

Another new rule would require an applicant’s engineer, instead of the applicant, to certify that all construction has been completed. In the past, Crain said, some subdivisions were approved but were not up to standard.

Administrative review

The changes also call for expediting the administrative review process. Forbes said a review doesn’t involve a public hearing unless the police juror who represents the area requests one, or unless a decision is appealed by the applicant to the zoning board.

Under the changes, she said, an applicant could go through review if the public road frontage is “equal to at least 40 percent of the required footage.”

Also, an administrative review can be done if the minimum lot area is equal to at least 70 percent of the required lot area. About 35 percent of the applications made over the last five years would go before review under the lot area variances, Forbes said.

For residential development in commercial or industrial areas, she said, the minimum lot square footage and road frontage would be determined based on mixed-residential zoning standards. There is also a clarification for temporary housing used “as a second dwelling.” It cannot “exceed one year while constructing a new dwelling, excluding single family residential,” according to the proposal.

Forbes said borrow pit applications will be included in the administrative review process. They must not exceed five acres and must have a setback of at least 50 feet from property lines. All hauling must be completed within three years.

Administrative review of borrow pits in mixed-residential or single-family residential districts wouldn’t be allowed. If the changes are approved, she said, the review guidelines would apply to “about half of the current borrow pit applications.”

Despite the proposed changes, District 6 Police Juror Dennis Scott said he thinks the timeline is too long and “should have been shortened to move the process along further.”

Crain said the department notified real estate and contractor groups about the proposed changes and has received “very little comment.”(MGNonline)