The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday will hear an appeal of a Planning Commission vote denying a Lafayette developer permission to build a trailer park in an unincorporated part of the parish northeast of Carencro.
On July 12 the commission voted 3-2 to deny Jay Miller, owner of Jaybro Developments, permission to construct the 11-lot development in the triangular confluence where Arnaudville Road and Magellan Road meet at La. 1252. Commission members pointed to concerns over drainage in nixing the plan.
The subdivision is opposed by residents living nearby. Citing concerns over drainage and an adverse effect on property values, neighbors Bobby and Kristen Miller wrote a letter to the commission urging it to deny the plan. “Mobile home typically depreciate in value unlike traditional homes,” the Millers write. “What is this going to do to our property values 15 years down the road? We are opposed to this subdivision!” About 20 residents living near the proposed development signed on in support of the letter.
In a letter to Lafayette Consolidated Government indicating his intention to appeal the decision, Jay Miller says the drainage issues at the proposed development have been addressed by Watson Ricks Engineering Group.
... written by The Holy Goofus , August 24, 2010 - 05:15 pm
The Planning Commission erred on this one. Lafayette's deveopment regulations do not provide for disapproving a new residential development based on its perceived valuation. The Commission's action was both disingenuous and discriminatory.
... written by ragin_cajun , August 25, 2010 - 12:27 am
Goofus--
I hear ya, man. I don't know much about zoning reg.'s, but I know this much. A new trailer park in Lafayette Parish is gonna be a REAL tough sell at City Hall right now. Just doesn't fit into the "Parish Comprehensive Plan". They now want arts centers, bike paths, green space, and quality of life :) Pipe yards and trailer parks just don't fit the plan, man :)
What this guy needs to do is build a bunch of brand new 800 square foot shacks that look like those old "slaves quarters" in the back of plantation homes, sell 'em for $250 a square foot, tell the PZC how they're "historically accurate" replicas, get some UL Professor to go on for 20-30 minutes about preserving the past through architecture, get the "right" contractor to build them. That's what they did in River Ranch--the place is full of rickety little shotgun houses.
And don't forget to put a $300 solar panel on the front of everyone so he can say they're "green".
... written by Death Metal , August 26, 2010 - 04:44 pm
Hey Ragin_Cajun,
The city does need bike paths and green spaces. It certainly doesn't need trailor parks.
Although I don't see how it is possible to block someone from putting in a trailor park, I would be happy if the trailor park didn't happen.
... written by ragin_cajun , August 27, 2010 - 01:40 am
Death Metal--
You seem sensible enough....and I personally don't like trailer parks, either. But, like you, I think it's wrong that the property owner has to go in front of some "commission" with his hat in his hand and ask them if it's OK to build what he wants on his own land.
If the government controls what you can and can't do with your property, then you don't really own it. Or--maybe you own it, but the government controls it? Is that Socialism or Fascism? Either way, it sure ain't the 'land of the free'.
If given the choice between a parish of trailer parks and property rights, or a parish of bike paths and central planning, which would you choose?
You going see Megadeth next month? UNO Lakefront Arena, you know.
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