City of Thibodaux Zoning Review - South Central Planning ...

2010 Thibodaux Zoning ReviewExecutive SummaryCity Council Resolution 1491, adopted on October 6, 2009,directed South Central Planning and Development Commission(SCPDC) to conduct a Review of the City of ThibodauxZoning Ordinance. The zoning ordinance created in the 1970’sdid not address current issues such as location of modularhomes and the location of new regulatory zones (i.e. industrialand aviation). Other concerns included visibility at intersectionsand in some instances conflicting requirements. Thus, thecouncil requested that South Central Planning and DevelopmentCommission (SCPDC) provide professional assessmentand recommendations based upon comparative analysis and bestpractices of other like communities.To this end, the zoning review incorporated public input toallow residents, key stake holders and city officials the opportunityto provide substantive input and/or express concernsregarding zoning issues. Interviews were conducted withthe mayor, code enforcement staff, members of the planningcommission, and members of the chamber of commerce. Duringthe interviews participants were allowed to draw on large mapsto identify all zoning issues of concern. Overwhelmingly, interviewedsubjects identified nonconforming uses of structures asa primary concern. During discussions, administrative staff alsoadvised us of several issues that the zoning ordinance did notadequately address.During the Planning and Zoning Commission meetingheld on September 8, 2010, SCPDC presented a draft of theThibodaux Zoning Review to the Commission and the publicto solicit comments. Participants raised a broad range of issues.They grappled with the complexities of non-conforming usesand the urgent need to update the current zoning ordinance.Many had reservations about the procedures practiced by theboard of adjustments relative to decisions being fairly applied toall. Participants called for additional zoning studies, a comprehensiveplanning process and zoning update, support forneighborhood commercial districts, clarity regarding visibilityat intersections and fence height requirements for commercialproperties in R3 districts. In an effort to address the expressedconcerns of the participants, SCPDC staff has revised ourrecommendations to include better clarity regarding visibilityat intersections and fence height requirements for parking lotsin R3 zones. Additionally, we have included an explanation ofthe State law regarding the role of the board of adjustments toaddress the public concerns.SCPDC has compiled these findings and recommendationsin this report to summarize each for the city administration,planning and zoning commission and city council. Once SCPDCunderstands the direction the city government wishes to take oneach recommendation, a draft change to the zoning ordinancewill be prepared.When completed, the draft amendments to the zoning ordinancewill be submitted to the planning and zoning commissionand the city council for consideration through the normal publichearing and approval process. SCPDC staff will be present tooutline issues of concern expressed during the interviewingprocess, the range of alternatives including recommendedsolutions, and an evaluation of the consequences of each ofthe solutions. Public meetings/and or hearings will be held toeducate residents on the results of the review and to allow theman opportunity to comment on the findings, and recommendedcourses of actions as presented in the review.City Council RequestCity Council Resolution 1491, adopted on October 6, 2009,directed South Central Planning and Development Commission(SCPDC) to conduct a Review of the City of Thibodaux ZoningOrdinance. The zoning ordinance created in the 1970’s did notaddress current issues such as location of modular homes andthe location of new regulatory zones (i.e. industrial and aviation).Other concerns included visibility at intersections and in someinstances conflicting requirements. Thus, the council requestedthat SCPDC provide professional assessment and recommendationsbased upon comparative analysis and best practices of otherlike communities. However, during the process, SCPDC was ofthe impression that the prevailing matter of concern and impetusfor the zoning review is the impact of nonconforming uses onthe local economy. A nonconforming use is “a land use that waslegal when it began operation but that is no longer permitted inthe zone district where it is located. 1 ”1Elliott, Donald L. A Better Way to Zone Ten Principles to Create More Livable Cities.1