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

Thibodaux Zoning Review 2010Industrial ZonesUnder the Louisiana Revised Statutes it appears that therecycling manufacturing operation is treated as solid waste facilities.The city may want to have its attorney research this shouldit be interested in developing standards for recycling faculties.Industrial Zones - Short-term RecommendationOption 1 Recycling Activities:We recommend that recycling bins or collection pointsshould be carefully sited away from homes but at centers ofneighborhood activity with adequate ingress and egress wherea public or a private entity can monitor the sites for compliance.Under Thibodaux’s ordinance the preliminary separationof nonhazardous recyclables into individual streams or a recyclingtransfer station might be allowed in M-1. This would bedependent upon either operation being entirely enclosed andnot producing any excessive noise, smoke, odors, dust, gases orother deleterious effects of industrial activity. Otherwise therecycling separation operation, the transfer station and the recyclingprocessing would all have to be located in M-2 IndustrialDistrict. The size of the lot would be dependent upon the size ofthe operation and the ability to adequately handle the amountof large trucks that might be entering and leaving the site at anygiven point of day or night. Such an operation would most likelybe best situated on a major commercial thoroughfare due to thevolume of large truck traffic or the content of the recyclablematerials.Option 2 Buffer Zones:Buffer zones are one way to lessen the impacts of industrialactivities on surrounding properties. To make the buffer zoneperpetual, the city should require that either it be containedwithin the industrial property boundary and deed restricted orbe donated to the city. The buffer remains open land and can beplanted with vegetation to help reduce noise, glare and odors.The buffer might be open green space or could be used forpassive recreational purposes.Visibility at IntersectionsThere is a lack of clarity in the way the current ordinancedescribes the sight triangle. The method used is to pivot fromthe center of an intersection and to strike an arc radius at 50feet. This arc would then determine the area in which nothingcan be built or moved such that it obstructs the view of motoristsand pedestrians. Thibodaux’s current sight clearance distanceof 50 or 150 feet is more restrictive than the other comparablecities. Furthermore, it does not take into account the differentangles at street intersections and the number of lanes or widthof a street.Given the typical street widths within Thibodaux, 50 feet isan appropriate distance, but the method used should be creationof a right triangle rather than an arch, as illustrated earlier in thisreport.Sight Triangle Short-term RecommendationIn the short-term, the city should consider amending itsordinance to denote that the distance used to create the rightangle is a minimum distance, as noted in the Ruston ordinance,and that is for typical 90 degree intersections. The ordinancecould state that irregular intersections will be evaluated on a caseby case basis, allowing the city staff to make recommendationsfor the differing dynamics. This might help give the city moreflexibility when it runs into unusual circumstances.Sight Triangle Long-term RecommendationThe city may want to further explore current AASHTOpolicies and consider a more detailed ordinance like that foundin Lafayette’s traffic codes. Such a regulation would consider thenumber of lanes, traffic speeds and volumes, and posted speedlimits.Fence Height RequirementsFencing and vegetative screening are commonly requiredalong shared property lines to buffer competing uses. Thedevise helps to preserve the aesthetic quality of the neighborhoodand to provide for public safety. Corner lots and front lotspresent a problem for these kinds of buffering tools. The sighttriangle previously described would address fencing at cornerlots. As it relates to properties located within R3 districts thathave more than ten (10) parking spaces and are not located ona corner lot, lower fence heights should be required within therequired twenty (20) feet front yard. Two to three feet might bean appropriate range for such fencing or screening as it wouldbe below the seated driver’s field of vision and thus not obscurehis/her view of the street in all directions. It would also help thepedestrian who is crossing the driveway or path in front of thevehicles.Parking and Storage of Certain Vehicles inCommercial ZonesWhile the Thibodaux’s zoning ordinance addresses theremoval of abandoned vehicles in residential areas, it does notmention the removal of abandoned vehicles on commercialproperty. Moreover, the city does not have an abandoned automobilecode or nuisance codes that tackles this issue. Mostcities (comparable cities included) have abandoned vehiclesor nuisance codes that deal with the issue of deserted cars andwhich are based upon language in Louisiana laws. This is typicallynot an issue covered in the zoning ordinance. Therefore, itis our recommendation that the city create an abandoned vehicleor nuisance code to affectively tackle the issue of abandoned carsand blight.60